The RECA Model for Student-Led Community Development

The Network of Colombian Astronomy Students (RECA) is a student-led association founded in 2014. Its mission is twofold: to connect the astronomical community to support early-career scientists in Colombia and to actively overcome the systemic barriers that often hinder progress in academia and research. While the organization is structured around seven specialized nodes to address various community needs, its primary impact stems from its focus on mentorship, international research exposure, education and outreach programs, and the cultivation of inclusive environments.

A cornerstone of RECA’s operations is the Mentors Program, now in its fifth version, which has supported over 250 students since 2020. This program addresses the lack of local guidance for students aspiring to pursue advanced degrees by connecting undergraduates with more than 90 Colombian and international astronomers established in top-tier institutions. These institutions include the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the University of Michigan, Stanford University (SLAC), and the European Southern Observatory.

The program uses a multi-faceted approach to professional development: personalized meetings to help students navigate the complex graduate school application process, and online sessions open to the Spanish-speaking community that cover critical "soft" and technical skills, such as stress management, research ethics, data science, and scientific communication. The program also provides peer review of application materials and guidance on securing scholarships. This structured support has resulted in a 76% acceptance rate for students applying to PhD and MSc programs globally.

The RECA Internship is the first and only Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in Colombia. Now in its sixth version, the program receives 50 to 100 applications annually for a select number of research projects led by professional astronomers worldwide. Projects range from star-cluster simulations and exoplanet characterization to deep-learning applications in cosmology. Students also participate in Python bootcamps and coding groups to ensure they have the computational tools necessary for modern astronomy and astrophysics research. They also have the opportunity to gain exposure to professional observational planning and to remote access to world-class telescopes, such as the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Nordic Optical Telescope. The program emphasizes academic writing, with many projects leading to refereed publications in major journals such as The Astrophysical Journal or to featured summaries in Astrobites. The internship concludes with a public symposium where students present their findings in 15-minute talks, fostering scientific communication skills.

RECA has integrated a dedicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) node. This node operationalizes the conviction that equitable communities produce better science. RECA treats inclusion not as an ethical supplement to its research mission but as a prerequisite. The DEI node’s current focus is on creating a comprehensive resource bank of protocols and a clear code of conduct to set behavioral expectations within the network, and on developing specific strategies and formative spaces to prevent and address cases of gender-based violence or discrimination in astronomical environments, as well as to highlight the importance of diversity in scientific research. By institutionalizing these safe spaces, RECA ensures that the next generation of scientists, particularly those from marginalized groups, can pursue research without the burden of systemic exclusion.

The success of RECA's nodes, supported by funding from national and international entities, including the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) and the Flatiron Institute, demonstrates the power of student-led communities. By connecting the astronomical community across all academic levels, RECA not only strengthens national scientific development in Colombia but also offers a blueprint for others. Fertile, safe, and inclusive communities of knowledge are part of what a sustainable future looks like, and RECA has spent a decade building the evidence that student-led networks can create them. It is proof that this is a model worth replicating, promoting, and funding. We encourage the global planetary science community to adopt similar networks to empower the next generation of researchers, grounded in equity, passion, and purpose.