Outside view of QERC Center in Costa Rica. Photo by Jonathan Twining.

Outside view of QERC in San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica. Photo by Jonathan Twining.

The Quetzal Education Research Center (QERC) in San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica is an education and research center owned and operated by Southern Nazarene University, and ENC hopes to soon be a part of this collaboration.

QERC has semester and study abroad programs that offer fall semester classes in environmental studies, biblical theology, Latin American history, and tropical ecology.

QERC offers hands-on field research in the heart of the Costa Rican cloud rain forest, Spanish lessons, and study trips to neighboring Central American countries.  Internship opportunities are readily available during the spring and summer.  During the semester, students will earn up to 16 credits for biology-related courses, along with an additional 12 Spanish language credits.

Assistant Professor of Biology Jonathan Twining visited QERC this past summer along with President Corlis McGee.  His goal was to witness first-hand how ENC could get involved and benefit from the programs QERC offers.

“QERC offers an outstanding experience for students and professors alike,” Twining said, “The country’s biodiversity, along with QERC’s education and research opportunities, provides an environmentally-minded, genuine experience.”

Twining looks forward to various teaching and research projects that he and his students can embark on through QERC.  From tropical and natural history courses to various research projects to semester programs, there are many possibilities for Environmental Science and Biology-related majors at ENC.

SNU is looking to develop non-science programs at QERC so that students of various majors can benefit from QERC. They are currently trying to implement a few programs for Business majors.

“Costa Rica is a beautiful reminder of God’s creation.  The people are warm and inviting, the biodiversity is endless, and the environmental stewardship I witnessed was exceptional,” Twining said.

For more information on QERC, you can go to QERC.org.

The common room in the center where students hang out, work on projects, and study. Photo by Jonathan Twining.

The common room in the center where students hang out, work on projects, and study. Photo by Jonathan Twining.