A Drive to Learn and an Openness to New Experiences
At EARTH, Marian Pérez Pizarro (Class of 2027, Costa Rica) has developed a passion for agriculture and a love for learning. Inspired by her coursework, Marian hopes to learn more about plant pathology through her third-year Professional Internship at the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas, Brazil. She seeks to expand her understanding of Agricultural Sciences while at the same time deepening her cultural understanding of the world.
Supporting Producers and the Planet through Agricultural Extension
Karla Mena Soto (Class of 2000, Costa Rica) believes that with the right tools and collaboration, agriculture can be a climate-friendly industry. As the country’s first female National Director of Agricultural Extension and the Climate Change representative to COP, Karla has played a key role in driving Costa Rica’s sustainable agriculture agenda forward. Despite her impressive titles, Karla measures her success based on the impact she has made in the lives of others. Karla’s credits her EARTH education for the ability to accompany producers to implement solutions that are simultaneously beneficial for their production and for the planet.
Microalgae: A Sustainable Alternative for Wastewater Treatment
From reducing nutrients in contaminated water to producing biomass with commercial potential, microalgae offer surprising possibilities. Read about how Nelson Esquivel (Class of 2026, Bolivia) is investigating their potential as part of BioEARTH, a platform that drives innovative solutions through these microscopic organisms.
