Panamanian geology, organic sedimentary deposits, quaternary history and paleobotany. The regional geological history of Central America and local geology of the Bocas del Toro - Laguna Chiriqui area will be dealt with in a combination of field work, lectures and field trips. After this overview of Caribbean tectonics, attention focuses on the evolution of volcanic island arcs and associated carbonate and clastic sedimentary facies in a tropical setting. The location of the Institute is ideal for the study of reef structures, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic depositional environments, coastal processes, and sea level change.
Field work focuses on field methods as they apply to specific geological concepts and problems.
We also deal with the organization of field research programs in 'difficult' areas, in which good science requires that appropriate techniques be combined with flexibility, ingenuity and imagination. Lectures There will be formal lectures during the first 2 weeks of the course - attendance and note taking mandatory and graded. During the third week, lectures will be interspersed with discussions in which ideas and practical problems will be dealt with. Go to the Publications section at the GAC website. They offer big discounts for students.