PIIP 2025 -Marcos Montiel

5-25-2025 It was pretty nerve-wracking presenting our research poster in Spanish, but through trial and error, I can now proudly say that I did it. I presented a research paper in Spanish. It was an awesome experience working with my mentor, Juan Munguía. He was incredibly helpful—especially since I didn’t have much background in plant and soil science. He broke things down in a way that was easy to understand and apply, which made a huge difference.

5-24-2025 It has been an incredible experience working and collaborating with the Ngäbe-Buglé tribe. Their deep passion and connection to what we know as environmental science is inspiring. I truly hope to return one day and bring more students to help strengthen relationships and foster a more balanced and respectful partnership—one that supports the preservation of such a beautiful and rich culture. I feel grateful and honored to have been selected to come to Panama. I sincerely hope that the people of Panama continue to prosper and live joyful lives.

5-23-2025 Today, we took a boat trip to a beautiful Caribbean island. We had the chance to swim for about two hours and enjoy the clear water, but our time was cut short because a rainstorm started rolling in quickly. On the way back to the workstation, we had to go straight through the storm. It honestly felt like something out of a movie—the moment we hit the cloudy area, the rain started pouring and hitting our faces hard. We even had to slow the boat down because the rain was stinging so badly. Despite that wild ride, it was an unforgettable day. I never imagined I’d be swimming and playing games on a Caribbean island with such a fun crew. It’s one of those experiences I’ll remember forever.

5-22-2025 Today, we conducted soil testing in the teak plantation to assess key nutrient levels and soil characteristics. Using test strip kits, we measured the pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) content of the soil. These results will help us better understand the current soil conditions and provide insight into potential factors influencing the biodiversity—or lack thereof—within the plantation.

Today was our data collection day. We visited the high-compaction soil site, which is primarily used for livestock, to measure root depth. In the image shown below, the first three inches of soil contain organic matter that supports root growth. Beneath this layer, a compacted clay layer is visible, which significantly restricts root penetration. Based on our observations, the roots tend to spread horizontally and remain confined within the top three inches of organic-rich soil.

 5-19-2025 Today, we took a tour with Professor Edmundo from the Universidad Tecnológica Oteima, where we explored the landscapes across different elevations. The first location was at 25% elevation, where the main question was how to elevate the slope—an area currently limited mostly to livestock use. The second stop ranged from 20% to 45% elevation, which is ideal for teak trees, as they can be planted, regrown, and cloned every three years. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the 45% elevation today, but we will likely see it tomorrow. The image on the left shows the 20–45% elevation area used for teak tree plantations. This soil supports sustainable forestry practices, including replanting and cloning every three years. The terrain here is moderately steep, which benefits teak growth due to better drainage. The image on the right displays the 25% elevation area primarily used for livestock. The soil in this region is more compact and shows signs of grazing activity, which can...

5-18-2025 I enjoyed our stay at Hotel Puerta Del Sol. Last night, we went to a delicious restaurant—though I can’t remember the name, they served probably the best grilled chicken I’ve ever had at a restaurant. The chicken was tender, and the seasoning was perfect. Today, we packed our luggage and made it to Oteima Technological University. We introduced ourselves to our mentors and peers and began planning our research project.

 5-17-2025 Panama City was such an incredible experience! I especially loved how lively the city became at night—it felt like the energy never stopped. The people of Panama were so warm and welcoming, which made our time there even more memorable. The image below shows the airport in Panama City, where we caught our flight to David, Panama. While David is smaller than Panama City, it still offers plenty of great restaurants and unique features that made it just as exciting in its own way.

 5-16-2025 We went on a little adventure touring Casco Viejo. It’s fascinating how much rich history is reflected in the architecture and the contrast between historic ruins and modern construction (like in the image below).

 5-15-2025 Today was an eventful day, to say the least. Our flights were delayed, we got separated, and we even ended up at the Costa Rican airport because the Panama City airport was closed due to weather conditions. Thankfully, we made it safely to our hotel in Panama City and got to meet the amazing crew who will be joining us in working with the Universidad Tecnológica Oteima.

Panama  5-11-2025 It is crazy to think that we leave to panama in a couple of days. In a blink of an eye the semester flew by. I am exited to travel to Panama to meet their culture and most importantly learn new scientific information.  😊