Student Perspectives on Belize’s Environmental Challenges: Key Findings from the 2025 UB STEM Fair
- Jessica C. Boles
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
On November 14th, 2025, UB-ERI participated in the annual University of Belize STEM Fair, in which organizations from around the country all came together to dialogue with today’s youth about science, technology, engineering, and math.
At the UB-ERI booth, we had a number of engaging conversations with concerned students about the state of the environment in Belize, and the role the UB-ERI is playing to promote environmental research for the prosperity of Belize’s people and ecosystems. To supplement these conversations, we polled each visitor at the booth on their top environmental concern in Belize, as well as the steps they think should be taken towards addressing those concerns. 129 UB students, visiting students, and UB staff/faculty answered the survey, and the results helped showcase the primary environmental concerns of this generation.
The most common environmental concern shared was pollution, with the primary proposed solutions being new or improved policy, better enforcement of existing policy, increased environmental education, and increased access to and quantity of garbage cans for proper waste disposal. Those that provided more detail on their concern of pollution cited the accumulation of industry waste and trash in rivers, air pollution, ocean pollution, and noise pollution. A couple students discussed the lack of proper wastewater management. One student stated that if unchecked, pollution will “destroy the ecosystem and the balance of nature.”
Links between student environmental concerns, such as air pollution and deforestation, to proposed solutions like planting trees, policy implementation, and community outreach.
Trash was the second most common concern shared, with proposed solutions being enforcement, education, and reduced littering. Students were concerned about trash buildup in the forest and water from both littering and improper waste management practices.
Deforestation was the third most common concern shared, with proposed solutions being policy and enforcement again, as well as reforestation. Students were concerned about the mismanagement of Belize’s natural resources, illegal logging, habitat loss to key species, and land fragmentation.
UB Students were most concerned with pollution and deforestation, other students (mostly visiting high school students) were most concerned with pollution and trash, and UB staff/faculty were most concerned with pollution. UB and other students most discussed policy and enforcement as solutions, whereas UB staff/faculty most discussed education.
This year’s UB STEM Fair provided interesting insights into the concerns of today’s youth and university professionals. At the UB-ERI, environmental research plays an important role in helping us support Belize’s natural heritage, and protect our important natural resources. By seeing youth so engaged with the state of Belize’s environment, it shows us that the next generation has the awareness to continue to take these steps, and address those challenges which they are most passionate and concerned about.
To see the data from the fair, as well as the code used to create the figures seen, check out our open repository!
