Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE Colombia: Student Presents Land Cover Research on Mangrove Forests at the LAC Regional Meeting in the Dominican Republic
Colegio Montessori Cartagena became a GLOBE school in 2018 and
currently has three certified teachers and many students who
participate in the GLOBE Program. These students participate in the
school’s research group, Biontessori, and one of these students,
Juliette, earned the opportunity to represent Biontessori at the GLOBE
Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Meeting held in the
Dominican Republic in October 2024.
During the meeting, Juliette presented an ongoing investigation about the effects of changes in land cover at the Parque Espíritu del Manglar (Spirit of the Mangrove Park) on carbon storage and sequestration. Biontessori conducted a tree inventory in the park and other urban forests near the school as part of the research process. As a result, they completed the biometrics of 130 trees in 2024, the second year of the campaign Los Árboles Dentro de LAC (Trees Within LAC).
This
accomplishment and the quality of Juliette’s project led Biontessori
to win one of the spots along with three other schools from Uruguay
and Argentina to attend the 2024 LAC Regional Meeting in the Dominican
Republic. Beyond the meeting, participating students enjoyed the
beauties and treasures of the country by visiting La Cueva de las
Maravilla (Cave of Wonders), the Plaza España (Spanish Square),
Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Palace), Museo de las Casa Reales (Museum
of the Royal Houses), Panteón Nacional (National Pantheon), Museo del
Chocolate (Chocolate Museum), and Museo del Ámbar (Amber Museum).
Students also had the opportunity to interact with students from other countries and the country coordinators and scientists who assisted with the meeting. They are very thankful to their Regional Office for making participation in this important event possible due to the stipends given to us.
In Juliette’s words:
The trip was significant from the very first moment. I remember the slight nervousness when I arrived, along with my teacher, Juan Fe, at the event's opening. From the first day, I met amazing people, made friendships that allowed me to learn about new cultures and customs, and faced challenges that taught me that sometimes, you must trust yourself and let everything flow. It was an experience that taught me to let go of sorrow, enjoy the present, and take advantage of every moment because experiences like these are not repeated every day.
These events are important because they allow students to exchange experiences and understand the significance of being part of the GLOBE community.
As Juliette says:
I am deeply grateful to the GLOBE Program for giving me this unique opportunity. It allowed me to learn more about science and understand the importance of caring for our environment and valuing the impact of our actions. This experience has been a reminder that science is not only knowledge but also a tool to build a better future, and, best of all, all together.
Juliette’s mother discusses how she was impressed and proud of her daughter’s achievements in the program in this brief video.
The importance of this project is to demonstrate— through the combination of satellite imagery, field measurements, and the use of citizen science apps such as GLOBE Observer and the USFS i-Tree Canopy—the impacts that mangrove logging has had on the Parque Espíritu del Manglar. Moreover, the project aims to highlight the important role these mangrove spaces have in the local environment while acknowledging that the local community both “loves and hates” this valuable ecosystem. Decision makers will find this project enormously beneficial for the difficult decisions that must be made regarding the interventions in the urban forest based on variables such as carbon storage and carbon sequestration.
This project continues Biontessori's 2023 and 2024 IVSS projects regarding the “Readiness” indicator based on the urban forest ecosystem and cultural ecosystemic services designed by this research unit.
The invitation is to be tuned in to the IVSS 2025 to see the results of these investigations.
The importance to GLOBE of having students and teachers in the GLOBE LAC Regional Meeting, as with the Annual Meeting and GLOBE’s Learning Expeditions, is that it strengthens the connectivity and cooperation among students and educators, setting the example for other teachers and students in their region, and encouraging them to join and enjoy this magnificent program.
Learn more about GLOBE Colombia.
Story contributed by Juan Felipe Restrepo Mesa, knowledge management chief and environmental education coordinator at Colegio Montessori Cartagena de Indias. Juan Felipe Restrepo Mesa is the knowledge management chief and environmental education coordinator at Colegio Montessori Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. He became a GLOBE educator in 2018 and was honored to become a GLOBE Mentor Trainer last year.