ALUMNA
KERSTIN FORSBERG Graduated: 2001 School: Newton College, Lima, Peru
LIFELONG SKILLS IB graduate turns love for science into a career that conserves marine life in Peru
“I LOOKED FORWARD TO BIOLOGY CLASS. MY TEACHER MADE IT SO FASCINATING” 38
and community involvement. People really want to participate in ocean conservation, we just have to give them this platform.” This is what led Kerstin to establish Planeta Océano. Among other achievements, the organization has worked tirelessly to get giant manta rays legally protected. And it is now prohibited to harvest giant manta rays or consume them in Peru.
Taking action Planeta Océano empowers people through three main action pillars: ‘research’, ‘education’ and ‘sustainable development’. ‘Research’ encourages ‘citizen scientists’ to help develop scientific information. “For example, we have a group of students who have reported sea turtle nesting, as well as fishermen who contribute to research on manta rays in the Peruvian ocean,” says Kerstin. Planeta Océano works with local authorities to develop conservation management and action plans, based on the science that has evolved from ‘citizen scientists’. The organization is incorporating ocean literacy within schools and in communities, through ‘education’. The Marine Educators Network includes 50 different schools, and works with teachers to incorporate conservation issues within classrooms. “We are encouraging youth-led environmental initiatives in coastal areas and are fostering citizenship and entrepreneurship at a very young age. This promotes critical thinking and transforms the way many schools are working.” ‘Sustainable development’ creates environmental leadership, contributing to marine conservation and economic development in the community. “We are currently working with a fishermen’s
association, which we helped to form to promote giant manta ray and marine eco-tourism. Having the fishermen lead these services allows them to generate an alternative income, but also to contribute to the marine conservation in their locality.” Kerstin adds: “We believe in the power everybody has to create change for oceans and marine environments. Oceans are our planet’s life support system. They provide most of the oxygen that we breathe, and are a food source for millions of people.”
IB advocate The DP instilled lifelong skills, which Kerstin says have helped her career, and encouraged a multidisciplinary approach to work. This has helped ensure Planeta Océano develops different actions to create real, long-lasting change. Her favourite element of the DP is critical thinking. “I’m a real advocate for the IB, it allows you to think completely differently,” says Kerstin. “Beyond schooling, it’s a tool that can help you later on in your career. “Critical thinking, as well as analytical and communication skills, and making sure your ideas are delivered in a way that people can understand, are tools I use all the time.”
Kerstin is championing youth-led environmental initiatives ibo.org
François Schaer/Rolex Awards for Enterprise
Just like an IB programme, Kerstin Forsberg’s approach to life is multidisciplinary. She studied the IB Diploma Programme (DP) at Newton College, in Lima, Peru, and was interested in pursuing lots of different things, such as theatre, music, the debate team, but most of all science. “Biology was my favourite subject,” explains Kerstin. “I looked forward to each class. The way that my teacher Dr Vivian Ash would explain the subject, made it so fascinating. I had so many good teachers.” Kerstin is now a biologist, marine conservationist and founder of Planeta Océano (Planet Ocean), a non-profit, award-winning organization that is focused on empowering people in marine conservation. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do after Newton College, but I had always been passionate about science, animals and nature ever since I was a very young girl,” she says. “My biology classes helped me realize that I was interested in the science behind everything.” During her last year of undergraduate study at National Agrarian University, in Lima, she conducted a research project on sea turtles, and reached out to local volunteers to help. In just one month, she had over 100 volunteers. The project then developed into a big community initiative. “This opened my eyes and made me realize that there are so many things that still need to be done, regarding oceans