Panama City, Panama B'10

At A Glance

Term – B 2010

Project Opportunities – MQP (EV, CEE)

Housing – Apartment-style villas at Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge)

Director – Professor Jeanine Plummer

Preparation – 1/6 unit PQP in A 2010

Application Deadline – November 4, 2009 (before 1:00 p.m.)

LOCATION

The Republic of Panama is situated at the heart of the American continent. Panama forms a link between Central and South America, constituting an isthmus 80 km wide at its narrowest point. The country has over 3 million residents, with one-third living in the capital, Panama City. World-famous for the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal, today Panama City is the most cosmopolitan capital in Central America. The city has seen significant growth and is known for international shipping and banking, transportation, insurance, warehousing, and sales. The combination of colonial ruins, modern high-rise office buildings, luxury homes, and squatters’ slums reflects the blend of cultures, eras, and economic levels that are found in the city. Panama City has numerous tourist attractions, including Panamá la Vieja (the ruins of the original city), Casco Viejo (the Old Quarter), museums and national parks. The country has a tropical maritime climate, with an average daily high temperature of 30°C (87°F).

PROJECTS

Projects will be completed in the Environmental and Civil Engineering areas. Sponsors will include various government and private organizations in Panama City. For example, the Autoridad del Canal de Panama may have opportunities linked to the Panama Canal Expansion Program, an 8 year multi-billion dollar project to deepen the canal entrances, deepen and widen the channels, and install water saving basins at the locks. MQPs could encompass dredging and excavation work, hydraulics of the locks and basins, and concerns with water quality during and after construction. Additionally, treatment of waste during the canal expansion, and waste treatment in Panama City, are important initiatives. Other projects may be coordinated through SENACYT, the national organization for Science, Technology and Innovation. These may include environmental clean up on Coiba Island, among others.

ESTIMATED EXPENSES

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses*	*Amount*	NOTE: In calculating the extra expense to participate in an off-campus project experience compare this figure to expenses incurred while living on campus: groceries or meal plan, entertainment expenses, transportation, etc.
Travel to site (RT airfare)	$ 600
Local Transportation, airport to residence	$ 50
Project related transportation	$ 100
Groceries	$ 300
Dining out	$ 200
Weekend tourist activities & incidentals	$ 800
Estimated total out-of-pocket expenses	$ 2,050
Expenses included on your WPI bill*
Housing and program expenses	$ 1,800	Dependent on the number of students sharing a villa.
Estimated Total expenses	$ 3,850	*Tuition and on-campus housing not included*
* Subject to change due to fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Panama City, Panama B'10

At A Glance

LOCATION

PROJECTS

ESTIMATED EXPENSES

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses*

Amount

Expenses included on your WPI bill*

Estimated Total expenses

$ 3,850

Tuition and on-campus housing not included

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