As Senior Education Researcher and Lead of the Education Technology Program, Sandra Arango-Caro’s work at the Danforth Center is a compelling blend of teaching, research, and plant science, and the path she took to get here is just as inspiring as the work itself.
From Scout to Scientist
At age 12, Sandra joined the Colombian Association of Girl Scouts, and her dual interest in teaching and the natural sciences was born. She explored the great outdoors on hikes and camping trips and became fascinated by nature. As a Scout, she was also trained in leadership and instruction; she went on to lead Scout groups as a young adult and eventually joined the national board of directors to lead the national instructional team.
Early in her career, Sandra Arango-Caro spent more than five years conducting research on the birds and plants of the Andean Forest.
While still volunteering for the Girl Scouts, she started her undergraduate studies as a biology major at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. There, she met Professor of Ecology Orlando Vargas, who became her mentor. “He motivated me to become an ecologist,” Sandra says, “and to value nature and its intimate connection with humans.”
During her undergraduate thesis research, Sandra spent 16 months in the Andean Forest of Colombia studying the behavior and morphology of fruit-eating birds and the plants that those birds were consuming. She continued her research on plant regeneration after graduating and cultivated her talent for teaching by training groups of birdwatchers, giving tours of the protected forest areas where she worked, and mentoring high school and undergraduate field assistants.
How can you expect people to care about conserving the planet and its resources if they have not been exposed to nature and educated about its wonders and services?
Sandra Arango-Caro, PhD, Senior Education Researcher
A Center for Plant Science
Four years later, Sandra decided that she wanted to continue her education and moved to St. Louis, where she earned her PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL).
“It is funny to say that I study tropical ecology in the Midwest!” Sandra admits, but she was drawn here for good reason. St. Louis is a surprisingly ideal place to study the tropics. UMSL’s ecology faculty was doing research in Latin America and recruiting students from the region. Organizations like the St. Louis Zoo and the Missouri Botanical Garden both conduct extensive research in Latin America, and the Garden has one of the world’s largest collections of tropical plants in its exceptional herbarium. Additionally, the Danforth Center is the largest non-profit plant science research organization of its kind.
For her dissertation, Sandra examined the impact of abiotic and biotic effects of forest fragmentation on tree regeneration in the Andean forest. After completing her PhD, she decided to stay in St. Louis to start a family and continue her work with plants at the Missouri Botanical Garden. While working there, she conducted research to support the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, co-founded the Garden’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, and taught undergraduate courses—always simultaneously building on her dedication to both plant science and education.
Inspiring Others Through STEAM+Ag® Education
In 2014, Sandra joined the Danforth Center in our Education Research and Outreach Lab, where her work focuses on bringing STEAM+Ag® education in both formal and informal settings to inspire the next generation of scientists. She develops curriculum, provides professional development to educators and mentors, conducts education research, and facilitates outreach activities.
Sandra looks on as a student participating in the Danforth Center Education Technology Program explores the possibilities of virtual reality technology.
She is the lead of our Education Technology Program, which uses emergent technologies to close the digital access divide and bring STEAM+Ag education to all. The program focuses on students in rural and other underserved communities who have limited access to explore and engage with STEAM+Ag education.
“Working with and for people on STEAM+Ag education and conservation of nature are some of the greatest experiences of my life,” Sandra says. “How can you expect people to care about conserving the planet and its resources if they have not been exposed to nature and educated about its wonders and services?”
Sandra continues to conduct research alongside her public outreach work. Currently, one of her focuses is examining the factors that influence the development of student interests in STEAM+Ag fields and careers. She investigates the impact of integrating science, art, design, and technology in student learning; the benefits of student productive failure and teamwork; and the development of student plant awareness. Another area of her research investigates the benefits of training and mentoring on the development of a professional identity, professional network, sense of belonging, and career path opportunities for mentors and mentees of all academic levels in STEAM+Ag.
“I am very proud of the impact my work has generated in all kinds of communities and my contributions to the study of STEAM+Ag education,” Sandra says. “This is not only my doing but the result of incredible teamwork and collaboration with many individuals and institutions.”
