Featuring more than 100 keynote lectures, panel discussions, and specialized workshops, the inaugural Bio Summit, a global forum dedicated to biodiversity, regenerative economics, and climate adaptation, was held from November 4 to 6, 2026, at the Quito Metropolitan Convention Center. Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral participated as a strategic partner university through a coordinated joint effort between our faculty, the Faculty of Maritime Engineering and Marine Sciences (FIMCM), and the Pacific International Center for Disaster Risk Reduction (CIP-RRD).
Throughout the three-day scientific program, FLS faculty and technical research staff took center stage across key thematic tracks:
Paolo Piedrahita, Ph.D.: Delivered two keynote lectures focusing on post-flood pest, vector, and pathogen dynamics triggered by El Niño events, as well as the pioneering initiative positioning the Prosperina Protected Forest and Vegetation (BVPP) as the first forest in Ecuador to issue certified biodiversity units. He also contributed to panels on Galápagos marine protected areas and hands-on workshops utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA), remote sensors, and drones for ecological monitoring.
Julián Pérez Correa, M.Sc.: Head of the BVPP, presented the keynote address “Prosperina: The Engine of Life Weaving the New Biodiversity 2.0,” detailing the biological baseline protocols required to certify blockchain-backed conservation digital tokens for environmental financing. He also led panels on biodiversity credits and adaptive wildlife responses to El Niño.
Lisbeth Espinoza, Ph.D.: Contributed to technical panels on the strategic role of pollinators and invertebrates in sustainable agriculture and facilitated workshops on Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) frameworks utilizing field-deployable technologies.
Celso Yaguana, M.Sc.: Led specialized workshops covering plant and wildlife biodiversity assessment, water resilience against droughts and El Niño, ecosystem services valuation, and wildfire prevention.
Michelle Vela, M.Sc.: Research technical specialist at the faculty, shared scientific insights in panels focused on cetacean conservation (whales and dolphins) amid ocean warming, marine biodiversity in the Galápagos, and trophic ecology.
Complementing the academic agenda, ESPOL hosted an institutional booth dedicated to the Prosperina Protected Forest and Vegetation (BVPP), accompanied by a scientific poster exhibition showcasing research conducted by polytechnic students. The summit also featured prominent involvement from Biology undergraduate students and alumni—including Sara Chiquito Vaca on the organizing committee and Luis Garcés—demonstrating the synergy between academic research, ecological restoration, and environmental public policy.
