At the turn of the 20th century, the ecological sciences shifted away from the laboratory and towards the field. The result was the birth of the birth of the tropical field station: an effort to create a \"natural laboratory\" for scientists, where they could study plants, animals, and ecosystems up close for extended periods. Growth of United States tropical field stations exploded in the early 20th century, fueled by eager private donors and fascinated government agencies. In this thesis, I examine two Caribbean field stations: one at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and one at Kalacoon, British Guiana. Institutions shaped by science, markets, and the state, they provide a revealing comparative case study, showing how tropical field science evolved under the pressures of competing interests. I then look at the Institute for Research in Tropical America, an effort to coordinate research and direct it towards the \"national interest.\" By the end, scientific research was viewed as a crucial part of United States foreign policy in the region. Diving into personal journals, official scientific reports, and Washington meetings, I show how scientists, businesspeople, and policymakers alike mobilized tropical science to \"modernize\" and \"rationalize\" Caribbean societies.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 23784