Special
events
STRI special events,
April 2025
Exhibit Opening: Agua Salud Project, STRI's participation in FestiHarpia 2025, Workshop on Biophysical Science at Penonomé, Congratulations Ximena Bernal and more.
Exhibit Opening: Exploring the Impact of the Agua Salud Project on Global Sustainability
STRI recently inaugurated at the Punta Culebra Nature Center, an exclusive exhibit about Agua Salud, the largest long-term, landscape-scale monitoring experiment aimed at understanding how land use affects water management, carbon storage and tropical biodiversity conservation, in addition to the effects of environmental change on our land and water resources. The project aims to expand from Panama to a global scale. This exhibition was made possible with the support of the Adrienne Arsht Community Resilience Solutions Initiative, The Hoch Family, the Levinson Family, Stanley Motta and the Alberto Motta Foundation, and HSBC Bank.
Visit of the Minister of Environment to the Agua Salud Exhibit
Panama's Minister of Environment Juan Carlos Navarro visited the Punta Culebra Nature Center to see the new Agua Salud exhibit. He was received by the Center's Administrator, Rebecca Rissanen, and the lead guide, Alvaro Gonzalez.
STRI's participation in FestiHarpia 2025
The Q?Bus team formed by Leslye, Adrian and Karina, represented STRI at FestiHarpia 2025, held at the Summit Municipal Park where they presented relevant information about birds and showed replicas and educational materials.
Workshop on Biophysical Science at the University of Panama, Penonomé
Researchers participating in STRI’s Rohr Reforestation Initiatives in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca were hosted by Professor Emilio Mariscal to lead a 3-day workshop for 30 agroforestry students at the University of Panamá, Penonomé. This was part of an ongoing capacity-building series funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) and supported by Agua Salud, providing background and training for students who are participating in the reforestation initiative. Students learned about best practices in reforestation from STRI staff scientist Jefferson Hall, postdoc Slendy Rodríguez, and Fellow Edwin Garcia, use of DNA for biodiversity monitoring from STRI scientist Kristin Saltonstall, and hydrology from STRI postdoc Jahir Batista. They also participated in a series of hands-on activities, including extracting DNA and designing restoration plans for tropical forests.
STRI Community Walks
The STRI community participated in walks to Cerro Ancón, at Barro Colorado Island and Gamboa, organized by the Occupational Health and Safety Department. The event was attended by employees from various facilities and the presence of STRI Director Joshua Tewksbury and Deputy Director Oris Sanjur, promoting wellness and strengthening labor ties in a natural environment.
Celebration of the International Day for Safety and Health at Work
STRI celebrated the International Day for Safety and Health at Work with a day on the impact of AI and digitalization on occupational safety with a presentation of innovative technological tools to optimize processes and strengthen preventive management. Organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Department, the event reaffirmed STRI's commitment to safe environments.
STRI's participation in the Panama: Past Present and Future Panel
Oris Sanjur, Deputy Director of STRI participated in the closing of the project “Our Shared Future: Recognizing Our Racial Past” with the panel Panama: Past Present and Future with Ana Elizabeth González, Executive Director of the Canal Museum, Dr. Marixa Lasso, historian at the Center for Historical, Anthropological and Cultural Research - AIP and Arcello Hartley, president of the Society of Friends of the Afro-Antillean Museum of Panama. This project was carried out in collaboration with four museums and cultural organizations with 6 days of diverse programming that included film and documentary screenings, theatrical and musical presentations, tours of exhibitions and spaces, inviting us to reflect on our history, heritage and collective identity.
Image courtesy of MiCultura.
STRI participation at OOC 2025
Ana Spalding, director of the Adrienne Arsht Community-Based Resilience Solutions Initiative at STRI participated at the 10th Our Ocean Conference 2025 in Busan, South Korea. This conference unites global leaders to drive action for ocean conservation, climate solutions, and sustainable marine governance. Celebrating a decade of progress, the event sets new goals for marine protection while highlighting the host country’s role in advancing ocean initiatives.
Congratulations Ximena Bernal
We want to congratulate Ximena Bernal, Professor of Biology at Purdue University and STRI Research Associate for her appointment as 2025-2026 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar. Since 1956, the Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Visiting Scholar Program has offered undergraduates the opportunity to spend time with some of America’s most distinguished scholars.
Cumulus: 10+ Years of the STRI-Estudio Nuboso Art and Science Collaboration
A new exhibit at Panama’s Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) features the work of 20 artists in a retrospective exhibit to celebrate “weaving nature-culture corridors of planetary solidarity.” Monthly workshops feature STRI scientists and Estudio Nuboso artists as they collaborate to spread the word about biodiversity and the importance of our shared environment.
Guide Training at Punta Culebra
Punta Culebra began the annual training of its guide corps. The two-week course included general information about Punta Culebra, the Smithsonian, talks and presentations by scientists, customer service, first aid training, training in activities of the school program and Q?rioso, and a field trip to learn how other visitor centers operate, this time to the Casa de Wanda of the Marea Verde association.
