April 21th, 2022
By María González González, Departamento de Mercadeo y Comunicación de la Sede Central, UTN
Translated from Spanish. View original here.
Our country is in a constant struggle with biodiversity and sustainability issues. Although we are internationally recognised as a world leader in sustainability, there are still conflicts between biodiversity protection and economic development.
This is why the Universidad Técnica Nacional (UTN) and the Osnabrück University (UOS) have joined forces to develop a project of research, transformation and capacity building to protect livelihoods and biodiversity in Costa Rica (LiveDiverseCR). The project is a collaboration between the Environmental Systems Research Institute of the UOS and the Vice-Rectory of Research and Transfer of the UTN, with funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The aim of the project is to develop interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches in research and education for solving environmental conflicts, using the Gulf of Nicoya as a case study. This will be done through inter- and transdisciplinary research processes on innovation and sustainability transformation, with the implementation of capacity building activities in the academic sector, including the development of new courses and leadership skills.
On the 5th of April 2022, Luana Schwarz and Dr. Johannes Halbe, both from the Institute of Environmental Systems Research of the Department of Geography of the UOS visited the UTN. They had the opportunity to get to know the academic program and the research work related to environmental issues that is offered by and carried out at the main site of the UTN.
The activity was coordinated by the Directorate of Research and Transfer of the main site, where Marvin Torres Hernandez, led the activity and William Rojas, Dean of the main site, received the guests and gave a few words of welcome. They were accompanied and guided at all times by Jennifer Sánchez Acosta, technical advisor of the Vice-Rectory of Research and Transfer.
As part of the visit, they listened to a presentation of the careers and research projects the UTN main site offers on environmental topics. The event was attended by Andrea Gómez Barrantes, director of the Environmental Management Engineering career, Emilce Rivera Molina, director of the Tourist Management career, Ericka Zamora, professor of Water Resource Management Engineering, Carlos Mora Sánchez, director of Occupational Health and Environmental Engineering, Maynor Vargas Vargas, coordinator of the UTN research laboratory, José Quirós, professor and researcher at the main site and Andrés Araya Araya, from the Centre of Sustainable Development Studies.
Both the directors and the researchers introduced the UOS representatives to the current and the forthcoming projects on environmental issues, as well as to how students and teachers are involved in the different projects and the results that have been obtained.
This first meeting allowed the participants to get to know the work of the parties involved, to promote the development of the project and to encourage teaching staff to get involved in the project. Furthermore it served as preparation of the summer school that is expected to take place in October/ November as part of the project. The summer school will support both universities by allowing students and researchers to gain experience and a good understanding of the links between biodiversity and development problems through first-hand experience in research and teaching.