Vista Students Bound for Costa Rica as Part of the Global Sustainability Project

Ten enterprising scholars at Rancho Buena Vista High School (RBV) will travel to Costa Rica this summer to study ecology and sea turtle preservation with the ‘Global Sustainability Project’. The project is being funded by a grant from the Picerne Family Foundation.

RBV teacher Kayli Dugas applied and was selected to be the leader of the Global Sustainability Project. The foundation then chose 10 RBV students, selected based on written applications and in-person interviews. Requirements were that the students be Juniors, have a 3.0 or above GPA, and be in at least one AP class.

The students chosen for the project are Mariana Barantes, Chris Cupin, Diego Guerrero, Elise Horner, Angaeza Kanishka, Leilah Padilla, Ean Perfect, Aaron Rodriguez, Carlos Soriano, and Khloe Wood.

To prepare for the Costa Rica trip, students had to first complete a 40-hour research project in their own community. The students were partnered with Preserve Calavera, a nature preserve in Carlsbad, where they conducted fieldwork in nearby creeks and lagoons, collecting water samples and performing lab analyses. They measured key indicators such as nitrates, dissolved oxygen, pH, E. coli, and total coliform, allowing them to assess the overall health of the area’s local watersheds.

The team also investigated the presence and sources of microplastics in the local watershed through samples; they spent extensive time learning to identify microplastics and fibers under microscopes, developing both technical lab skills and environmental awareness.

Dugas has worked with the students as they learned how to collect, examine, and chart scientific results of their work, and to develop new skills and experiences.

“One of the goals of the Global Sustainability Project is to get students to recognize that there is plenty of opportunity to get involved and help your community be more environmentally conscious and sustainable,” explains Dugas. “They also need to learn how to work together as a team before we go on a research expedition.”

High Tech Lab Experience
During Spring Break, eight of the students were given a private tour of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. They explored experimental aquariums and met with one of the lead scientists on their microplastic project to gain more insight into the broader implications of their work.

The students are displaying their findings at two presentations. On April 26th, they spoke about their microplastics project to inspire other students looking to get involved in science at a Youth Climate Conference in Oceanside.

On May 19th they will present their research and presentations focused on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, which will be their summer study location. Their work will highlight the region’s geography, climate, economic factors, historical context, cultural insights, and local flora and sea turtle ecology. Students will present this work in the RBV Lecture Hall at 6 pm; the event is open to the public.

The presentation is essential, says Dugas, “so that when we go there this summer, they're informed tourists, rather than just uninformed students going to another country.”

The Costa Rica itinerary will involve working alongside Ecology Project International, an organization that conducts research expeditions worldwide. The RBV students’ project is focused on sea turtle monitoring and conservation.

“It’s a very structured nine-day program where we learn about conservation and undertake hands-on monitoring,” says Dugas. “Often, in the middle of the night, students will wake up and watch the sea turtles hatch. Essentially, we're going to help them with their conservation efforts because leatherback sea turtles are endangered.”

Students will collect data on the quantity and size of nesting sea turtles for research and learn more about sea turtle biology, rainforest ecology, and conservation issues that impact Costa Rica.

It won’t all be work. Night hikes, ziplining through the rainforest, and white-water rafting are all on the agenda.

Regarding how she has seen students benefit from the experience of the Global Sustainability Project, Dugas says, “They are really taking the opportunity to the fullest, and I feel like they have gotten a broader sense of what goes on in the science community.

“They've had an opportunity to work with a lot of scientists. They've gotten tons of hands-on experience and have definitely become more inquisitive about microplastics. During our local water collecting processes, all the community volunteers have some sort of science background, so the students have made really great connections with mentors for potential jobs and great networking connections.

“I continue to be impressed by our students’ dedication, curiosity, and commitment as we prepare for our upcoming summer experience.”

The Costa Rica ‘Global Sustainability Project’ trip runs from June 9-17.