Organization for Tropical Studies

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is a nonprofit consortium of nearly sixty universities and research institutions worldwide, with operations in three countries and research and education stations in Costa Rica and South Africa. For the last half century OTS has been the world’s leading institution in the study of tropical biology, with more than 350 graduate courses in tropical ecology and conservation and over 8000 students trained, including many of the world’s leading tropical ecologists. Recently, OTS has recognized that to be a successful, 21st century organization, we need to evolve. We have clarified our purpose: To protect our tropical ecosystems by driving scientific discovery and knowledge, enriching human perception of nature and enhancing worldwide policy actions in the tropics. To build on our legacy and to expand our impact, OTS is in a period of transition. We are launching several new programs and our culture is evolving to be innovative, interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial and connected. We are ready to expand our impact.