Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) is a scientific center dedicated to understanding biological diversity and its importance to the wellbeing of humans and the planet. STRI conducts research on diverse tropical ecosystems and organisms, from rainforests to coral reefs, using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and modeling. The institute also trains scientists from around the world in tropical research methods and provides them with opportunities to conduct independent research at its facilities in Panama.
STRI was established in 1946 as the Canal Zone Biological Area (CZBA), a field station of the Smithsonian Institution located in Balboa, Panama. CZBA was founded with the goal of studying the natural history of the Panama Canal Zone and its surrounding environment. In 1966, CZBA expanded its mandate to include all aspects of tropical biology and changed its name to Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Today, STRI has grown into one of the world’s leading centers for tropical research, with over 100 staff scientists and over 200 visiting scientists each year from more than 40 countries.
STRI’s headquarters are located at Balboa Heights on Ancon Hill in Panama City, Panama. The institute also operates three field stations in different regions of Panama: Gamboa Rainforest Reserve, Barro Colorado Island (BCI), and Galeta Marine Laboratory. BCI is home to one of STRI’s signature programs—the long-term ecological research project known as “The 50 Year Study”—which has been tracking changes in forest dynamics since 1968.
Since its inception, STRI has made important contributions to our understanding of tropical ecosystems and their role in global processes such as climate change and disease transmission. For example, STRI researchers have discovered new species of plants and animals; pioneered techniques for studying fruit bats that have led to major advances in our understanding of bat ecology; uncovered evidence that suggests El Niño events were occurring long before they were first recorded by humans; provided critical data on how deforestation affects rainfall patterns; contributed to our understanding of how diseases like dengue fever are transmitted; developed innovative approaches for sustainable management of tropical forests;and much more.