Ricardo Sánchez-Calderón, AKA “Mapache”, is a biologist interested in plant-animal interactions. He studied biology at the University of Costa Rica and completed his Master´s degree in 2023. He has been working with mammals for over 6 years, primarily bats. His current interests include the ecology of tent-making bats and their role in seed dispersal, their tent building behavior and temporal and spatial distribution of tents and plant species selection along altitudinal gradients.

Since 2020, he has been the coordinator of the Costa Rican Bat Conservation Program where he is trying to create opportunities for students to learn about bats, as well as workshops for communities to change their negative perceptions about this group and eradicate myths and false information.

Along with assisting the SFS faculty with the logistical aspects of the academic program and providing maintenance for the SFS Costa Rica social media, Mapache hopes to provide SFS students with an enriching, compelling, and culturally gratifying educational experience.