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An Expats Perspective on Living with Earthquakes in Costa Rica

A friend who lives in New York City was all over social media in the wake of the 4.8 earthquake that hit the east coast of the US on Thursday. The sensation of the earth moving, and the building he was in swaying was a first for him. All I could think was, ‘Welcome to the club’. According to the University of Costa Rica’s page on seismic history, there have been 31 quakes of 5.0 or better here since 1990. And countless smaller tremors. Ovsicori , the organization that keeps tabs on volcanic and seismic activity, records all the tremors throughout Costa Rica. Their website features a map that shows all recorded movements over the past 15 days. It is mind-boggling (or maybe earth-shattering would be the better adjective) to look at this map and see the underground activity. We easily average a dozen tremors daily, mostly concentrated in the Central Valley and Central Pacific regions, but with all provinces well represented. When it comes to the sensation of the earth moving beneath y...
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Postdoctoral Jobs at University of Florida | Research Vacancies

Last Updated on April 28, 2026 by Scholar Idea Explore Postdoctoral Jobs at University of Florida. Fully funded research roles in AI, Medicine, Agriculture, and Veterinary Sciences. The University of Florida (UF) stands as a premier center for higher education and groundbreaking research, consistently ranked among the elite public universities in the United States. Located ... Read more The post Postdoctoral Jobs at University of Florida | Research Vacancies appeared first on Scholar Idea .
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Strong Colón and Higher Port Fees Squeeze Costa Rica’s Exporters

Costa Rican exporters are absorbing hits from three directions at once: rising port fees on the Caribbean coast, a colón that has strengthened to historic levels, and a 10% U.S. tariff that has complicated access to the country’s most important export market. Each pressure alone would be manageable. Together, they are testing the viability of export operations up and down the value chain. Earlier this month, the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP) approved a sweeping update to the tariff schedule for JAPDEVA, the state authority that oversees the Atlantic-side ports of Moín and Limón. JAPDEVA had originally sought increases of between 13% and 167% across 19 port services. After a public comment period in March, during which business chambers registered strong opposition, the regulator approved a more moderate, though still significant, restructuring. ARESEP estimates that JAPDEVA’s overall revenues could rise by roughly 27% under the new schedule. The increases ...
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Indie Drama “Hope/Esperanza” Filming in Costa Rica Through End of May

Cameras are rolling across Costa Rica on Hope/Esperanza, an indie romantic drama from Oscar-winning producer Mark Johnson, with principal photography set to continue at locations throughout the country until the end of May. The production began shooting on April 13 and will run for five weeks, employing more than 200 Costa Rican cast and crew members. Filming is taking place across multiple regions, including the communities of Pacayas and Bagaces, where local businesses are seeing a boost in transportation, lodging, food service, and logistics work tied to the shoot. Johnson, whose credits include Rain Man, The Holdovers, and the Breaking Bad universe, is producing the film alongside Costa Rican producer Esteban Quesada Vizcaíno. Mexico City-based Alejandra Cardenas serves as executive producer, with Sarah Quintero and Jessica Mollo co-producing. The film marks a tonal departure for Johnson, best known for prestige television and awards-circuit dramas through his two-decade collabora...
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Research Positions at Agency for Science Singapore

Last Updated on April 27, 2026 by Scholar Idea Explore research Positions at Agency for Science Singapore. Join world-class research institutes in biomedical and engineering sciences. The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) serves as the backbone of Singapore’s mission to be a global leader in scientific innovation. For ambitious researchers, clinical chemists, and ... Read more The post Research Positions at Agency for Science Singapore appeared first on Scholar Idea .
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University of Jyväskylä Vacancies | Postdoc & Faculty Positions

Last Updated on April 26, 2026 by Scholar Idea Explore University of Jyväskylä Vacancies. Find Postdoc and Professor roles in Finland. Apply for research positions today. The University of Jyväskylä (JYU) stands as one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary research universities, consistently ranking in the top 3% globally. Known for its world-class facilities and a ... Read more The post University of Jyväskylä Vacancies | Postdoc & Faculty Positions appeared first on Scholar Idea .
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Costa Rica Wildlife Draft Raises Alarm Over Illegal Captivity

The possibility of allowing the keeping of certain wild birds, such as macaws, has returned to public debate with the new draft of the Wildlife Regulations. This issue has resurfaced as one of the most controversial points in the proposal put forward by the National System of Conservation Areas ( SINAC ). The new wording retains the option to keep birds acquired before 2017 in captivity, even without clear verification mechanisms. For those working in wildlife rescue and management, this poses a risk to conservation. “SINAC has no way of verifying that I’ve had the macaw since before 2017; I could forge an invoice and claim I bought it earlier, and abroad, since sales are prohibited here,” said Laura Porras, director of Icomvis-UNA. The problem, then, is not only legal but also operational. If the animals’ origin cannot be verified, the regulation could end up facilitating illegal ownership. Porras also commented on the case of hybrid iguanas. “Some people brought blue iguanas from ...
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