This winter break, 20 Bucknell students embarked on a transformative two-week journey to Costa Rica as part of the UNIV 200: Sustainable Management & Technology course. The program, designed to explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provided students with a unique opportunity to engage with sustainability on a global scale while immersing themselves in the rich culture and biodiversity of one of the world’s most ecologically diverse countries.
Costa Rica, with its commitment to sustainability—utilizing 99% renewable energy—provided an ideal setting for the course. Students studied the intersection of sustainable management and technology, focusing on how organizations in various sectors contribute to achieving the SDGs. For many participants, the trip offered both academic and personal growth, as they were challenged to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world sustainability challenges.
Environmental Engineering major Gabby Meltzer ’27 was drawn to the program because of her passion for sustainability and her desire to learn from a country that prioritizes it. “In the U.S., we excel in many things, but sustainability is not up there,” she said. “Therefore, I found the opportunity to be fully immersed in an entirely different culture that places a great value on sustainability to be something that I could not pass up.”
Samantha Bolze, a junior Business Analytics major, was interested in the course because of her passion for sustainability and her desire to study abroad without committing to a full semester. “I really love sustainability courses. I’ve taken them since my first year,” Bolze said. “I wanted to study abroad but not for a whole semester, so this was a good in-between.”
Throughout the course, students engaged in daily reflections and worked in consulting groups to address sustainability issues. Bolze’s group focused on creating a biodigester system for a hotel in northern Costa Rica, a region where water scarcity is a significant concern. “Our biodigester takes wastewater and turns it into filtered water to be used for watering plants,” Bolze explained.
Beyond the classroom, students had the chance to explore Costa Rica’s rich culture and stunning natural beauty. The trip was designed not only to expose students to sustainable practices but also to immerse them in the local culture. Meltzer was particularly struck by the welcoming nature of the people. “The Pura Vida lifestyle stood out the most to me. Everyone there was so welcoming and treated us with total kindness and respect,” she said. “Similarly, the lifestyle seemed so much slower, and people took things at their own pace, not rushing to do everything in the most time-efficient manner.”
One of Bolze’s favorite experiences was exploring the city of Tilarán. “It was a small town that we got to explore, and we ate ice cream there. There was also a playground with a trampoline in the ground!” she recalled. “In Tilarán, we also got to hike in the jungle and see a volcano that erupted many years ago.”
For Meltzer, one of the most impactful moments of the trip was visiting Las Baulas National Park, where students learned about the conservation efforts to protect the critically endangered leatherback sea turtles. “I really appreciated how much Costa Ricans have done to prevent the extinction of these beautiful animals,” Meltzer said. “I also thoroughly appreciated that they recognize that the beaches and land that humans love to use and live on are homes to the sea turtles as well, driving their motivation to protect this key species.”
Bolze also reflected upon their experience visiting the leatherback sea turtles that are on the brink of extinction. “We got to see how the microplastics in the sand are affecting the pollution there on the beaches. We learned about how we need to get to the source of this pollution rather than just having more beach cleanups,” she said.
For Bolze, the biggest takeaway from the trip was the importance of collective action in achieving sustainability. “I think we all need to remember that we need to bring people together to make a big change. It’s hard to do it all by yourself,” she said. “The big changes come when people work together, especially in businesses. Businesses have the power to make a huge impact because they’re made up of groups of people.”
Looking back on the trip, Bolze expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to engage with sustainability in such a meaningful way. “I was really nervous at first for the trip because I didn’t know anyone going on it, I just decided to go because I knew the professors before,” she reflected. “Overall, I’m glad Bucknell has this program because I think that everyone that does it is really passionate about it and it was really cool to get to know all of these people that I now see around campus.”
The Bucknell in Costa Rica program not only offered students like Bolze and Meltzer a chance to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world context but also allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of sustainability, technology and culture. As Costa Rica continues to be a global leader in sustainable practices, students left the program with a renewed sense of purpose and a greater commitment to contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Through the Bucknell in Costa Rica Winter Break program, students gained valuable insights into the power of sustainable management, technology and working together to create a more sustainable future.