Scholarships for 20 sustainability young leaders

Scholarships for 20 sustainability young leaders - #35036

In 2026 we will celebrate 30 years

Report 24

Dear Family/Donors,

Time flies. It seems like only yesterday that our school was founded and has been consolidating itself over the years with extension courses, MBAs, professional master's degrees, and partnerships with international schools.

 More than 8,000 professionals have already passed through our training programs; we currently have 78 trained specialists, 348 master's graduates, and we are working and dreaming of a doctorate!

 The impact of our school is reflected in innovative work, such as those I described in the previous report, and the transformation in the lives of our students and alumni. See one testimonial below:

Tarsila – Mater student 2024

 "Since my birth in a quilombo community, I carry with me a heritage that connects me to the land, the waters, the forests, and a sense of community. This ancestry taught me that preserving life is also preserving memories, stories, and ways of existing in harmony with nature. It was from this root that my choice to follow the path of environmental conservation and socio-environmental justice was born, seeking to unite technique, science, and the affection inherited from my ancestors.

 In my work with communities I felt the urgency to expand my knowledge and strengthen my capacity for struggle and care. The Professional Master's Program in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development at ESCAS/IPÊ appeared to me as a unique space: high academic credibility, but also of social commitment and the valuing of environmental education as a tool for transformation.

 Upon entering the course, I found a vibrant teaching environment that broadens horizons and connects different areas of knowledge in dialogue with exceptional professionals and colleagues who inspire me every day. This master's degree is not just an academic training, but a fertile territory for the construction of knowledge, joining science, practice, and commitment to conservation.

 Receiving the scholarship was crucial in making this dream a reality.

 I carry this achievement with immense gratitude, because I know that people like sometimes do not have the opportunity to occupy these spaces. Therefore, each class, each exchange, and each discovery has a profound and symbolic value for me. The master's degree is a milestone in my journey, a path that strengthens me to continue working in defense of biodiversity, sustainability, and the dignity of communities, honoring the past, transforming the present, and sowing the seeds of the future”.

It's the end of the year, we're in a period of celebrations. Next year we will celebrate 30 years of ESCAS and we want you to be with us, in the achievements and success of our students and alumni, and in the achievement and success of the transformation that you are making together with all of us towards a more sustainable, dignified and biodiverse world.

Thank you for being with us in favor of the diversity of life.

Please, write me if you have any questions or wish more information.

ipe.cristi.martins@gmail.com

 All the Best

Cristiana

Links:

• Our School website

Dear Family/Donors,

What do our graduate students learn? What kind of work do they develop along the way?

Our school is based on diversity and multidisciplinarity. Therefore, we welcome students from all backgrounds to join our graduate classes.

Because we address broad topics such as sustainability, which is one of the themes of our program, the student´s final projects offer diverse and innovative perspectives on solving today's socio-environmental challenges.

This week, we are holding the first defenses for the class of 2023, which marks the end of the master cycle for these students. We share here some of the topics presented, as an illustration of the commitment, creativity, and search for solutions we find among our students.

Themes for the Class of 2023 – Master's Degree Projects in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development:

 SUCCESSFUL AGROECOLOGY EXPERIENCES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO

In this project, our student investigated several experiences of adopting agroecological systems in Rio de Janeiro, evaluating the successes and failures of four experiences. As a result of this professional master's degree and the research conducted, part of the content was used to create the ebook "Agroecology Experiences in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro," featuring introductory texts on agroecology and reports on the four experiences, showcasing the journeys of people and organizations that make agroecology a reality in the region today, as well as photos and videos that illustrate the written information.

PODCASTS AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TOOL: RAISING AWARENESS OF OCEAN CULTURE AND OCEAN CONSERVATION THROUGH AFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

In this dissertation, our student developed and recorded a podcast episode addressing marine conservation topics and then interviewed listeners to gather their perceptions, needs, and assessments. The goal was to draw attention to an environment that is underexplored in this type of media and little known to the lay public. The results demonstrated that the format generated interest in the topic, and listeners generally would like more podcasts about the environment and interviews with  researchers working in this field.

HOW BRAZILIAN CITIES ARE BUILDING THEIR CLIMATE ACTION PLANS

This study aims to evaluate the Climate Action Plans (CAPs) prepared by Brazilian municipalities in light of the Climate Change Institutional Assessment (CCIA) framework, developed by the World Bank and adapted here for the subnational context. The research is based on the observation that, although CAPs are being increasingly adopted as a tool to address climate change at the local level, little is known about their institutional quality, their implementation capacity, and their alignment with principles such as climate governance, socio-environmental justice,and intersectoral integration.

The results reveal significant disparities among the plans, notably the absence of formal governance structures, poor financing allocation, and limited inclusion of actions focused on climate justice. Based on these findings, the study proposes guidelines for improving PLACs, including institutionalization through legislation, strengthening social participation, and integration with urban public policies. The applied methodology represents a unique contribution to the field of local climate governance in Brazil.

We couldn't be more proud of our students' contribution to the socio-environmental area in Brazil! Thank you for being with us and helping to produce knowledge and awareness in favor of the diversity of life.

Please, write me if you have any questions or wish more information - ipe.cristi.martins@gmail.com

 All the Best

Cristiana