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Our History

Ecology Project International was founded as an independent non-profit organization under IRS tax code 501(c)(3) in October 2001. Founders Scott Pankratz and Julie Osborn share a passion for innovation and impact. EPI started as an idea that Scott had to empower and inspire nearby residents through scientific partnerships.

While working as a sea turtle biologist in Costa Rica in 1996, Scott recognized that in spite of prolific scientific studies, many critical habitats and species−including the area in which he was working−continued to decline. Sea turtle eggs were sold at local markets and piles of trash washed up on the beach during rainstorms. Almost all of the researchers he interacted with were foreigners, and very few spoke any Spanish. Julie had similar experiences while living in Costa Rica in 1991 as a biology student.

Scott had recently finished a training program in experiential education at the Teton Science School in Wyoming, and Julie had completed her graduate work in biology at Stanford University. Julie and Scott combined their pedagogical and scientific expertise in 1998 and began formulating a plan to partner local students with scientists on critical conservation issues.

EPI's first field program involving 61 Costa Rican students and teachers took place in May of 2000. The goal was simple: to involve local residents (most lived about 5 miles away) in the monitoring and protection of critically endangered nesting leatherback sea turtles.

None of these students had ever been on a field trip or seen a live sea turtle, but all had seen turtle eggs for sale in their community. Students worked with Reserve staff to measure the turtles, tag them, count their eggs, and sometimes move the eggs to a safer location so poachers wouldn't find them. The researchers at the Reserve used the data that the students collected to monitor the local sea turtle population. The students' presence on the beach helped deter poachers from stealing the turtles' nests.

On the students' final day at the Reserve, one shared that she would, "explain to other students the obligation that we have as Costa Ricans to conserve what God has given us." A teacher stated, "A lot of scientists in this country think that to work with young people is hard, but you have demonstrated that it is possible." And as Scott and Julie had hoped, some of the students returned to their families and told them about the sea turtles, how they are endangered, and how it harms them to collect their eggs.

Since EPI's first field season, thousands of people have participated in our field programs in four countries, a majority of whom are students and teachers from Costa Rican, Ecuadorian, and Mexican schools. Our students are making a difference in conservation efforts and gaining first-hand educational experiences that change their lives.