Abstract:
Introduction: Since the beginning of its republican life, the development of biological sciences in Costa Rica
has been strongly influenced by hundreds of foreign naturalists and scientists who have carried out exploration,
research, and publication activities in relation to its biodiversity.
Objective: To better understand their contributions, in this paper we take an historical tour, with emphasis on
the last century and a half, regarding the motivations that attracted these people to Costa Rica, as well as their
specific scientific contributions.
Methods: Six criteria were followed to address this issue: a) whether they were residents or itinerants; b) if they
had a frequent relationship with Costa Rica; c) if they collected specimens; d) the type of publication; and e)
whether to implement teaching or institutional management.
Results: Therefore, the information is organized into six large sections, structured chronologically as follows:
the first inventories of the biodiversity of Costa Rica (1513-1842), the recognition of biological sciences in
Costa Rican culture (1839-1848), the insertion of biological sciences in Costa Rican culture (1854-1886), the
institutionalization of the biological sciences in Costa Rica (1886-1900), Costa Rica as a mecca for biological
explorations (1900-1957), and the training of professionals in biological sciences (1940-2021).
Conclusion: This periodization allows us to contextualize the contributions of those naturalists or scientists in
time, as well as to better visualize the economic, social and political events and circumstances that conditioned
their scientific work.
