Chevening alumna paves the way for a brighter future

For Maria Esteli Jarquin, studying in the UK with Chevening opened the door to opportunities she had once only dreamed of.

‘Since I was an undergraduate, I dreamed of becoming a Chevening scholar both for the academic opportunity to study in the UK and for the networking dimension,’ Maria explains.

But from championing biodiversity and conservation efforts in Costa Rica to sharing her work with The Prince of Wales in London, she never could have imagined just how far it would catapult her career.

In 2018, Maria was awarded a Chevening Scholarship to pursue a master’s in public administration, with a focus on providing scientific advice to governments, at University College London (UCL).

Having originally trained as a political scientist, Maria was interested in the intersection of science and policy, and the role this plays in advancing international objectives.

‘Through my UCL department, and guided by my mentor Dr Jean-Christophe Mauduit, I connected with colleagues working at the science-policy interface worldwide,’ she explains. ‘This was invaluable when I returned home, as it meant I had peers to collaborate with and a community to exchange ideas with.’

Maria also joined the International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA) and International Science Council (ISC), which bring together scientific bodies from around the world.

These networks gave her the perspective she needed to successfully lead the University of Costa Rica’s international strategy.

Now, six years later, Maria is championing biodiversity and conservation efforts at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH).

Most recently, she’s been involved with a ground-breaking automated monitoring of insects (AMI) system, led by Dr David Roy.

The AMI system, which was co-developed by UKCEH, combines robust lighting to attract insects with high-resolution cameras, creating a platform for long-term, autonomous, and cost-effective biodiversity monitoring.

‘This helps us understand trends in insect populations, which is critical given the mounting evidence of global insect decline,’ Maria explains.

Drawing on the networks she formed during her Chevening year, Maria has helped to scale this innovation globally, building partnerships from Costa Rica to Thailand and working closely with the FCDO and British Embassies along the way.

‘It’s both a professional advantage and a personal joy to feel that wherever I go, there’s a Chevening community open to collaborate,’ she adds.

But having the opportunity to present this work to the Prince of Wales in the lead up to COP30 was a pivotal moment of both recognition and responsibility.

Having recently been elected as the youngest member of the International Science Council’s Governing Board, we can’t wait to see Maria’s impact continue to grow.

Explore more stories from Chevening alumni on our impact map.