The Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) participated in the “First International Course: Volcanic Risk Assessment and Management – Introduction to VOLCANBOX,” held from April 20 to 24 at the National University of Costa Rica in Heredia. The in-person event brought together international participants for specialized training in Geosciences.
The course aimed to train professionals in volcanic risk assessment and management through an approach that integrated theoretical and practical components. As part of the training, field trips were conducted to the Poás and Irazú volcanoes, reinforcing applied learning in real-world settings. In addition, the course covered the use of VolcanBox, a software program developed by the Natural Risk Assessment and Management Service of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), designed for the comprehensive analysis of volcanic hazards and risks.
The program was taught by an academic team consisting of Daniela Campos-Durán, Joan Martí Molist, and Guillermo Alvarado Induni, as part of a collaboration between the National University of Costa Rica and the Natural Risk Assessment and Management Service (NRAMS-CSIC). The call for applications selected 15 international participants, including professionals from Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, among whom were Victoria Rosado Zambrano, M.Sc., and Valeria Vaca Molina, M.Sc., research technicians and master’s students affiliated with FICT-ESPOL.
Participation in this course strengthens technical capacities in natural risk management and promotes collaboration with international academic networks. Such experiences contribute to the development of human talent prepared to address challenges associated with natural hazards, which impact territorial planning and community safety.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
