A veteran journalist and a Microelectronics researcher have launched Project Costa Rica 2050, a new initiative that seeks to plant the seed of scientific inquiry and a passion for technology among average Ticos.

Ana Madrigal has been involved in journalism for the last 25 years, and Paola Vega obtained her Ph.D. in Microelectronics from a German university in Hamburg. Together they took to the airwaves about 10 months ago and began to broadcast a talk show on Saturdays at 11:00 am on Radio Actual 107.1 FM. The show, which is eponymous with the initiative, focuses on topics that highlight scientific and technological research in Costa Rica. The goal is to promote interest in the efforts of Tico researchers, with the hope that more people will support them.

Ms. Vega is part of the Editorial Scientific Council of the initiative, along with other scientists and researchers. The group provides advisory to the initiative, and they select the topics to be broadcast and promoted via different media outlets, including newspapers, radio, television, and online social networks.

The main goal of Project Costa Rica 2050 is to promote scientific and technological literacy among Ticos. The initiative enjoys the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT in Spanish). Support from the private sector is currently provided by Banco Nacional and bioTD.

The official launch of the initiative took place this past May 3^rd. Minister of Science and Technology Alejandro Cruz was present at he event, as well as Minister Mayi Antillo, Minister of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), among other public officials who fully support the initiative.

Some of the initial topics that Project Costa Rica 2050 has thus far covered have also been reported on the pages of The Costa Rica Star; for example, the rise of nanotechnology research in our country and the participation of Tico biotechnology firm bioTD at the 40th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva (where they took the silver medal). Other topics of interest include the work of Novaq, a firm dedicated to leveraging the power of cloud computing to modernize the medical record systems currently in use by La Caja.

For more information, please visit Project Costa Rica 2050 at:

• http://twitter.com/costarica2050
• http://www.facebook.com/CostaRica2050
• http://www.youtube.com/costarica2050