Greencastle Tropical Study Center’s commitment to education aspires to promote the use of Green Castle Estate as a field site for research and teaching. The diverse ecosystems create a rich environment to use as a backdrop for a variety of subject areas, offering a true ridge to reef classroom. As well, the relatively undeveloped nature of Green Castle offers researchers an opportunity to create models and recommendations as change comes to the area.

Numerous students, teachers and institutions have come to Green Castle for a wide range of activities. These activities range from a formal class to individual research projects. GTSC has on-going partnerships with the University of Minnesota, the University of the West Indies and the University of South Florida. The University of Minnesota offered a Tropical Water Quality Class on site in January 2008. The class was a mix of Minnesota students, as well as students from the University of the West Indies which created a rich academic and cross-cultural experience for all. An updated version of the class will be held in January of 2009. The University of Minnesota contact person is Dr. Jim Perry at jperry@umn.edu.

The University of the West Indies uses Green Castle as a field site for undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by the Department of Life Sciences. A student of UWI is currently conducting research at Green Castle Estate for its Caribbean Coastal Scenarios Project. The Coast Scenarios Project has the primary goal of providing knowledge, understanding and prediction needed to support island nations in assessing, anticipating and adapting to current and future coastal environmental problems. The contact persons for this project are Dr. Dale Webber at dale.webber@uwimona.edu.jm and Orville Grey at opjjunior@gmail.com.

The University of South Florida is doing a similar project on water quality, and is working with the University of the West Indies to capitalize on common interests. Their research will focus how ecotourism activities affect water quality parameters, especially those associated with concentrations of select micro constituents. The contact persons for this project are Dr. Maya Trotz at matrotz@eng.usf.edu and Ken Thomas at kendt20@hotmail.com.

GTSC is actively seeking additional academic partners that are interested in utilizing the natural diversity of Green Castle Estate for research and teaching opportunities. For more information contact the GTSC Director, Angie Dickson at gcejamaica@yahoo.com or by phone at 1 (612) 986-4709 or 1 (876) 881-6293.