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Photo: Courtesy of La Salle University.
Given the challenges inherent in environmental sustainability and social development in the current landscape, the Faculty of Basic Sciences calls for promoting the conservation of ecosystems through the implementation of innovative projects. These projects target the positive transformation of national regions, in line with contemporary scientific and social needs.
An example of this is the undergraduate work carried out by Dana González and Laura Yuzuriha, students of the Biology Program at Unisalle, under the supervision of Laura V. Campos, instructor of the biology program, and in collaboration with Juan Carlos Benavides of the University of California. Ecology at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana directed their project towards climate change mitigation.
“We are currently developing our scientific studies in the northeastern Andes, specifically in high mountain peatlands,” the students said. “We are characterizing the vegetation associated with these wetland systems; The results obtained will provide us with important and relevant information for conservation and decision-making aimed at preserving these ecosystems.”
On the other hand, Carlos Schnur, Dean of the Faculty of Basic Sciences at La Salle University, highlighted that one of the biggest challenges ECBA faced in training its specialists was “integrating environmental sustainability into the curriculum and interdisciplinary cooperation. This is because sustainability is a subject that requires constant updating and inclusion of practices and strategies.” Sustainable in both teaching and research, therefore, there is a need for a new profile capable of establishing collaboration with other programs and professionals, thus generating a logistical and administrative system. Challenge.”
Despite this and other challenges that the School had to overcome, it is important to highlight that thanks to the constant modernization of its processes and the interconnection with other disciplines, it has become possible to formulate projects such as “Development of innovative natural ingredients” with application in the cosmetics and/or food industry. of non-timber forest products found in Chocó Province,” headed by teachers Lodi Pabon and Vanessa Gomez, which has been selected by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to be funded by the public royalties system and which will be implemented over the next three years.
“The project aims to create a positive social, scientific and economic impact in the medium and long term on the people of Chocó, and specifically the municipality of Atrato, by developing participatory production models that redefine the knowledge of local communities. Empowering them and promoting the chain of natural ingredients with their application in the cosmetics sector.” And/or food,” explained Professor Lodi Cristina Babon.
This exciting initiative will be led by La Salle University and will involve researchers from the National University, the Universitat Papua Javeriana and the Bioinnova Innovation and Development Center in Chocó. In addition, we will work alongside women-led community organizations in the region in order to contribute to empowerment and gender equality within the region.
Finally, among the achievements of the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences of La Salle University during the year 2023, which was awarded by the Ministry of National Education, is the high-quality accreditation of the biology program, the “Manuel Zapata” Award. “In recognition of the quality of education and social commitment, and notification of eligible registration for the new undergraduate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
If you want to be part of this social and environmental transformation, learn about the academic offer at: https://www.lasalle.edu.co/unidades-academicas/departamento-de-ciencias-basicas.
(Tags for translation)Universidad de La Salle
