CATIE and Auburn University join forces to offer the Tropical Conservation and Sustainability Program

• This program marks a milestone in CATIE’s international outreach, positioning it as a key academic hub for global training in tropical conservation and sustainability.

A group of 14 undergraduate students from Auburn University in Alabama, United States, was officially welcomed at CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) on June 6 to kick off the academic program Minor in Tropical Conservation and Sustainability, which is being held for the first time in Costa Rica, with CATIE as the main host institution.

As part of their institutional welcome, the students met with CATIE’s Director General, Dr. Luis Pocasangre, who delivered an inspirational talk.

In his address, he thanked Auburn University for trusting CATIE as a partner for this international academic experience and emphasized the importance of training young professionals committed to the environmental challenges of the tropics.

The 49-day program includes five courses designed and taught by faculty from Auburn University and CATIE: Cambio climático en los trópicos, Manejo sostenible de los suelos tropicales, Manejo y conservación de áreas protegidas en Costa Rica, Servicios ecosistémicos en Costa Rica, y Manejo de cuencas en el trópico. Las clases están a cargo de docentes como la Dra. Chandana Mitra, el Dr. Yaniv Olshansky, la Dra. Miriam Wyman, el Dr. Wayde Morse y el Dr. Latif Kalin, quienes cuentan con el respaldo académico y logístico del equipo técnico del CATIE.

Strategic Alliances

“This is a robust and collaborative academic program involving five Auburn faculty members and at least six CATIE researchers and professors. What makes it special is its hands-on, interactive approach: students are constantly engaging with communities, laboratories, experimental farms, protected areas, and the environmental realities of the tropics—areas in which CATIE has a longstanding track record,” explained Eliécer Vargas, Coordinator of CATIE’s Academic Exchange Unit and Master’s in Sustainable Tourism program.

During their stay in the country, the student group has had the opportunity to explore key regions for environmental conservation in Costa Rica, including Yorkín in Talamanca, Cahuita, La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiquí, La Fortuna, and Monteverde.

They have also experienced CATIE’s campus in depth, visiting the Botanical Garden, the Sustainable Academic Farm (FAS), laboratories and research trials, and participating in conversations with researchers and graduate students.

This program—which can be understood as an academic minor within a university curriculum—originated from the connection established by Dr. Wayde Morse with CATIE during his doctoral studies, a relationship that has strengthened over time and is now opening new doors for collaboration between both institutions.

“Auburn’s commitment to CATIE marks a milestone in our international projection. We hope this is the first of many collaborative programs in which we share knowledge, field experiences, and scientific approaches to tackle the challenges of the tropics,” Vargas concluded.

CATIE’s Academic Exchange Unit, responsible for coordinating the program, continues to work to ensure that this experience serves as a transformative learning platform for students and as a bridge for future international academic partnerships.