Projects

This research addresses a critical conservation crisis affecting keystone pollinators in the Neotropical Andes. Bumblebee populations are declining worldwide, with Ecuadorian species especially vulnerable to climate change and severe habitat fragmentation. A major barrier to conservation is the absence of a validated species checklist and reliable distribution data. To address this, we propose a three-step approach: First, we will update the Ecuadorian bumblebee checklist using new field surveys and historical museum records, essential due to the presence of cryptic species. Second, we will apply Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to map potential habitats, highlighting areas of high fragmentation and poor connectivity crucial for conservation planning. Third, we will conduct phylogenetic analyzes with mitochondrial DNA to resolve evolutionary relationships and confirm species boundaries. This integrated, molecular-based framework will strengthen conservation strategies for these vital pollinators in one of the planet's most biodiverse yet threatened regions.

This research project analyzes walkability in the arcades of Cuenca's Historic Center using a comprehensive, multi-faceted methodology. In its first phase, the study combined three dimensions: an empirical approach based on pedestrian counts, which identified usage patterns according to day of the week, gender, and presence of arcades; a theoretical approach that evaluated the quality of the walkable space using the eMAPS tool developed by LlactaLAB and adapted to the specific characteristics of the arcades; and a perceptual approach supported by surveys and interviews about the pedestrian experience.

The second phase delves deeper into the analysis by surveying morphological and functional variables, such as facade permeability, sidewalk activities, ground-floor uses and access points, and type of heritage protection, using a Nolli map of the Historic Center. Comparing the two phases will allow for the establishment of relationships between pedestrian traffic, spatial configuration, and the quality of the walkable space.

La Phase 4 of the project is oriented to the operational and scientific consolidation of the data analytics infrastructure of Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), with emphasis on the optimization and automation of the analysis chain for the efficient generation of data products R0V.
This stage involves implementing improvements in processing flows, quality control, and data reduction, enabling the transformation of large volumes of raw information into validated products. robust, reproducible and scalableminimizing manual intervention.
The phase also integrates capabilities of near real-time analysisThis facilitates the early detection of transient astrophysical events and the issuance of scientific alerts. These actions strengthen the sustained scientific exploitation of the observatory, maximize the scientific return, and consolidate the use of advanced computing and Big Data infrastructures.

This proposal expands the project “Modern Architecture and Heritage. Gilberto Gatto Sobral’s Urban Development Plan today (1947-2024)”, moving from the analysis of key buildings —Municipal Palace and House of Culture— to the comprehensive urban scale of Cuenca.

Gilberto Gatto Sobral, a pioneer of Ecuadorian modernism, designed a plan in 1947 that regulated the established city center and projected growth toward outlying areas like El Ejido. His historic plans represent a vital part of the national modern heritage, essential to the collective memory.

The approach highlights the plan's modern urban values: technical rigor, geometric precision, and universality, viewing it not as an obsolete map, but as a historical vision of form and order. It contrasts these principles with the Cuenca 2025 project, demonstrating the modern project's capacity to build a city, countering simplistic notions of failure. It will make a substantial contribution to the Digital Twins project that the University of Azuay is developing with UNESCO.

The Historic Center of Cuenca presents a persistent contradiction between its renowned urban and heritage value and the existence of precarious housing forms, such as tenement houses, which sustain the daily lives of low-income residents. These rental dwellings fulfill a key social function, but they are threatened by real estate development, touristification, and the absence of effective housing programs aimed at social stability. In response to this problem, the project aims to formulate a comprehensive social housing rental plan applied to the heritage context, integrating regulatory, economic, social, and architectural dimensions. Based on an analysis of international experiences, the current legal framework, and management and financing mechanisms, the research proposes a viable model that contributes to guaranteeing access to decent housing, improving living conditions, and preventing the displacement of vulnerable populations.

Wind energy is a sustainable generation alternative. The wind in the Andean highlands makes this an ecosystem with high potential. However, wind farms can have negative impacts on biodiversity, especially on birds. This proposal is based on three work packages that aim to: 1) Determine how the operation of wind farms influences the composition of Andean bird communities. 2) Generate spatial information on the vulnerability of highland bird communities to the potential implementation of wind energy projects. 3) Understand the spatial use of indicator bird species in a highland area with high wind energy production potential to create vulnerability maps. The results of this research will be important for minimizing the potential impacts related to the expansion of wind farms in the Andes.

The herbaceous páramo of the Cajas Massif faces pressures from human activities, primarily burning for grazing, as well as the effects of climate change. These disturbances could generate a phenomenon of shrub thickening. Fast-growing shrub species replace the native herbaceous vegetation. This replacement reduces the availability of herbaceous habitats, with potential negative effects on the specialist bird community of the herbaceous páramo. To understand these dynamics, a comparison of the vegetation between two periods (2018–19) is proposed. versus 2026–27) and, to assess the bird community in 2026–27, using transects with varying levels of disturbance. The study will examine changes in the diversity and composition of plants and birds in relation to shrub thickening. This research presents a more comprehensive view of human impact, projecting a more precise focus on the effect of shrub thickening in the páramo ecosystem.

The project proposes developing a comprehensive platform for identifying the origin of Ecuadorian chocolate through the combined analysis of its physicochemical and rheological fingerprints. Using advanced tools such as GC-MS, HPLC, spectroscopy, e-tongue, thermal analysis, and rheological and sensory profiling, authentication models will be built capable of discriminating, with high precision, regions of origin, cacao varieties, and post-harvest practices. The study will integrate representative samples from various producing areas of the country, generating a robust database that links chemical, volatile, and textural parameters with the product's geographical identity. The resulting platform will validate the chocolate's authenticity, strengthen traceability, and offer producers, exporters, and regulatory bodies a reliable system to protect the value of Ecuadorian cacao in specialized markets. This innovative approach will boost the sector's competitiveness and provide scientific evidence to support Ecuador's positioning as a leader in origin chocolates.

This research is based on the theory of educational and social inclusion, which aims to guarantee access to and participation in the education system for all students. In the Spanish context, Organic Law 2/2006 and its fourth additional provision establish the framework for improving support for students with disabilities and promoting their inclusion in mainstream schools. This study, guided by the principles of equality, diversity, and participation, analyzes how this provision is implemented in special education centers, with the goal of identifying effective practices that strengthen inclusion. The project represents a strategic opportunity to extract clear guidelines, transform them into accessible materials adapted to the Ecuadorian context, and strengthen local research capacity by learning from international experiences. These contributions can be key to improving the coordination between specialized and mainstream schools in Ecuador, moving towards a more inclusive education system.