Acción por el Clima

ESPOL’s FICT has secured funding in the 2025 CEDIA R+D+i Universities Call for the project: 'Evaluation of the recovery potential of critical minerals present in mine tailings.' The research will be conducted in 2026 and will address the responsible management of mining waste and the recovery of strategic minerals, featuring a team led by FICT faculty in collaboration with both national and international universities.

ESPOL’s FICT is gearing up for THE FINAL PITCH, an academic event where five finalist Capstone Projects from the Petroleum Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Civil Engineering programs will showcase their ability to communicate innovative proposals that address real-world national challenges. The event aims to strengthen communication, argumentation, and presentation skills, promoting innovation and the comprehensive training of future professionals.

FICT-ESPOL successfully hosted the 5MinPitch PAO II 2025 semifinals, where students from Geological Engineering, Mining Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, and Civil Engineering presented their capstone projects in five minutes before a specialized jury. This initiative strengthened communication skills and technical argumentation, leading to the selection of five finalist projects focused on solving real-world engineering challenges.

From January 14 to 17, 2026, a multidisciplinary team led by M.Sc. Kenny Escobar Segovia installed corner reflectors in the Paute sector, Azuay, to calibrate Sentinel-1 satellite signals and monitor ground deformation using DInSAR technology. This strategic initiative aims to ensure the stability of the Paute Integral Hydroelectric Complex and the safety of surrounding communities, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals to strengthen infrastructure and risk management in Ecuador.

ESPOL's FICT conducted a field visit to the Balbanera–Pallatanga road section as part of the “Permeable Pavements for High Traffic” project. The activity allowed for the identification of the pilot site and the evaluation of the pavement, drainage system, and structural behavior of the road under real conditions, with the aim of validating laboratory results and strengthening the development of innovative solutions for road infrastructure.

FICT-ESPOL hosted Dr. Marisa Giuffrida, a researcher from the University of Catania (Italy), for a scientific stay focused on the mineralogical study of rocks on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. This collaboration, carried out under the Climred and Peligal projects alongside Dr. Maurizio Mulas' team, seeks to decipher the geological origin of the archipelago. In addition to the scientific contributions, this alliance with the University of Catania —the oldest in Sicily— strengthens the Faculty's internationalization, paving the way for future exchange programs for students and researchers.

Karolayn Gaibor Yambay, a student at FICT-ESPOL and President of the ASCE ESPOL student chapter, has been selected for a four-month research internship at the École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) in Montreal, Canada. At this prestigious institution, a leader in applied engineering, Karolayn will work on a regenerative infrastructure project focused on developing low-carbon permeable concrete mixes to optimize their strength and sustainability.

FICT-ESPOL and the Jujan GAD (Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno canton) have launched a technical cooperation phase following the signing of an inter-institutional agreement. During this first working meeting, territorial needs were analyzed to structure projects focused on risk management and flood mitigation. Through this alliance, the Faculty reaffirms its commitment to community engagement, putting its scientific capacity and expertise at the service of territorial resilience and the sustainable development of the locality.

This study, published in ACS Sustainable Resource Management (2025) by researchers from ESPOL in collaboration with Ghent University and FujiFilm, demonstrates that the use of elevated temperatures and homogeneous bipolar membranes significantly optimizes seawater acidification via electrodialysis, facilitating a faster and more efficient CO₂ extraction as a key strategy to mitigate climate change.

A top-decile (Q1) scientific study analyzes 24 sub-watersheds on Santa Cruz Island (Galápagos) to prioritize those with the most favorable conditions for sustainable water management and agriculture, identifying five key watersheds with high water-retention capacity. Published in Environmental & Sustainability Indicators, the study provides high-impact scientific evidence to support territorial planning and climate change adaptation in volcanic island environments.