On September 4, 2026, the ESPOL Library Auditorium (Auditorio de Biblioteca) hosted a new edition of #5MinPitch, an academic platform challenging graduating seniors to present the methodological, social, and clinical impact of their capstone projects (materias integradoras) within a strict five-minute limit.
The session commenced at 10:00 AM with opening remarks delivered by the Acting Associate Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS), Diego Quito, Ph.D., followed by an introduction to the session’s methodology by M.Sc. Sara Flores and the introduction of the evaluation panel led by M.Sc. Valeria Guzmán. The event was moderated by Alfonso Silva.
Between 10:20 AM and 11:00 AM, eight teams of graduating Nutrition and Dietetics professionals pitched their applied research:
Astrid Carolina Anzoategui Vinces & Karen Melissa Quimis Pincay: Sustainable dietary management application to improve nutritional status in older adults.
Jeslyn Lilibeth Vélez Laaz & Jordi Emmanuel Cruz González: Design of a comprehensive pediatric nutrition program for children with developmental needs receiving care at Kinderzentrum.
Jennifer Paulina Zavala Ávila & Diana Desiree Barahona Mayorga: Nutritional assessment and diagnosis of beneficiaries participating in the ESPOL community project in El Morro parish.
María del Pilar Villegas Plaza & Leslie Scarlet Alvarado Rodríguez: Pilot design of a dietary guideline for patients more than one year post-bariatric surgery.
Irina Gabriela Borbor Suárez & Miguel Ángel Méndez Sánchez: Comprehensive nutritional education program for physical rehabilitation patients at Muving S.A.
Marina Estefanía Vega Zambrano & Anakeyla Sánchez Ramírez: Application of an early detection screening questionnaire for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus risk factors.
Judith Pamela Zarria Totoy & Shasney Maylin Medina Magües: Parental determinants in snack selection among school-aged children attending the Polytechnic Student Welfare Directorate holiday camp.
María Lorena La Mota Camacho & Jackson Alexander Chóez Barrios: Correlation between muscle mass and handgrip strength in university administrative staff and faculty.
The evaluation panel assessed both the technical-methodological rigor and communicative fluency of the presenters:
Lic. Michelle Sarmiento: Graduate in Nutrition and Dietetics (ESPOL) and Nursing (UG), specialist in surgical clinical nutrition and surgical instrumentation, and commercial representative at Provimedic S.A.
M.Sc. Carolina Herrera Burneo: Master in Personalized and Community Nutrition (Universitat de València) and research professor at FLS-ESPOL.
M.Sc. Liz Monserrate: Specialist in educational communication, marketing, and lecturer in the ESPOL Communications Department.
Following deliberations and constructive feedback, the semifinal winners were announced at 11:15 AM, bringing the event to a formal close at 11:30 AM and reaffirming the vital contribution of evidence-based nutrition to public health and social well-being.
Congratulations to the semifinal winners: Marina Estefanía Vega Zambrano, Anakeyla Sánchez Ramírez, María Lorena La Mota Camacho, and Jackson Alexander Chóez Barrios!
