Newtowner Spends A Week In Nicaragua

HAMDEN — Newtown resident Hank Helgren collaborated with seven of his fellow Quinnipiac University undergraduates and university faculty from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua in León to document the natural world, according to Quinnipiac University.

The eight students, led by Deborah Clark, professor of biology, and Dwayne Boucaud, associate professor of biomedical sciences, photographed and shot video of local plant, insect, mollusk, and bird life in a botanical garden, mangrove forest, and beach in León, Nicaragua, August 1–8.

“The photos will be used to create a guide for both university students and tourism,” said Erin Peck, director of programs with the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac. “As of now, the university does not have its own guide, with its own photos actually taken in these respective places.”

The Quinnipiac students also learned about a turtle egg preservation run by the National Autonomous University faculty and students, according to the release. The biology and microbiology departments at Quinnipiac donated slides, test tubes, and 11 microscopes to the National Autonomous University’s biology department.

Originally a biology-focused trip, the experience was expanded to Quinnipiac students of all majors.