Panama City, Panama B2012
Term – B 2012
Project Opportunities – MQP (EV, CEE)
Housing – Apartments or apartment-style villas
Director – Professor Tahar El-Korchi
Preparation – 1/6 unit PQP in A 2012
Application Deadline – November 3, 2011 (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. Other environmental 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. In the civil engineering area, projects in transportation, construction and infrastructure development may be available through Constructora Urbana (CUSA), a leader in the construction industry in Panama. It has been predicted that Panama will be the fastest growing economy in Latin America in the five-year period from 2010–2014.
|
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 |
$ 400 |
|
|
Dining out |
$ 250 |
|
|
Weekend tourist activities & incidentals |
$ 800 |
|
|
Estimated total out-of-pocket expenses |
$ 2,200 |
|
|
Expenses included on your WPI bill* |
|
|
|
Housing and program expenses |
$ 1,900 |
Dependent on the number of students sharing an apartment or villa. |
|
Estimated Total expenses |
$ 4,100 |
Tuition and on-campus housing not included |
|
* Subject to change due to fluctuations in the exchange rate. |
||
Related Links
- Going Global @WPI
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: August 30, 2012 11:10:42