Science, students, and synergy converge at La Selva Research Station
Nestled in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica, La Selva Research Station spans more than 1,600 hectares of protected primary and secondary rainforest. For over 60 years, it has served as a living laboratory for some of the world’s most impactful tropical biology research, welcoming scientists, students, and conservationists drawn by the chance to explore and contribute to tropical science in the field.
For three decades, Occidental faculty have led student research teams to La Selva, mentoring undergraduates in ecological and biodiversity studies. This year, professors Shana Goffredi, Alex Pivovaroff, and Stephanie Birnbaum guided seven students through hands-on fieldwork beneath the forest’s dense canopy.
“Doing research with students in the field at La Selva was a magical experience,” says Birnbaum, who made her first trip to Costa Rica this summer. “I loved watching students develop an appreciation for natural history, and by the end of the two weeks they were observing and hypothesizing like seasoned naturalists.”
In July, three journeys converged at La Selva: Occidental’s summer research program, the Organization for Tropical Studies’ (OTS) four-week Tropical Biology course, and a natural history visit from Dave Andres ’83 and his wife, Susan. Dedicated bird watchers, native plant enthusiasts, and photographers, the Andreses reconnected with La Selva while many 鶹Ƶ students experienced it for the first time.
“My wife and I loved our week at La Selva, and that we got to meet 鶹Ƶ students and professors made it that much more special,” says Dave, whose daughter, Grace Andres ’26, is a history major at Occidental. “We joined the 鶹Ƶ crew on a night walk through the jungle and the next day got to visit while a couple of the students worked in the lab analyzing insect DNA samples.”
The convergence created a vibrant hub of inquiry, mentorship, and community—especially notable since almost half of the OTS course participants were 鶹Ƶ students, in a cohort of 12. Together, the two programs offered an immersive opportunity for students to design and conduct original field research, supported by both institutions’ robust infrastructure and expert guidance.
“One of my biggest takeaways from OTS was the group work, where people from diverse backgrounds and interests came together to form a safe space for learning, researching, and writing,” says Tropical Biology student Emily Kalinich ’27, a biology major from Cumberland Center, Maine. “The program gave me a greater understanding of the research process and a deeper appreciation for the various microorganisms that help sustain our environment.”
This overlap of 鶹Ƶ students, alumni, and faculty was no coincidence—it was a catalyst. Over shared meals and field experiences, generations exchanged ideas, forged friendships, and built a vibrant community of inquiry that transcended academic silos. Though grounded in ecology, the summer’s most memorable outcomes came from its people: students mentoring one another, alumni sharing stories, and faculty modeling collaborative, interdisciplinary science.
“This was an unforgettable experience that built confidence, community, and a deeper understanding of what it means to do science in and with the natural world,” says Julissa Larios ’22, coordinator of special programs and initiatives at OTS. As a biology major at 鶹Ƶ, Larios participated twice in the La Selva summer research program.
Since February 2020, Professor of Biology Emerita Beth Braker has served as president and CEO of OTS—a nonprofit consortium of about 50 universities and research organizations that operates four research stations in Costa Rica and South Africa. Braker’s connection with OTS began during her Ph.D. research at UC Berkeley, where she conducted field research at La Selva and taught in OTS’ graduate courses.
Over her 31-year tenure at 鶹Ƶ, Braker traveled with nearly 200 students to conduct research in Costa Rica. “The most rewarding part of these trips has been to work collectively with my wonderful 鶹Ƶ colleagues, our energetic and inspirational students, and the OTS staff in Costa Rica to create deeply meaningful and personally transformative scientific research experiences for students,” she says.
Occidental joined the OTS consortium in 2007—one of only a few liberal arts colleges granted membership—and since 2024, it has been one of eight permanent consortium members. Since 2010, 鶹Ƶ faculty and students in the La Selva summer program have published 15 scientific papers and presented their findings at 10 scientific conferences.
Over the years, the team’s research has been supported by 鶹Ƶ’s International Programs Office and Undergraduate Research Center with additional funding from the Richter Foundation, the Endeavor Foundation, various National Science Foundation grants, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Building on the team’s work this past summer, Birnbaum is developing a new research project on insect-fungal interactions “that will both extend student research in Costa Rica and shape a new research methodology course at 鶹Ƶ,” she says. And the rainforest continues to inspire both seasoned and future biologists. “This experience gave me the space to realize how much I love conducting research and being in the field,” says Emma McLaughlin ’26, a biology major from Albuquerque, N.M.
“We hope this convergence is only the beginning of more reunions,” Larios adds. 鶹Ƶ’s connection with OTS reminds us that science thrives where curiosity meets community. With three research stations in Costa Rica and a fourth in South Africa, and Occidental’s permanent membership, OTS looks forward to hosting future 鶹Ƶ cohorts. And who knows? Maybe the next reunion will take place at OTS’ Skukuza Research Station, inside South Africa’s Kruger National Park, as participants take in the spectacular sunset through the savannah landscape.
