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SDSN Mexico and the Research and Development Secretariat at the Engineering Institute at UNAM launch the 2023 Interdisciplinary Research Groups

By SDSN Mexico

On Tuesday, February 7, an event was held to showcase the projects that are part of the Interdisciplinary Research Groups at UNAM’s Engineering Institute. This initiative was developed by the institute in collaboration with the Research and Development Secretariat, via SDSN Mexico.

The Interdisciplinary Research Groups at UNAM’s Engineering Institute launched in February 2023 with a total of four projects selected through an open call. The process for developing this convening began in June 2021, with an initial focus on interdisciplinary research, which is sometimes affected by a lack of funding. As a result, the convening developed with the objective of identifying and supporting various projects that benefit society as a whole, contributing to environmental protection and the overall development of the country.

The process was carried out to create a precedent when it comes to establishing interdisciplinary research groups that harness the capacities of various scientific groups to generate solutions for sustainability challenges. The preparatory and organizational process ran from August 31- November 4, 2022, with the participation of the different projects. Subsequently, a group of evaluators at the national level began the selection process of the four finalist projects of the call, which will present an annual report seeking a renewal of support. Each one will have a maximum of three years to receive economic support.

The selected projects and the stages mentioned above were presented on February 7 at an event chaired by the Director of the Engineering Institute, Dr. Rosa María Ramirez Zamora.

The Research and Development Secretariat was a fundamental part of this convening through SDSN Mexico, highlighting municipal sustainability challenges that various local governments have, as a basis to guide the call around the formation of interdisciplinary groups. In addition, the Secretariat supported the development of the evaluation process, creating rubrics for the selection of the finalist projects and the issuance of the final results. Similarly, the Secretariat also belongs to the 2023 Organizing Committee of the Interdisciplinary Research Groups.

Due to the close relationship between the two entities, Dr. José Manuel Saniger Blesa, head of the Secretariat, highlighted the importance of developing interdisciplinary and cross-cutting projects, as well as the relevance of giving them a greater institutional scope so that they generate a higher level of incidence and social impact. Likewise, he highlighted how the 2023 Interdisciplinary Research Groups have created a new precedent when it comes to generating new calls for project financing at universities, demonstrating that precise organization, adequate continuity, and leadership on behalf of the organizing institute all lead to a solid approach such as the one in this convening.

At the end of the event, the four finalist projects that are part of the 2023 Interdisciplinary Research Groups were announced:

  • Sisal, Yucatán: Towards a sustainable and resilient city; led by Dr. José Luis Fernández Zayas, its objective is to make the state of Yucatán a sustainable entity by identifying scientific issues with a potential to achieve the above. In addition, it seeks to increase citizen participation from inhabitants and university community in the pursuit of a sustainable livelihood in the peninsular region.
  • Paradigm shift: Waste as raw material to reconcile the water-energy-environment-food security axis; led by Dr. Iván Moreno Andrade, it seeks to develop a multidisciplinary strategy that balances the water-energy-environment-food security links through waste recovery, thus improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food sector.
  • Intensification of processes to obtain bio-composites from wastewater: A revolutionary project led by Dr. María Teresa Orta Ledesma, which seeks to generate processes for obtaining and using bio-composites from wastewater within the concept of a circular economy.
  • Sustainability of the Mexican Caribbean: Changing weaknesses into strengths; led by Dr. Rodolfo Silva Casarín, seeks to develop technologies for the restoration, conservation and more balanced use of the natural resources in Mexico’s Caribbean region.

It’s worth noting that the four projects involve significant participation from students, which is beneficial for promoting a more sustainable professional training that is mindful of future generations of researchers.

To learn more about SDSN Mexico, please visit sdsnmexico.mx, or email [email protected].