Coastal Solutions Fellows Advance their Academic Studies

One of the cornerstones of the Coastal Solutions Program is an ongoing capacity building in our Fellows. From participating in professional retreats, with an impressive roster of international experts that cover topics that include governance, leadership and fundraising, to field trips to visit successful case-studies in coastal conservation, the Program focuses on each of our Fellows feeling empowered to advance their professional development.  

Since their start with the Program, five of our Fellows in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile have been accepted into national and international doctoral programs, focused on increasing their knowledge and skills to generate greater impact, both within and outside their projects.  In this edition we want to celebrate three Fellows embarking on their doctorate journey and congratulate them for the bright future that awaits them. Here they tell us, in their own words, what motivated them to take this important step, and how the Coastal Solutions Program became an integral part of this process.  

Laura Ibarra, Coastal Solutions Fellow 2020, Mexico

Project: Master Plan for the Prevention and Mitigation of Impacts on Shorebirds

Doctoral Program: Environment and Development

University: Oceanological Research Institute of the Autonomous University of Baja California

What motivated you to apply to this Doctoral Program?

My main motivation was my interest in learning about coastal resilience and the application of nature-based solutions to help the conservation of both shorebirds and biodiversity, as well as human communities. The PhD in Environment and Development has an inter- and transdisciplinary approach that promotes the study of the relationship between the environment and society as complex socio-ecological systems, and focuses on finding solutions that contribute to the conservation of the environment and society. In this way, I found that the focus of this program aligns with my field of study, provides me with the necessary tools, and helps me to grow professionally. 

How did the Coastal Solutions Program motivate you in this process? 

Being part of the Coastal Solutions Program has brought me great professional and personal growth.  As a fellow I have had the opportunity to broaden my horizon of knowledge, thanks to the trainings, courses, and conferences I have attended. Also, the meaningful conversations with the other fellows within the program, and the great network of mentors and collaborators, has allowed me to have a greater understanding of the current landscape of shorebird conservation along the entire Pacific Flyway. In addition, I am now more aware than ever of the importance of collaboration, and of our role as part of a community. 

Thus, the project on which I am currently working has two main components: on the one hand, to know the current and future status of shorebird habitats in the Punta Banda Estuary (Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico), taking into account threats from sea level rise. On the other hand, to carry out a community project aimed at co-designing solutions and strategies to increase the coastal resilience of the wetland, providing benefits to both shorebirds and human communities.

What is your future vision for your career after finishing your PhD?

My vision is to continue working in conservation, apply the acquired knowledge, and contribute to strengthening the resilience of coastal wetlands to benefit people and guarantee that shorebirds continue to find these resting and feeding sites in the years to come.

María de los Ángeles Schoenbeck, Coastal Solutions Fellow 2022, Guatemala 

Project: Resilient Ecosystems in Harmony with Sustainable Development and Shorebirds

Doctoral Program: Spatial Ecology and Interactions

University: Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, in Bremen, Germany, 2024. Led by Dr. Hauke Reuter.

What motivated you to apply to this Doctoral Program?

For many years, I have had a great interest in studying the effects of climate change on a diversity of species. I am motivated by understanding the relationship between the potential distribution patterns of migratory species and climate change, as well as their link with value chains. I am also interested in exploring possible conservation agreements between productive sectors and countries to mitigate the environmental impacts derived from these changes.

How did the Coastal Solutions Program motivate you in this process?

Before starting the Coastal Solutions Program, I didn’t have much experience working with climate change until I proposed my project in Monterrico-Hawaii, located in the Guatemalan Pacific coast. This has led me to question a lot more about the impacts of climate change on the coastal-marine zone in general. Also, the experience leading this Coastal Solutions project, where I work at an inter-sectoral level, allowed me to discover the importance of working with all sectors to achieve significant changes in terms of conservation.  

What is your future vision for your career after finishing your PhD? 

My professional vision for the future is to continue doing research related to the effects of climate change in the Latin American region in general. I am very interested in studying this topic especially in migratory species such as fish and birds, which require regional efforts. I have the vision of creating an NGO where I can carry out all this research, and in collaboration with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, where by being part of a global network of young people conserving the ocean and coastal areas, I can accomplish several of these goals and inspire other young people to join, especially in Latin America. 

Johann Delgado, Coastal Solutions Fellow 2019, Colombia

Project: Evaluation of coastal resilience in the Bay of Buenaventura, Colombia in the face of extreme wave events and sea level rise under climate change

Doctoral Program: Civil and Environmental Engineering, with focus in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology.

University: Cornell University.

What motivated you to apply to this Doctoral Program? 

My research is focused on understanding how water moves in mangrove forests. After seeing that too many mangrove restoration programs fail because the hydraulics of the forests are not well understood, led me to consider studying for a PhD and finding a solution to this problem.

How did the Coastal Solutions Program motivate you in this process?

When I was developing my application to the Coastal Solutions Program on Punta Soldado Island, Colombia, I observed the community’s management of the mangrove forests. The program always supported me in finding new solutions for this site. Also, the program strengthened my Fulbright scholarship application and PhD admission.

What is your future vision for your career after finishing your PhD?

I envision myself as an environmental consultant to the private sector, academia and non-profit organizations. Currently, I direct the NGO Adaptation Latin America, and for the next year I am projecting more intensive work in this organization after I complete my degree.