Ecology Project International

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Ecology Project International was founded as an independent non-profit organization under IRS tax code 501(c)(3) in October 2001. Founders Scott Pankratz and Julie Osborn share a passion for innovation and impact. EPI started as an idea that Scott had to empower and inspire nearby residents through scientific partnerships. While working as a sea turtle biologist in Costa Rica in 1996, Scott recognized that in spite of prolific scientific studies, many critical habitats and species including the area in which he was working continued to decline. Sea turtle eggs were sold at local markets and piles of trash washed up on the beach during rainstorms. Almost all of the researchers he interacted with were foreigners, and very few spoke any Spanish. Julie had similar experiences while living in Costa Rica in 1991 as a biology student. Scott had recently finished a training program in experiential education at the Teton Science School in Wyoming, and Julie had completed her graduate work in biology at Stanford University. Julie and Scott combined their pedagogical and scientific expertise in 1998 and began formulating a plan to partner local students with scientists on critical conservation issues. EPI's first field program involving 61 Costa Rican students and teachers took place in May of 2000. The goal was simple: to involve local residents (most lived about 5 miles away) in the monitoring and protection of critically endangered nesting leatherback sea turtles. ...

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