Five Belizean high-school girls turn a coastal crisis into an agricultural opportunity and win STEAM Award

By Ingrid Ferlo: What began as reluctant attendance at a STEAM Summer Camp culminated in national recognition for five students from Bishop Martin High School, whose proposal to transform sargassum seaweed into agricultural fertilizer earned the “Best Use of STEAM” Award at the 2026 STEAM Festival.

The winners, Linda Escalante, Ideleen Monzon, Vivian Martinez, Yasmin Minjangos and Marceline Locario, admit they almost never participated. Summer classes had already filled their mornings, while the STEAM camp occupied their afternoons. Some wanted to rest; others simply lacked enthusiasm. Encouragement from their mothers ultimately persuaded them to attend, a decision that would reshape their outlook.

Their interest in science and engineering developed through exposure to practical challenges rather than abstract theory. Teacher Wilson Mendoza challenged students to think about real environmental problems facing Belize. Industry professionals from ASR reinforced the idea that engineering is fundamentally about improving people’s lives. A visit to Orange Walk ITVET, where students observed AutoCAD being applied to real projects, demonstrated how mathematics underpins modern design and construction.

The result was “The Reborn of Sargassum”, a concept designed to address one of Belize’s most persistent environmental challenges. Rather than treating sargassum as waste, the students envisioned a boat capable of collecting the seaweed, compressing it, and processing it into fertilizer for Orange Walk’s agricultural sector. Their research suggested that sargassum contains nutrients that could benefit crops while helping combat fungal diseases, creating the prospect of cleaner beaches alongside healthier sugar cane production.

The proposal resonated because it connected environmental protection with economic development. The students believed their design could reduce the odour and disruption caused by decomposing sargassum along Belize’s coastline while creating value from material that is otherwise discarded. Community members, they said, recognized the potential benefits for businesses, restaurants and farmers alike.

Success, however, was far from assured. The team divided responsibilities according to individual strengths, assigning research, model construction and presentation tasks accordingly.

Faced with strong competition and rigorous questioning from judges, they feared they had fallen short. Their preparation proved decisive, particularly when judges questioned the chemical treatment of sargassum, an issue the students had researched by examining approaches used in Mexico.

The announcement of their victory came unexpectedly. Two team members had stepped away briefly when they heard their names called. The celebration that followed reflected not only relief but also a growing confidence that young women belong in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics as much as anyone else.

Winning the award has not diminished their ambitions. The students now hope to develop a working prototype, but acknowledge that financing remains the principal obstacle. With support from organizations such as the sugar industry, the Inter-American Development Bank or other potential investors, who share their belief that innovative ideas deserve an opportunity to move beyond the classroom, they believe they could bring their prototype to life.

Their advice to other girls is simple: embrace opportunities that initially seem uncomfortable. A summer programme they almost declined has become the foundation for a project with the potential to tackle one of Belize’s most visible environmental challenges while supporting one of its most important industries.

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