Visiting Scientists Staff
Cem Basman
Assistant Professor, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER), Indiana University
Dr. Cem Basman is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Recreation and Park Administration at Indiana University Bloomington. He received his doctorate from Colorado State University in 1998. Previous and concurrent to his academic appointments, he has had over a twenty-year career in the recreation and tourism field in both public and private settings, including the operation of a private consulting firm. He has been a state park interpreter and administrator, director of a bird of prey rehabilitation facility, fundraiser, and non-profit corporate administrator.
Dr. Basman is a recipient of the Fellow Award and former President of the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), where he was instrumental in creating an international professional certification program. He is a Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) and a Sanctioned Trainer for the Certified Interpretive Guide Program (CIG). Academic interests of Dr. Basman include persuasion and communication theory and practice as it applies to natural resource recreation and sustainable tourism development. He has professionally traveled to Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. Currently, he is conducting research in the area of sustainable recreation an d tourism development in Nicaragua and Panama, Central America.
Dr. Cem Basman is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Recreation and Park Administration at Indiana University Bloomington. He received his doctorate from Colorado State University in 1998. Previous and concurrent to his academic appointments, he has had over a twenty-year career in the recreation and tourism field in both public and private settings, including the operation of a private consulting firm. He has been a state park interpreter and administrator, director of a bird of prey rehabilitation facility, fundraiser, and non-profit corporate administrator.
Dr. Basman is a recipient of the Fellow Award and former President of the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), where he was instrumental in creating an international professional certification program. He is a Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) and a Sanctioned Trainer for the Certified Interpretive Guide Program (CIG). Academic interests of Dr. Basman include persuasion and communication theory and practice as it applies to natural resource recreation and sustainable tourism development. He has professionally traveled to Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. Currently, he is conducting research in the area of sustainable recreation an d tourism development in Nicaragua and Panama, Central America.
Néstor J. Correa
M.Sc., Executive Director, EcoPark Panama. Researcher, Department of Forestry Southern Illinois University.
BS Environmental Law: MS Environmental Policy and Planning: Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Zoology and Natural Resources Planning.
Nestor Correa is a professional, conservationist with more than 8 years of experience in the LAC region. He has worked as an Executive Director of the Metropolitan Natural Park in Panama and as Environmental Consultant in Spain for two years. He is the Executive Director of a new outdoor recreation and education facility currently under creation on the west side of the Panama Canal Watershed area “EcoPark Panama”, and a Researcher for the Southern Illinois University currently pursuing a PhD in Zoology and Natural Resources Planning. He is President of the Panamerican Conservation Association of Panama, Vice-President of the Association GAIA for the Conservation and Management of the Biodiversity and a member of the Board of Director of the Primate Foundation of Panama. He was a Fulbright OAS-Ecology scholar from 2002 to 2004.
Nestor works closely with the IITF as a Visiting Scientist in Panama and Central America. He has a broad range of experiences in environmental management, law and policymaking, ecotourism, natural resources planning, outdoor recreation, park planning, interpretation, and protected area management.
Nestor Correa is a professional, conservationist with more than 8 years of experience in the LAC region. He has worked as an Executive Director of the Metropolitan Natural Park in Panama and as Environmental Consultant in Spain for two years. He is the Executive Director of a new outdoor recreation and education facility currently under creation on the west side of the Panama Canal Watershed area “EcoPark Panama”, and a Researcher for the Southern Illinois University currently pursuing a PhD in Zoology and Natural Resources Planning. He is President of the Panamerican Conservation Association of Panama, Vice-President of the Association GAIA for the Conservation and Management of the Biodiversity and a member of the Board of Director of the Primate Foundation of Panama. He was a Fulbright OAS-Ecology scholar from 2002 to 2004.
Nestor works closely with the IITF as a Visiting Scientist in Panama and Central America. He has a broad range of experiences in environmental management, law and policymaking, ecotourism, natural resources planning, outdoor recreation, park planning, interpretation, and protected area management.
