As the month of August winds down, we’re sending a big congratulations to the 2024–25 GSS RaMP-UP Cohort. We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what adventures await you next! 🧪

At the beginning of the month, our third RaMP-UP cohort arrived in Panamá and spent their orientation learning more about the past, present, and future of the country. Swipe through to see what they got up to during their time⬇️

Please join us this afternoon as we celebrate the accomplishments of our 2024–2025 GSS RaMP-UP Fellows! After a year of independent research, the fellows will share insights and reflections from their time at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panamá. 🔗: stri.si.edu/webcast 🧪

At the beginning of the month, we had six incredible RaMP-UPs present at #ATBC2025. These presentations and posters represent over 10 months of their independent research at #STRIPanamá. We are so proud of how our fellows continue to represent GSS around the world.

We’re proud to share that University of Colorado Boulder and Global Sustainability Scholars (GSS) were recently highlighted for their leadership and visibility at the Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress (SRI2025). Read more at: www.colorado.edu/researchinno...

We are thrilled to announce our 2025–2026 GSS RaMP-UP Cohort! They will arrive in Panamá at the end of the summer and begin with a month-long orientation before starting their independent research. Stay tuned to learn more about this incredible group of early-career researchers! 🧪

Applications are NOW OPEN for Smith Fellows conservation research Fellowships beginning in 2026! View the Proposal Guidelines and apply here: www.smithfellows.org/join-us

It was an honor to facilitate sessions at the #SRI2025 Congress with @gsscholars.bsky.social, @belmontforum.bsky.social, and @futureearth.bsky.social! My heart is full after catching up with STRI friends, making new friends within the GSS community, and learning how to live in harmony with Earth 🌎.

Carlos Jimenez (Florida State Univ '23) is one of two RaMP-UP Fellows in the Collin Lab at STRI in Panamá. Conducting fieldwork, participating in scientific diving courses, and attending bivalve workshops are just some of the amazing opportunities Carlos has taken advantage of during his year! 🧪 🤿

Jorge Reque (UCLA '24) has spent the last year at STRI in the Symbiosis & Resilience Lab. His year has been filled with dives, lab work, and collaborating with peers and colleagues from all disciplines. Swipe through to learn more about his research and his year as RaMP-UP Fellow! 🧪🦈🔬

Dafina Matiku (Scripps College '21) has been conducting her RaMP-UP Fellowship with the Adrienne Arsht Community-Based Resilience Solutions Initiative at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Check out what she has learned throughout her year in Panamá below! 🧪🌊🌋

Armando Vera Colón (Univ of Puerto Rico @ Arecibo) is one of two RaMP-UPs in Dr. Erin Spear's DEATH Lab at STRI. He has enjoyed building community, learning new research techniques, and spotting the different animals Panamá is home to! Learn more below ⬇️ striresearch.si.edu/death-lab/ 🧪

So proud of these four current and past fellows from the GSS RaMp-UP program who were among this year's NSF GRFP award winners and honorable mentions! We can't wait to see what you all will achieve in your research and beyond! 🧪

Tomorrow (04/16), Jacee (UC Irvine '22) will take us on a day in his life on his project, "Decomposition rates within mangrove sediment" on our Instagram story. Be sure to check it out! Insta: @gsscholars 🧪

Tune in today on our Instagram (@gsscholars) for another story takeover. Today, Sugey Galván (UCLA '24) will take us through a day in the field at the STRI DEATH Lab on her project, “Exploring the relationship between heart rot and methane flux in tropical forests". 🧪🌴

Thank you to everyone that applied! Our applications closed this past week and review is underway.

Another Thursday, another Instagram takeover! Tomorrow (03/20), Izzy Willard (Colorado State Univ '24) will show us a day in the life on her project in the Smithsonian Bat Lab. Link to our instagram ⬇️ www.instagram.com/gsscholars?i... 🧪🦇

Tomorrow (March 11), Valeria González (Univ of Puerto Rico '24) will show us what a day in the life in the Smithsonian Bat Lab looks like on her project, "Bat predation on anoles and the use of their sensory modalities detecting silent prey". 🧪🦇 🔗 www.instagram.com/gsscholars/

Current RaMP-UP Fellow, Richie Montes (UC Santa Barbara '24) has made the most of his time working at multiple international research institutions! Check out what he has to say about his experience thus far! ⬇️🧪🌊 More on our instagram - @gsscholars.

Our first GSS RaMP-Cohort accomplished so much as our inaugural group at STRI in Panamá! There's still time to apply to our 2025-2026 fellowship! Applications due March 16! Link in bio🧪

Current undergrad, Masters student, or recent graduate w/ a bachelors? Are you from Panamá or another Latin American country? If yes to both, you are eligible for the Bridge to Science Internship at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panamá! Learn more👇 stri.si.edu/academic-pro... 🧪

Interested in insect-plant interactions? Tomorrow on Instagram, current 2024-2025 RaMP-UP Fellow, Sarah Shamash (George Washington Univ '23), will take us through her day in the @acaciants lab at STRI Panamá on her project, "The acacia-ant mutualism: novel behaviors and plasticity of traits". 🧪

Check out our latest post about what our GSS 2024-2025 RaMP-UP Cohort has been up to down at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panamá! www.instagram.com/reel/DFyHfIP... Applications due March 16! www.gsscholar.org/apply 🧪

Follow along on our instagram story today as Owen Blacker (UMass Amherst '24) takes us through his day working on his project "Spider Communication in a Variable World"! www.instagram.com/gsscholars?i... 🧪🕷️🕸️

Apply for funding to attend the 2025 Sustainability, Research, and Innovation Congress (SRI) in Chicago! Open to students, early career sustainability researchers, practitioners, and mentors! Apps due February 23, 2025! For more information on SRI & applications ➡️ www.gsscholar.org/apply. 🧪

Did you miss Sam and his story takeover about his day in the field & lab? No worries! Check out @gsscholars on insta and watch our highlight on the sea slug project! If you are interested in doing research like Sam, learn more at www.gsscholar.org/rampup-fello... and apply before March 16, 2025!🧪🔬🌊

Curious as to what a day in the life is as a current GSS RaMP-UP Fellow in Panamá? Check out our instagram @gsscholars to see what Sam Rivera (UCLA '23) does in the lab and field for his research on sea slugs! www.instagram.com/gsscholars?i... #research #fieldwork #GSS

Applications now open on the GSS website for the 2025/26 RaMP-UP Tropical BioDiversity Fellowship at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panamá! Visit gsscholar.org to learn more about this amazing opportunity. Apps due March 16! #research #TropicalBioDiversity #recentgrads #GSS