THE role of insects in an endangered ecosystem will be the focus for a North Malvern lecturer who is flying to Central America this weekend.

Fifty-seven-year-old Rachel Smith, a part-time horticulture lecturer at Birmingham University, will join leading scientists from the environmental charity Earthwatch on its Tropical Rainforest project in Costa Rica.

Rachel's place on the expedition was confirmed after she applied for an Earthwatch Millennium Award. The scheme is aimed specifically at those aged 50 and over.

She was asked to list her preferred areas of interest, which could have included the studying dolphins in Spain or river otters of Chile.

However, because of her horticultural background, Rachel chose the Costa Rican project.

She said: "I have a general interest in conservation but I was looking for a project looking more at interaction between species."

On her return, Rachel will embark on community-based conservation project work as an Earthwatch officer.

Despite never having done anything similar, Rachel is clear on what she hopes to achieve from the two-week trip.

"I want to return with a better understanding of the forest system," she said.

"This is an unparalleled opportunity to experience fully a very special ecosystem, with the added privilege of being able to contribute in a small way to the research that seeks to preserve it."

Earthwatch spokeswoman Anne Whitehouse said Millennium Award winners did not need specialist knowledge or expertise, only a commitment to invest their new knowledge at home in the UK.