The OCELOTS (Online Content for Experiential Learning of Tropical Systems) Network brings together tropical biology researchers, active learning pedagogy specialists, software developers, and media specialists, with the vision of creating an open-access, online resource library of learning modules in tropical ecology. The goal of these modules is to spark excitement in undergraduate biology courses by broadening cultural and geographic perspectives, enhancing principle-based reasoning and quantitative skills in ecology, and changing the way that students learn biology.

With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education Program, OCELOTS organizes and leads workshops that enable network participants to bring tropical biology into the undergraduate biology curriculum in an accessible way by creating innovative, interactive teaching materials and developing the means for sharing these materials so that they can be easily adapted around the world.

Are you interested in adopting online modules into a course that you teach, thus internationalizing your curriculum while focusing on authentic research in tropical biology?

Apply now to join us for the OCELOTS Spring 2027 Faculty Mentoring Network (FMN), run with the OCELOTS Network (for facilitating Online Content for Experiential Learning of Tropical Systems) and BioQUEST/QUBES.

Follow this link to apply:

Participants in this FMN will focus on adopting OCELOTS modules in undergraduate biology courses. Accepted applicants will customize and implement newly designed online educational modules in tropical biology, many of which incorporate interactive data tools. While doing this, they will participate in virtual sessions every other week to collaborate with and support others in the network and receive mentoring from our team of tropical researchers and specialists in active learning methods, the 4DEE (Four-Dimensional Ecology Education), media, and interactive data tools. You do not need to be a US citizen to participate.

Applications are due December 15, 2026.

OCELOTS Spring 2027 Faculty Mentoring Network Information and Application

Research Highlights