From October 25 to November 04, 2022, the twelve-day long Summer School on “Livelihoods and Biodiversity in Costa Rica” will take place. It is part of the DAAD-funded project: “Transformative research and capacity building to protect livelihoods and biodiversity in Costa Rica”. Students from the Universidad Técnica Nacional and the Osnabrück University will have the opportunity to learn about the interrelation between cultural, economic and political aspects related to conservation, sustainable land use, community development and livelihoods protection and will be introduced to the main concepts of these practices. Introductory lectures and exercises are complemented by student projects in small groups. Literary and cultural perspectives are applied to conceptions of nature and nation-building. In addition, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research methods are taught, and courses are offered to strengthen participants’ capacity for transformative leadership. Field trips to Pozo de Agua and Costa de Pajaros will provide students with insights into the potential and challenges for collaborative implementation of biodiversity conservation and transformative change towards more sustainable livelihoods. This will support experiential learning and allow for an in-depth reflection on the solution strategies taught in the summer school.
