As part of the project Transformative research and capacity building to protect livelihoods and biodiversity in Costa Rica three students of the Universidad Técnica Nacional (UTN) were able to visit Osnabrück University (UOS) from October 03 to November 03, 2023, to work on their final theses with the help of the German project team. Their stay was funded by the DAAD.
Wendy Alfaro Méndez and Mónica González Angulo both study Forestry and Wildlife Management at the UTN. Wendy Alfaro Méndez’s final project is related to the communal aqueducts of the region where she lives, and specifically to the work of the association Liga de Comunidades Unidas en Conservación del Agua. In order to improve communal knowledge about the ecosystems of the aqueducts and promote community participation, she is working on an environmental education program, aimed primarily at the young people of the communities. Mónica González Angulo’s final project also focuses on increasing environmental awareness. The primary objective of her project is to assess the effectiveness of the restoration efforts in the mangrove ecosystem of Puerto Níspero, with a particular focus on the impact of shrimp farming and salt industry activities on the area. Yordan Jesús Quirós Altamirano, who studies Business Administration and Management at the UTN aims to develop management strategies that encourage tourism, while protecting the fishing resources of the oyster project “Ostras de Chira” in Puerto Palito (Gulf of Nicoya, Puntarenas), a community with high unemployment rates.
During their time in Osnabrück they worked with Claudia Pahl-Wostl, Dennis Wilke and Philipp Gorris of the UOS to further develop their research projects and theses.
Asked about their month in Osnabrück, the students described it as a very enriching academic and cultural experience: “At first, the cultural and scenic change was challenging, especially due to the colder weather. But we met people who made us feel at home. Thanks to the students and colleagues of the UOS, who were always attentive to making our stay as pleasant as possible, we had the opportunity to visit some important sites in and around the city of Osnabrück. We loved walking through the parks of Osnabrück and experiencing the change of the seasons. It was surprising to see the differences in the European wilderness compared to the tropics we know, and we were amazed by the fauna that although it seemed scarce to us at first glance, is ultimately very representative of what geographical and climatic differences cause in species quite similar to those we are used to seeing in Costa Rica.”
According to Mónica, Wendy und Yordan their stay was also invaluable to their research projects: “We were able to discuss ideas from different perspectives for all our projects, taking into account key variables such as sustainability and the conscious use of resources, which was crucial to finally determining the focus of our projects and developing more solid action plans. The support of different professionals with diverse experiences and research backgrounds provided a multidisciplinary space, helping us consider new aspects and approaches in relation to our final projects. We are immensely grateful for the assistance we have received.”
