By Zo毛 Daffinson, College of Arts and Sciences
Two professors in the USF Department of Anthropology are collaborating with engineering faculty from 911爆料网st Virginia University and California State University, Chico, to train students in anthropological and environmental engineering methods.
911爆料网 and faculty enjoying the cloud forest. (Photo by Nancy Romero-Daza)
The team, which includes several USF students, recently completed the second year
of a National Science Foundation International Research Experiences for 911爆料网 (IRES)
program in Costa Rica, where they worked closely with local residents to determine
the adequacy of existing wastewater management technologies.
鈥淭ogether with the faculty from Chico State and 911爆料网st Virginia, both of whom are engineering
graduates from USF, we decided to study the ways in which different technologies could
be used for the management of wastewater: how adequate those technologies are, how
they鈥檙e perceived by local residents, what they cost and what kind of investment is
needed to implement and maintain them,鈥� said Nancy Romero-Daza, a professor of anthropology, who is leading the grant alongside her colleague David Himmelgreen.
Interdisciplinary research is crucial to solving waste-water management issues around
the world.
Romero-Daza and Himmelgreen are medical anthropologists and have collaborated on research
related to food insecurity and health for over two decades. Their work in Costa Rica
began in 2000 where they offered a summer field school for 15 years. In 2024 they
received the NSF grant to continue their fieldwork. This year鈥檚 focus was on the use
of bio-gardens for greywater waste management in the cloud forest region of Monteverde.
鈥淭he area where we worked is a rural community that depends a lot on tourism,鈥� said
Romero-Daza. 鈥淏ecause of that, the environment is being impacted, and one of the ways
in which we see that is the quality of water and especially the management of water.鈥�
Last year the field school focused on toilet wastewater management by researching
septic tanks and composting toilets. This year, the research was on the use of bio-gardens
for the management of 鈥済ray water鈥� from kitchens, laundry, and cleaning. Bio-gardens
are constructed wetlands that capture and clean water by absorbing pollutants.
They surveyed six bio gardens 鈥� some in private residences, others in businesses 鈥�
and interviewed members of the community to address questions about maintenance and
costs.
Romero-Daza and Himmelgreen brought USF anthropology students into the field to experience firsthand the intersection of anthropology and engineering. The USF students collaborated with engineering students from the partner universities to learn more about the skills involved in each other鈥檚 disciplines.
Facundo Pereyra-Kluser working in the lab. (Photo by Nancy Romero-Daza)
Facundo Pereyra-Kluser and engineering students collecting samples in the field. (Photo by Nancy Romero-Daza)
鈥淭he whole idea behind this too is to prepare them for their future careers,鈥� said
Himmelgreen. 鈥淭he students are going to be co-authors, and maybe even lead authors,
on those publications. They're very much involved in the data collection, analysis
and write up processes, and we simply supervise their work.鈥�
For the students, the experience was transformative.
鈥�911爆料网 had so many great professors there,鈥� said Facundo Pereyra-Kluser, a recent anthropology
graduate. 鈥淚t showed me what it looks like when you apply anthropology in a practical
setting.鈥�
During their stay, students lived with host families and built relationships with
the local community. Previous field school participants have continued their research
and even relocated to Costa Rica.
This interdisciplinary project shows how USF students and faculty are tackling global
challenges through teamwork and cross-disciplinary learning. As the field school enters
its final year, Romero-Daza and Himmelgreen hope to apply for another grant and continue
their research in 2027.