Mestenhauser Student Award

Ariadna Mondragón Botero is a Ph.D. student studying Plant and Microbial Biology in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Ariadna has been working on forest restoration in Madagascar for the last four years, experiencing firsthand a diverse culture in a remote country. She wrote a case study for restoration ecology and has taught it to multiple classes, sparking conversations about how socio-political issues affect science development in different countries. Along with two of her colleagues, Ariadna is developing a children’s book about the ecology of the dry forest. She recently applied for a grant to publish and print copies of this book, which will be distributed to school children worldwide. Ariadna is an international student from Colombia and is passionate about sharing all the country has to offer. She has volunteered with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), speaking about traditional Colombian music, as well as with Global Minnesota through their Classroom Connection Volunteer program promoting an appreciation of international diversity.