Las Nubes Project, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON (2026)

08/10/2026

Sustainability in Action

As part of the Managing for Sustainability course, led by Professor Joel Marcus, our students had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the environmental initiatives and impact of the Municipality of Pérez Zeledón across the canton.

During our visit to the Solid Waste Transfer Center, we explored local efforts in waste management, recycling, resource recovery, water treatment, and environmental education. These initiatives demonstrate how local action can contribute to building a more sustainable canton. ♻️🌎

We sincerely thank the Environmental Promotion and Outreach Office of the Municipality of Pérez Zeledón, as well as Tatiana Valverde, Daniel León, Mauricio Picado, and Randall Azofeifa, for welcoming our group and sharing their knowledge and experience.

A valuable opportunity to connect academic learning with local action and better understand the work contributing to a more sustainable Pérez Zeledón.

07/26/2026

As part of the Narratives in/of Costa Rica: Individuals, Communities and Their Voices course, led by Professor Alejandro Zamora, the group visited Marvin's farm to experience firsthand a diversified and sustainable farming operation. Throughout the visit, students explored a wide variety of plants, learned about cacao cultivation and processing, and discovered how agricultural production can be integrated with environmental conservation. More than just a field visit, it was an opportunity to exchange knowledge, stories, and experiences that reflect the close relationship between people, the land, and sustainability in Costa Rica.

07/24/2026

To understand a place, it is essential to listen to the people whose lives have been shaped by it. As part of the course Narratives in/of Costa Rica: Individuals, Communities and Their Voices, led by Professor Alejandro Zamora, students visited Vida Paz Farm, where they were welcomed by Luis Ángel Rojas, who dedicated more than 25 years to York University.

With warmth and authenticity, Luis Ángel opened his home and shared the story of his family, the transformation of the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor over the years, and the changes he has witnessed through decades of living and working in the region. His reflections offered students a unique perspective on how conservation is deeply connected to the people who shape, protect, and call these landscapes home.

More than a presentation, it was a meaningful conversation that reminded everyone that behind every protected forest are individuals, families, and communities whose stories give conservation its true meaning.

07/15/2026

As part of the Educating for a Sustainable Future course, led by Professor Steve Alsop, the group had the opportunity to visit and take part in a meaningful learning experience with Cindy Vargas and Luis Carrera.

The visit provided valuable insights into how land conservation is closely connected to the protection of traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, and community-based initiatives. Through shared experiences, participants reflected on the importance of preserving cultural memory, valuing knowledge passed down through generations, and recognizing the vital role that communities play in biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Cindy, Luis, and the entire Camino de la Semilla community for their warm welcome and generosity in sharing their knowledge. These exchanges deepen our understanding of sustainability and remind us that the most meaningful learning comes through listening, respect, and dialogue among diverse ways of knowing.

07/12/2026

As part of the Educating for a Sustainable Future course, led by Professor Steve Alsop, York University students visited Liceo Rural Yeri, where they were welcomed by Principal Yansel Acuña Torres and the school's teaching staff. The visit provided an opportunity to better understand the educational context of Salitre and to reflect on how the dedication of students, teachers, and families overcomes the challenges of distance and access to education. This meaningful exchange reaffirmed the value of learning from one another and the role of education as a powerful force for transforming communities.

07/10/2026

On June 30, the Educating for a Sustainable Future course, led by Professor Steve Alsop, visited Santa Elena Elementary School to share a day of learning and exchange with the children in the community. These interactions provide a valuable opportunity to learn from different perspectives, exchange knowledge and experiences, and strengthen meaningful connections between the university and the local community. They also give York University students the opportunity to learn firsthand about Costa Rica's educational system, enriching their understanding through direct engagement with the local school community. Within the context of the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor (CoBAS), these activities foster environmental education from an early age, inspire a commitment to biodiversity conservation, and demonstrate that collaborative learning is a key tool for building a more sustainable future.

07/08/2026

After months of planning, collaboration, and preparation, the day has finally arrived.

From July 8–10, we are proud to welcome colleagues, community partners, students, artists, activists, and researchers from across Canada, Latin America, and beyond to Communities and Knowledges: Toward a Situated, Participatory and Decolonial Academic Praxis, an international conference co-organized by 's and the Universidad de Costa Rica

This gathering is much more than an academic conference. It is an opportunity to collectively reimagine how knowledge is created, shared, and mobilized by fostering meaningful dialogue across disciplines, cultures, and ways of knowing. Together, we will explore participatory, community-engaged, and decolonial approaches that recognize the value of local and Indigenous knowledges while addressing today's complex social and environmental challenges.

We are especially honoured to welcome Dr. Joanne Rappaport (Georgetown University, USA) as our keynote speaker. An internationally recognized anthropologist, Dr. Rappaport has dedicated decades to collaborative research with Indigenous organizations in southwestern Colombia.
On July 9 (4:00–5:30 PM), Dr. Rappaport will deliver the keynote address, Activating Comics Texts as Catalysts of Memory / La activación del texto del cómic como catalizador de la memoria, exploring the role of graphic narratives in preserving memory, fostering collective reflection, and supporting participatory research practices. Her keynote promises to inspire rich conversations about innovative and decolonial approaches to knowledge creation and social transformation.

As a member of the organizing committee, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making this conference possible. Organizing an international gathering of this scale is truly a collective effort, and it has been a privilege to work alongside my fellow committee members: Claudia Palma Campos (Universidad de Costa Rica UCR), Maria Constanza Guzmán (Glendon Campus, York University | Campus Glendon de l’Université York), Felipe Montoya-Greenheck (Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change) and Ivannia Barboza Leitón (CIICLA, Universidad de Costa Rica UCR), as well as our many partners, volunteers, presenters, and participants. Their dedication, collaboration, and commitment have been instrumental in bringing this event to fruition.

I am looking forward to three days of rich conversations, new collaborations, and learning together.

07/05/2026

Why restore coral reefs?

As part of the courses The Politics of Water in Costa Rica and Latin America, led by Professor Carlota McAllister, and Conservation and Development for Social-Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing, led by Professor Felipe Montoya, students visited Costa Rica Coral Restoration in Marino Ballena National Park.

Welcomed by James George, Laboratory Director, students gained insight into a coral restoration program grounded in applied science, fieldwork, and long-term monitoring, all aimed at supporting the recovery of coral reefs in the face of increasing pressures on marine ecosystems.

Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and other human-induced impacts. In this context, restoration does not replace conservation; rather, it complements it by helping degraded ecosystems recover and regain their ecological functions.

The restoration process includes cultivating coral fragments in underwater nurseries, transplanting them to degraded reef areas, and monitoring their growth and survival over time.

Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, they support an estimated 25% of all marine species. They provide essential habitat, help protect coastlines from erosion and wave action, and support the livelihoods of many coastal communities.

Understanding these processes allows students to appreciate the complexity of ecological restoration and its role within broader marine conservation strategies.

Our sincere thanks to James George and the for sharing their expertise and commitment with our students.

07/01/2026

Learning continued beyond the cloud forest as students explored the Sierpe mangroves, one of Costa Rica's most ecologically significant wetland ecosystems.

As part of the courses The Politics of Water in Costa Rica and Latin America, led by Professor Carlota McAllister, and Conservation and Development for Social-Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing, led by Professor Felipe Montoya, students visited a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

Mangroves are among the world's most valuable coastal ecosystems. They support exceptional biodiversity, provide nursery habitat for fish and other wildlife, help filter sediments and pollutants from the water, protect shorelines from erosion, and store significant amounts of carbon.

By engaging directly with this ecosystem, students explored the connections between water, biodiversity, conservation, and the communities whose livelihoods are closely linked to these landscapes. Experiences like these demonstrate how place-based learning can deepen our understanding of environmental sustainability beyond what can be learned in the classroom.

06/30/2026

As part of the courses The Politics of Water in Costa Rica and Latin America, led by Professor Carlota McAllister, and Conservation and Development for Social-Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing, led by Professor Felipe Montoya, an academic visit took place in the Indigenous territories.
During the visit, community spaces such as Yimba Cacj, Crun Shurín, and the Camino de la Semilla were explored, where local initiatives related to conservation, agriculture, biodiversity, and knowledge transmission were shared.

Topics addressed also included the revitalization of the Brörán (Teribe) language, the defense of territory and water, land recovery processes, and community organization, within the broader context of historical and contemporary challenges faced by Indigenous peoples in the region.

The following people participated as speakers:

Gilbert González Maroto
Cindy Vargas Ortiz
Asdrubal
Virginia Lezcano Ortiz
Galiana Figueroa Lázaro

This exchange provided an opportunity to engage with territories as living spaces of culture, memory, and nature, enriching academic learning through situated, place-based experience.

Las Nubes Project

08/10/2026

07/26/2026

07/24/2026

07/15/2026

07/12/2026

07/10/2026

07/08/2026

07/05/2026

07/01/2026

06/30/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The University

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request