BERKELEY -- If the same old vacation plans--a week at the beach, a weekend in Las Vegas--no longer appeal and you'd like something more meaningful or more adventurous, UC Berkeley's University Research Expeditions Program might be just the thing for you.

Each year, UREP seeks volunteers to join expedition teams and help professional researchers and scientists increase the world knowledge of animals, plants, ecosystems, and ancient cultures. Team members work on specific projects. For example, this month, a team studied dolphins in Florida.

In May and June, teams will study Brown Pelicans in Baja California.

In June and July, teams will study mushrooms in Ecuador, while others excavate and catalog artifacts from medieval churches on the Aran Islands of Ireland.

Whether it's studying elephants in Africa, ferns in Costa Rica, monkeys in Argentina, squid in France, mountains and glaciers in Peru, or staying in California and searching for a way to preserve the marten in the Eastern Sierra, UREP has a research expedition to suit almost any interest.

In all UREP expeditions, volunteers support the research work by paying the cost of their own meals and lodging, ground transportation and part of the research expenses. The contributions qualify as tax-deductible charitable donations.

Costs vary, so contact UREP at (510)642-6586 for more information, or write UREP, Desk F-11 UC Berkeley 94720-7050. You can also e-mail urep@uclink.berkeley.edu, or check the web site: www.mip.berkeley.edu/urep.