FY 2019 Annual Report • September 1, 2018 - August 31, 2019
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
MEET JEAN PAUL. As a young child, Jean Paul would tag along on work trips with
his father, a park ranger in eastern Costa Rica. It was there, on the coastlines and
in the rainforests of the Caribbean coast that a curiosity for sea turtles and marine
life began to blossom. That curiosity grew as he reached high school. Jean Paul
expanded his science interests to astronomy and space exploration, taking in all
the documentaries he could watch, and constantly seeking new ways to learn and
engage with science.
Like many young people, Jean Paul first learned of EPI from friends. Classmates
returned from their EPI field experiences with empowering stories and exciting
new ideas about ecology and conservation. He knew this was the next step in his
science pathway and began to make a plan to participate in an EPI field course. To
him, an EPI course was just the experience he needed to learn more about the local
marine life that had intrigued him since childhood.
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From this course, I became very interested
in field investigations and how to access
science to solve problems. I plan to bring a
research project to Biociencia about a natural
type of bug repellent that can help research
assistants be more comfortable in their sea
turtle work, and that can be harmless to sea
turtle adults and eggs.
Once in the field, surrounded by the scientists and nature of EPI’s Pacuare Reserve,
Jean Paul’s excitement flourished. The first-hand experience with nesting sea
turtles brought to light the threats they face on their way to adulthood, and he
was excited to explore how EPI’s egg relocation protocols might affect future sea
turtle populations. EPI instructors fostered thought-provoking conversations about
research methodologies, and he realized how much he enjoyed collaborating with
his peers to explore conservation solutions. He reveled in the physical work that
sea turtle censuses and nest exhumations required and soon began imagining
himself in a future role as a research assistant.
He saw the potential that field investigations offered and began looking for ways
to access science and data as a means to solve problems. He began formulating a
research project to develop a natural and turtle-safe bug repellant that could help
research assistants be more comfortable in their sea turtle work. Today, Jean Paul
continues to seek out ways to protect the vulnerable wildlife of his home and create
awareness for their conservation within his community.
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