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We'll2000! We'll 2000! We'll go2000! We'll go 2000! We'll go on2000! We'll go on 2000! We'll go on in2000! We'll go on in 2000! We'll go on in 2001!2000! We'll go on in 2001!  Bettina Engelbrecht Arrivals Sara O'Brien, University of Illinois, Dec 26 - Mar 15, to work with Michaela Hau on reproduction, territoriality, and hormones in a rainforest bird model system, in Gamboa. Katharine Milton, University of California, Dec 27 - Jan 11, to continue research studies on primates, on BCI. Eric Lindquist, Anthony Wisnieski and Kevin Zippel, Lee University, Dec 27 - Jan 8, to work on the Golden Frog project. Jonathan Armbruster, Justin Evans, Thomas Pera and David Wermele, Auburn University, Alabama, Dec 27 - Jan 10, to study the distribution and status of species of the loricarrid catfish genus, at Naos. Godwin William, Texas A & M, Dec 27 - Jan 23, to work on biodiversity and ecology of insects that are associated with pocket gophers, Orthoglomys dariensis and O. cavator. Alan Gillogly, Texas A & M, Dec 27 - Jan 23, to study biodiversity, distribution and behavior of selected groups of forest arthropods. STRI s Smithsonian TropicalResearch Institute, Panamá www.stri.org December 22, 2000 STRI recognized transition coordinators and committees' members After a year of successful operation under the Panamanian labor code, STRI awarded certificates to the transition committees' members and coordinators on Friday, December 15, at the Corotu Plaza. A group of 34 STRI employees collaborated in the different committees, under the direction of former deputy director Anthony Coates and the coordination of Monica Alvarado. Luego de un añ o de operacion es exitosas dentro del sistema laboral panameño, STRI entregó certificados de reconocimiento a los miembros de los comités de transición y coordinadores, el viernes 15 de diciembre en Plaza Corotú. Un grupo de 34 empleados de STRI colaboraron en los diferentes comités bajo la dirección de Anthony Coat es, antiguo subdirector, y la coordinación de Mónica Alvarado. Transitions committee (Comité de transición) Alejandro Arze, Natacha Chandler, Mercedes Denis, Nélida Gómez, Leopoldo León, Daniel Millán, Carlos Urbina, and Joe Wright Procedures,Procedures , Procedures, policiesProcedures, policies Procedures, policies andProcedures, policies and Procedures, policies and operationsProcedures, policies and operations Procedures, policies and operations committeeProcedures, policies and operations committee (Operaciones,(Operacion es, (Operaciones, políticas(Operaciones, políticas (Operaciones, políticas y(Operaciones, políticas y (Operaciones, políticas y procedimientos) MercedesMercedes Mercedes Arroyo,Mercedes Arroyo , Mercedes Arroyo, EldredgeMercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham,Mercedes Arroyo , Eldredge Bermingham, Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, LeopoldoMercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León,Mercedes Arroyo , Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, ElenaMercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Elena Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Elena LombardoMercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Elena Lombardo Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Elena Lombardo andMercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Elena Lombardo and Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Elena Lombardo and CarlosMercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham , Leopoldo León, Elena Lombardo an d Carlos Mercedes Arroyo, Eldredge Bermingham, Leopoldo León, Elena Lombardo and Carlos Tejada Human resources committee (Recursos humanos) Oris Acevedo, Angel Aguirre, Alejandro Arze, José Ramó n Perurena, Fernando Santos- Granero, Carmen Sucre and Au drey Smith Human relations committee (Relaciones humanas) Roberto Borrell, Xenia Guerra, Allen Herre, Bailey Kes sing, Maria Leone and Gloria Magg iori Communications committee (Comunicaciones) Oris Acevedo, Vielka Chang-Yau, Anthony Coates, Georgina de Alba, Ha ris Lessios, Fernando Pascal and José Ramón Perurena Evaluation committee (Comité de evaluaciones) Mónica Alvarado, Harry Barnes, Natacha Chandler, Vielka Chang-Yau, John Christy, Anthony Coates, Georgina de Alba, Leopoldo León, Leonor Motta, Carmen Sucre and Carlos Tejada. Campamentos de verano en Culebra El Centro de Exhibiciones en Punta Culebra ofrece campamentos de verano para niños de 6-12 años. Su hijo conocerá de la vida marina que habita en nuestros dos mares, y disfrutará de actividades al aire libre, manualidades y mucha diversión, por $85, incluyendo seguro, materiales, y transporte desde el Centro Tupper ida y vuelta. Fechas: enero 15-19, y enero 29-2 de febrero, 8am-12m Cupos limitados. Llame al 212-8170 y 212-8171 Auditor del sistema telefónico STRI solicita los servicios a medio tiempo (40 horas mensuales) de auditor para el sistema telefónico en todas las instalaciones del Instituto. Se requiere que la persona seleccionada prepare informes con el sistema de tarifas AQCT y estadísticas. Deberá auditar recibos de compañías de telecomunicaciones, e informar sobre cargos personales a usuarios de teléfonos en STRI. Los candidatos deberán dominar el inglés, tener conocimiento de programas de Microsoft Office, Excel, Word y Access, y estar cursando estudios en Ingeniería de Sistemas, Contabilidad, o Finanzas. Interesados deben presentar su hoja de vida, copia de diplomas, y los nombres y teléfonos de tres referencias recientes, a la Oficina de Recursos Humanos, STRI, Apartado 3353, Balboa, Ancón, República de Panamá. Se recibirán solicitudes hasta el 3 de enero de 2001. STRI in the news  En busca de un elíxir tropical  , by Errol E. Caballero, La Prensa, December 16, page1B describes the process of new drug finding in the tropics and mentions the ICBG bioprospecting project.  ¿Tecnología sin Ciencia?  by Lina Vega Abad, La Prensa December 16, page C1 highlights the  STRI effect  on Panamas scientific production and investment.  Parcelas Curativas  by Errol E. Caballero, La Prensa, December 16, page 4B explains that one out three plant compounds analyzed by the ICBG project, is new to the botanical literature. Catherine R. Bevier, from Colby College in Maine, wrote a book review on the book and accompanying CD by Roberto Ibáñez, A. Stanley Rand and César Jaramillo The Amphibians of Barro Colorado Nature Monument, Soberania National Park and Adjacent Areas in Copeia 2000(2): 628-629. More arrivals Amy Bivin, Endangered Species Office, North Carolina, and Dennis Reagle, Kathryn Randall and Nancy Schoeppner, University of Pittsburgh, Dec 27 - Jan 15, to work with Walter Carson, in Gigante and BCI. Greg Adler, University of Wisconsin, Dec 28 - Jan 27, to study the limiting and regulating factors in populations of a tropical forest rodent, Proechimys semispinosus, on BCI, Gamboa and Fortuna. John Lokvam, University of Utah, Dec 28 - Jan 20, to work with Phyllis Coley, on long term studies of hervibory and pathogen damage to tropical trees, on BCI. Lubomir Masner, Agriculture Canada, Canadian National Collection, Dec 29 - Jan 17, to study aquatic and semiaquatic parasitic wasps of the families Diapriidae and Scelionidae (Hymenoptera) of Central America. James Woolley and Matthew Yoder, Texas A & M, Dec 29 - Jan 17, to do monographic research in parasitic Hymenoptera. Congratulations! To Juan Alberto Alvarez and Olga Barrio, for their marriage on Saturday, December 16 at the City Club, Panama City. Recent graduates Andrew Crawford, former STRI short-term fellow, obtained a PhD at the University of Chicago for his dissertation research titled "Evolution and maintenance of a color pattern polymorphism in Neotropical frogs." Andrew was awarded a NSF International Research Fellowship to continue research on the evolutionary and conservation genetics of tropical frogs with Federico Bolaños, University of Costa Rica, and Eldredge Bermingham, STRI. Gilbert Barrantes, former STRI short-term fellow, obtained his PhD at University of Missouri-St. Louis with the dissertation "Ecology and evolution of Phainoptila melanoxantha (Bombycillidae, Aves) in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.  Staff scientist E. Bermingham and STRI research associate Robert Ricklefs served as members of his committee. Financial support Due to the success of the first year of sponsorship, ELEKTRA Noreste, a local power company, has expanded its financial contribution to STRI from $10,000 to $25,000 for a scholarship in marine sciences and for improving the marine educational facilities in Galeta. Our condolences To Jorge Aranda and his family, for the loss of his 6-year old daughter on Monday, December 18. To José Barahona and his family, for the death of his father on Wednesday, December 20.