Scientific Study in Peru

Hello!  Thank you for your interest in helping students research in Peru.

I am a professor at Colorado Mesa University, a small university in western Colorado.  In June 2019, I will be leading 18 college students to Peru for a taxonomical study of butterflies. 

Our goal is to document, photograph, and collect data on the diversity of species in the tropics.  Many areas of Peru are currently threatened with deforestation and our aim is to document the importance of understanding populations of species.  Only with the knowledge of diversity can we begin to completely understand the importance of conservation and preservation of threatened areas.

Upon returning, we will create a field guide that includes all butterfly species we observed and photographed.

The biggest challenge in organizing a trip of this magnitude is attempting to keep the costs manageable for the students.  I have done everything I can to lower costs, including waiving any salary for myself and our other professor, however our costs continue to rise and I am afraid we will lose students and possibly the entire trip due to the inability to fund the expenses.

Each student must pay the following for our trip:

$725 in airfare
$220 in other travel (buses, shuttles)
$1650 for the Peruvian Guide, tents, food, water while in the jungle
$2142 in Summer tuition fees
$400 Lab Fee
$300 Vaccinations 
$500 Misc fees
$62 Peru Insect Permits
 
$5937  Total cost for each student.

I am also in need of various supplies for the trip.  Nets, forceps, insect envelopes, will needed to be added to existing supplies to make the trip possible.  These expenses ad up to around $400.

I realize that many people may think financial aid would pick up the tab for these expenses, however they only may cover part of the tuition for most students.  The rest is up to the students to fund.

With such a hefty cost. Our students may be unable to afford the trip.  and we are in need of a minimum of 17 students to go for the trip to happen.

My goal is to raise $1200 for each student before the 15th of May to help the students struggling with the cost, with $400 left over for the additional supplies needed.

We greatly appreciate any help, and will include a list of all donors to our publication.

Thank you for your support, and thank you for helping in providing my students with the opportunity to bring awareness to the preservation and conservation efforts for all species!