Studying in the Clouds
Two departments from 好色先生TV鈥檚 Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences are partnering with the Monteverde Institute in Costa Rica to offer a study abroad and experiential learning program that immerses students in tropical ecology, statistics and cultural studies.聽
Open to all CMU students, previous participants have represented majors including biology, Hispanic studies, international relations, global studies and statistics.
鈥淚n my opinion [this program] is incredibly unique,鈥� said Debra Hamilton, research affiliate at the Monteverde Institute and president of the Costa Rica Conservation Foundation. 鈥淭he students support ongoing investigations by providing models and analysis to the researchers who provide the field data.鈥澛�
罢丑别听Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics聽(LCAL) initiated the program in 2022.
鈥淭he Monteverde program was our first new summer study abroad program coming out of the pandemic, which had significantly curtailed these impactful opportunities,鈥� said Anne Lambright, LCAL department head and Paul Mellon Distinguished Professor of Hispanic Studies. 鈥淭he idea with this program, as well as subsequent additions聽to LCAL's unique study abroad聽portfolio 鈥� which all link聽language and culture study with hands-on learning in meaningful ways 鈥� was to provide a 鈥榮o CMU鈥� signature experience for our students.鈥�
In its third year, the聽Department of Statistics & Data Science聽joined the program. In addition, Richard Laval, a renowned bat biologist and Carnegie Tech alumnus, led a bat activity and met with students to share stories from his time at the university.
鈥淲e've been actively seeking partnerships across campus, where our programs and their locations offer logical fits and exciting聽opportunities for other disciplines. In the case of Costa Rica, we knew the renowned Monteverde Institute had loads of data that they lacked the capacity to fully process and utilize. Thus, Statistics & Data Science was a natural partner,鈥� Lambright said. 鈥淭he fact that some students would be working with data from the decades-long research of a Carnegie Tech alum was icing on the cake.鈥�
Rebecca Nugent, head of the Statistics & Data Science Department, said the Costa Rica program was a 鈥減erfect opportunity鈥� for partnership.
鈥淪tudy abroad for STEM [science, technology, engineering, math] fields tends to be less common due to the sequential nature of their coursework, but those experiential learning opportunities are so crucial to students鈥� understanding of how to solve real-world problems where different cultures and perspectives are often core to the problem鈥檚 context,鈥� said Nugent, the Fienberg Professor of Statistics & Data Science. 鈥淲e want our statistics and data science students to be analytical leaders who have a global impact.鈥�
An Immersive Study Abroad Experience
Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. The country is on track to meet the 2050 decarbonizing goals through reforestation efforts, rigorous conservation laws and a strong commitment from both government and civil society. According to program director聽Therese Tardio, teaching professor of Hispanic studies, the Monteverde Institute provides students an opportunity to learn first-hand about sustainability and environmental stewardship in a country steeped in these ideals, while also seeing up close the challenges the climate crisis poses in this context.
During the program, students select the direction of their research by focusing on tropical ecology or working on projects in stream ecology, water monitoring and reforestation. Another option available to students is analyze data collected and provided by the Monteverde Institute, to further understand their stewardship and sustainability projects. Students have also held internships with a local doctor, a high school teacher, a women's organization and a community garden. Students can also engage in anthropological oral history projects in collaboration with Monteverde researchers and local community organizations.聽聽
鈥淥ne of the biggest lessons in fieldwork is you design the data collection process and then go into the field and realize that nature does not work in the same organized way,鈥� said Hamilton, who shared her data with the students. 鈥淚t is such a surprise to students when they realize that part of your work is testing your methods.鈥�
While Spanish is not a prerequisite to enroll, every student takes a Spanish class during the program. Their language skills are developed further through homestay with local families.聽Each student takes one additional class of their choice 鈥� either a course on Costa Rican culture, tropical ecology or statistics and data science.聽
Students also participate in excursions throughout the region, visiting a sustainable fishery, organic farms and hikes through the cloud forest and rainforests.
A CMU Student鈥檚 Experience
Being part of the local community is a key component of this program. The Monteverde Institute works on projects nominated by the local community, such as habitat restoration to protect bird species like the three wattled bellbird that were in decline.
鈥淚 was most looking forward to understanding the impacts of environmental policy on smaller communities,鈥� said Arika Manuel (DC 2026), who joined the 2024 program. 鈥淚 wanted to participate in this program because it allowed me to explore many different topics about conservation, community development and the impacts of policy.鈥�
Manuel, who is majoring in international relations and political science and environmental and sustainability studies, was drawn to the program鈥檚 hands-on involvement in community-led research projects, especially in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Her project examined the health of local streams by focusing on biodiversity. During the summer, she analyzed a data set of stream health indicators, including air and water temperature, pH levels, turbidity and other factors since 2019.
鈥淭his project allowed me to enhance my data analysis and statistical skills and apply them to contextually understand my environmental data,鈥� said Manuel. 鈥淚n the future, I hope to contribute to policy decisions that promote environmental sustainability and improve ecosystem health.鈥�
A nonprofit educational organization, the Monteverde Institute is a world-renowned center of study in the Puntarenas region of Costa Rica, dedicated to sustainable environmental practices and community engagement. The institute is located within the Monteverde Cloud Forest, part of the Bellbird Biological Corridor. The region exemplifies Costa Rica鈥檚 biodiversity, and the work being done at the institute has been lauded as a model for its progressive environmental practices.
鈥淭his program offered such an immersive and hands-on experience,鈥� said Manuel. 鈥淢y time in Monteverde has solidified my passion for environmental research and policy, and I'm excited to apply this knowledge in future endeavors.鈥�
How To Participate in the Costa Rica Study Abroad Program
The Study Abroad in Costa Rica webpage provides updated information about this opportunity. The 2025 program is slated to begin in late May or early June. Tardio is available to answer specific questions about this experience.