Acción por el Clima

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.

Ecuador faces significant risks to public health and the economy due to its high volcanic activity, particularly from ash fall. The study proposes an integrated One Health approach to strengthen risk management and the health system’s response.

Joint project with the National Secretariat for Risk Management to assess the Volcanic Risk Index in Ecuador, develop a geospatial platform, and strengthen prevention and risk management related to the country’s active volcanoes.

Research Technician from FICT - ESPOL conducted a research stay at the National University of Colombia (UNAL) as part of the EOR and CCUS project, collaborating in the Summer School on low-carbon technologies. This experience strengthens scientific cooperation between Ecuador and Colombia in the fields of sustainability and energy transition.

Based on Karla Villamar's master's thesis (ESPOL), a study published in the journal Groundwater for Sustainable Development reveals that mining and urbanization in Santa Rosa, El Oro, have contaminated streams and altered the chemical composition of water reaching local communities. This research, conducted by FICT experts alongside Slovakian colleagues, provides key scientific evidence to improve water management, protect public health, and promote sustainability in mining areas.

FICT actively participated in the Second Provincial Climate Change Forum 2025 in Guayaquil, where Dean Ing. Paúl Carrión, Ph.D., served as a panelist on water funds, and researcher Ing. Emily Sánchez moderated the Productivity segment. The event brought together experts, authorities, and local stakeholders to address solutions for climate adaptation, mitigation, and management, strengthening collaboration between academia, the public sector, and society.

The Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) delivered an outstanding performance in the 6th edition of Cuartiles Mayores, earning two important institutional recognitions. Additionally, M.Sc. Maribel Aguilar, from CIPAT, was honored as ESPOL’s Best Research Technician, reaffirming FICT’s leadership in applied research and its contribution to strengthening scientific output within the university.