Agua limpia y saneamiento

The optimization of water resources in high-demand agro-industrial crops represents a strategic pillar for the sustainability of Ecuador's agricultural sector. Within this framework, the oral defense was held for the postgraduate thesis titled: “Evaluation of under-canopy sprinkler irrigation emitters in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) cultivation for efficient water management in Los Ríos province, Ecuador”, presented by Luis Bermeo.

From August 24 to September 15, 2026, Raquel Ruiz Araujo, a graduate student in the Master’s Program in Applied Biosciences with a concentration in Biodiscovery at the Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS-ESPOL), completed a research internship at the School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM), within the Faculty of Environment at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, Canada.

On August 19, the Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS) hosted the final presentation and defense session for formative research projects carried out by students enrolled in the Aquatic Ecology course.

The academic session was coordinated by professor and researcher Félix Morales, Ph.D., with the support of Biology student Josué Romero. During the event, student teams delivered detailed ecological assessments of various water bodies across the coastal region, including:

On August 17, 2026, the 15th edition of Microideas de Laboratorio took place—a flagship educational initiative of the Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS) directed by prominent research professors Marynes Montiel, Ph.D., and Juan Manuel Cevallos, Ph.D. The competition aims to foster classroom-based research, analytical rigor, and the translation of microbiological solutions to real-world challenges.

As part of the hands-on curriculum for the Oceanic and Continental Waters course, Biology students participated in a field trip to the Playa El Pelado area in the General Villamil (Playas) canton.

The activity was led by professor and researcher Félix Morales, Ph.D., with logistical support and coordination from Biology student Josué Romero. During the session, students surveyed and analyzed various coastal profile zones, including:

Technified irrigation and chemical water conditioning are decisive factors in boosting nutrient uptake in high-value, non-traditional export crops. Within this framework, the oral defense was held for the postgraduate thesis titled: “Effect of irrigation water acidification using 3 types of acid on pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus) crop yield, Manabí Province, Ecuador,” presented by Alex Muñoz.

Water resource optimization in agricultural areas represents an essential pillar for agricultural resilience and the sustainability of Ecuador's rural sector. Grounded in this focus, the oral defense was held for the postgraduate thesis project titled: "Spatial modeling and analysis of crop water requirements for efficient irrigation management in Bolívar canton, Manabí", presented by Yaser Galarza.

Food security and agricultural sustainability across the inter-Andean region demand predictive modeling tools to adapt water management to the impacts of climate variability. Grounded in this objective, the oral defense was held for the postgraduate thesis titled: “Projection of potato, maize, and quinoa water requirements under climate change using CROPWAT 8.0 in Pichincha province, Ecuador,” presented by Julio Espinoza.

Sudden temperature changes, flooding, and rainwater stagnation resulting from climate events such as El Niño create the ideal environment for vector proliferation and the rise of transmissible diseases. In light of this reality, research professors from the Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS) analyze current epidemiological risks and emphasize the importance of community prevention.

On March 12 and 13, the regional scientific community gathered at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of the Republic (UDELAR) for the Latin American Bacteriophage Conference (Jornadas Latinoamericanas de Bacteriófagos). This high-level event aimed to integrate researchers, students, and biotechnology companies to discuss the most recent advances in phage research.