Producción y Consumo Responsables

FICT strengthened the culture of sustainability within its community through a workshop on inclusive recycling and responsible waste management, promoting practices of waste reduction, sorting, and proper disposal that contribute to a more sustainable and responsible campus.

FICT-ESPOL participated in the second edition of the international program “Application of New Methodologies and Technologies for Water Supply in Ibero-America and the Caribbean,” with the presentation “Utilization of Mine Water for Industrial Use and Water Supply,” delivered by Paúl Carrión, Ph.D., and Silvia Loaiza, Ph.D. The training session brought together nearly 80 participants from Latin America and the Caribbean and provided an opportunity to share strategies, technologies, and case studies developed in Ecuador for the treatment and sustainable use of mine water. This participation strengthened the international exchange of knowledge on water security, environmental management, and the use of water resources in mining contexts.

FICT-ESPOL conducted a technical visit to the Bira Mine and its processing plant in Zaruma to learn about operational practices related to water management, mine water treatment, and tailings management. During the visit, the group observed processes such as the neutralization of acidic water, metal precipitation, solid sedimentation, and industrial water recirculation. Of particular note was the 100% reuse of process water in the grinding and flotation stages. The experience provided students and professionals with firsthand exposure to technologies applied in a real mining operation and generated insights for training and applied research in mining environmental management.

FICT and the University of Oviedo are promoting new international cooperation efforts in the geosciences through joint research, training, and academic exchange initiatives, thereby strengthening opportunities for students and faculty and promoting projects with scientific impact.

Civil engineering students enhanced their knowledge of wastewater treatment through a technical presentation on innovative biological technologies, gaining insight into international research and sustainable solutions for water resource management.

Environmental Engineering students from the Agrarian University of Ecuador visited ESPOL’s Petroleum and Drilling Fluids Laboratory to learn about processes in the hydrocarbon industry and their relationship to the assessment and management of environmental impacts. The event covered topics such as environmental sampling, sources of pollution, exposure pathways, and risk assessment for human health, fostering interdisciplinary exchange between the fields of environmental engineering and petroleum engineering. The activity helped enhance the students’ education and created opportunities for academic collaboration between the two institutions.

A study evaluated the use of inert mining tailings to stabilize clay soils with low bearing capacity, comparing different dosages and mixtures with tailings-cement mortar. The alternative with 15% tailings-cement mortar showed the best performance, increasing the CBR from 5.1% to 15.4% and significantly improving the soil’s mechanical strength. The results demonstrate the potential for reusing mining tailings in geotechnical applications, promoting the circular economy and sustainable solutions for road subgrade stabilization.

FICT hosted the international seminar “Sustainable Mining and Industrial Safety,” featuring Ph.D. David León, a professor and researcher at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The event provided an opportunity to share international perspectives on sustainability and safety in the mining industry, as well as to strengthen academic cooperation between ESPOL and the UPM within the framework of the Erasmus+ program.

ESPOL’s Sustainable Development Club (CDS) participated in SostenIA by ESPOL 2026 with an interactive booth where it presented the initiatives it has been promoting since 2019 related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through activities such as calculating ecological footprints and strengthening strategic partnerships, the Club promoted reflection, student leadership, and a commitment to sustainability.

Researchers at FICT–ESPOL developed an innovative methodology that uses dipolar acoustic logs to generate synthetic capillary pressure curves and characterize reservoirs with limited data. Published in *Scientific Reports*, the study provides a tool to support reservoir engineering and strengthens applied research in the energy sector.