A Journey to the Heart of Tropical Science

During September, a workshop was offered for teachers from Western Panama, organized by STRI and facilitated by Lidia Mestre de Valencia and Adriana Sautu. The workshop started at the Punta Culebra Nature Center, including visits to the Gamboa laboratories and the Barro Colorado Natural Monument. There were many surprises and new knowledge, they prepared projects for their students to learn science by doing science, just like a scientist does. These teachers will return to their classrooms with renewed energy and gratitude for the entire experience, especially to Jimena Pitty and Jenniffer Saucedo. This workshop was made possible thanks to a grant from the Smithsonian Women's Committee and donations from Sue Simmons.

GIS influencer 2022

Milton Solano from STRI’s Geographic Information System was recognized as GIS Influencer at the ESRI Panama User Conference, held on September 22 and 23 at the City of Knowledge Convention Center. ESRI Panama gave this recognition to Milton for his career and contribution to the dissemination of Geographic Information Systems. The event was attended by well-known institutions and companies in Panama that use this type of technology (MiAmbiente, ACP, Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic, IDAAN, MEF, ETESA, etc.) ESRI Panama recognized Milton's development and maintenance of the STRI Data Portal https://strimaps.si.edu for the dissemination of geographic information locally and internationally. Congratulations on this great achievement, Milton, and to all who have worked with him to make Panama a better interconnected country.

Saving a national treasure

Recently, the Rana Dorada Pub presented, as every year, a donation to the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARC), of funds raised during the month of August celebrating amphibians. The donation was made at the Punta Culebra Natural Center where the visitors were given a tour. In the image left to right: Linette Dutari, associate director of communication at STRI, Blanca Jarquin, Administrative Manager, and Nelson Camacho, Operations Manager, both from La Rana Dorada Pub, and Roberto Ibáñez, director of the PARC project.

The media against the climate crisis

STRI staff scientist and Director of STRI’s Physical Monitoring Program Steven Paton offered a webinar regarding the challenges of scientific communications before the climate change crisis.

Steve is also an excellent photographer; don’t miss the exhibition celebrating ocean awareness month at La Plaza, City of Knowledge, organized by Fundación Ciudad de Saber and CREHO, where you can admire many of his photographs. Thanks for representing us!

Activities celebrating ocean awareness month

The United States Embassy in Panama invited STRI to celebrate ocean awareness month at the Panama American Center, located at the City of Knowledge. We participated with an activity with the Q?kart with the Punta Culebra Nature Center guides, Raimundo Gonzalez and Cristina Gomez, and at another date with the participation of Alexandra Guzmán Bloise, biologist and research technician in the Naos laboratory, who organized activities for the little ones.

SI HR visit to STRI

Part of the Smithsonian OHR team, including Antonio Guzmán (OHR Director), Amanda Jones (SI Civil Branch Manager), Paige Jones (Compensation/Benefits and Worklife Manager) and Amelda Fuller (Recruitment Branch Manager), visited STRI between September 12-16. They hosted a town hall to address STRI community concerns. They also met with members of the Anti-harassment task team and STRI-IDEA.