Research platforms and Undergraduate research experience at the upper amazon
Se diseñaron seis plataformas de investigación de pregrado (capítulos 1 a 6) para la primera escuela de verano NB LAB realizada en la Universidad de Ikiam. Aunque la escuela de verano incluyó seis semanas de inmersión en entornos de investigación de la vida real, la participación de los estudiantes de intercambio comenzó dos meses antes de viajar a Ecuador. El primer paso para ellos fue elegir la plataforma de investigación de pregrado adecuada.
Durante esta etapa previa al viaje, profesores y personal de Ikiam co-diseñaron con los estudiantes de intercambio la investigación que estos últimos realizarán. Las actividades de preparación se estandarizaron mediante el uso de pautas y plantillas para desarrollar un plan de investigación (Ver Anexo I para más detalles sobre este tema). Estos planes hechos a medida fueron revisados por un comité de tutores para: (a) mejorar el alcance y la estrategia; (b) Identificar riesgos e hitos del programa y (c) Organizar los temas, cursos, equipos y reactivos necesarios para la investigación. Así, el objetivo final de la etapa previa al viaje fue desarrollar un plan de investigación específico para cada estudiante de intercambio. Antes de llegar a Ikiam, sabían exactamente qué debían realizar para completar los objetivos de la investigación .
La segunda etapa comenzó una vez que los estudiantes llegaron al Ecuador. El núcleo de la segunda etapa fueron los bloques experimentales (EB), en los que los profesores, el personal y los estudiantes de Ikiam ayudaron a los estudiantes de intercambio de pregrado en el proceso de descubrimiento, así como en capacitarlos en el uso de herramientas de monitoreo en tiempo real de vanguardia en contextos científicos de la vida real al final de esta sección para analizar la “Guía del estudiante para este programa de verano”, que incluye un cronograma detallado de la escuela de verano Nb LAB 2022). Los EB también fueron diseñados para probar un enfoque de aprendizaje-servicio, esto significa que ofrecen a los estudiantes una forma valiosa de aprendizaje experiencial y al mismo tiempo ayudan a satisfacer las necesidades de las comunidades locales. el in situLa experiencia de investigación durante el despliegue y utilización de técnicas de vanguardia sobre lugares de biodiversidad en estaciones de investigación orientadas a la ciencia participativa seguramente será una inspiración para que los estudiantes sigan programas de posgrado orientados a STEM en el corto plazo.
Los resultados de las plataformas de investigación de pregrado realizadas durante la escuela de verano NB LAB 2022 se describen a lo largo de los primeros seis capítulos de este libro. El trabajo realizado por los socios alemanes y peruanos en Iquitos se explica en el capítulo séptimo. La etiqueta y los antecedentes de cada capítulo se describen a continuación:
Exploring the biodiversity of the amazon landscape. The Ecuadorian section of the amazon basin is a biodiversity hotspot explored just partially. Led by Prof. Mauricio Ortega–Andrade, several Ikiam University faculty, staff and students have contributed to elucidate some of this diversity by describing new metabolites and toxins associated with fungi, plants, reptiles and birds as well as performing the first campaign of DNA barcoding in the region (Quilumbaquin et al. 2023). Nowadays, the overall goal of this research platform is to explore representative samples in real time. From describing trophic networks in aquatic systems using terrariums and mesocosmos to automatizing ecological monitoring, this research platform is moving towards the description of the region by using the so-called next generation of natural history (Tosa et al. 2021). The tools used by Ikiam specialists to perform their sampling campaigns include (but not are limited to): genetics, genomics and bioinformatic methods; aircraft- and satellite-based remote sensing; camera-traps and acoustic recorders; mesocosmos and the very last generation of real time DNA sequencing tools.
Effects of global warming at different altitude gradients. Ikiam University scientists led by Prof. Pablo Meneses have access to perform research in the Colonso–Chalupas biological reserve (CCBR), a national park that comprises more than 94 000 ha and with an extraordinary altitude gradient: from 477 to 4480 metres above sea level. This research platform aimed to generate basic ecological information on ecosystems in different altitudinal gradients to support policy decision-making linked to global warming mitigation and adaptive processes (Moulatlet et al. 2021). In this context, Pablo Meneses and his team analysed the fragmentation dynamics of the ecosystems along the last decade as well as the environmental temperature and amphibians variation in function of different land uses in the buffer zone of the CCBR (Santos et al. 2019). In addition, they use ecological niche modelling to predict the potential geographic distribution of four invasive species under different climate change scenarios. Research areas available for the Erasmus + exchange program are: (1) the use of ecological niche modelling with focus in conservation and (2) Using remote sensing and drones as tools to predict the optimal regional planning in different global warming scenarios (i. e. flooding by glacier melting).
Geo–physical,–chemical,–morphological insights on the northern andean volcanic belt. Much of the richness available in the Ecuadorian sections of the amazon basin came from the Andean mountains. Each week, hundreds of tons of sediments and millions of cubic metres of water are transported from the Andes to the amazon basin. To elucidate the connections and effects of geological issues –such as seismic and volcanic activity, sediments and nutrient transport, geochemical cycles and evolution of soil–, over the biodiversity, hydrology and urban planning into the Ecuadorian Amazonian region, is the major goal of this research platform. Another goal of this platform is to develop and deploy scattered research stations (seismographs) within the Colonso–Chalupas National Park and surroundings. The mobile seismic tomography equipment could help to quantify several properties of the subduction of the Nazca plate and volcanic activity in the zone (Araujo et al, 2023; Espin and Araujo, 2022; Araujo et al. 2021). The expertise in the use of cutting–edge geomorphology, geochemical and sedimentology techniques is also a competitive advantage of the personnel that work in this research platform, which is coordinated by Professors Sebastián Araujo, Oswaldo Guzmán and Corina Campos.
Microbial ecology and ecotoxicology of fluvial systems. A considerable strain is being exerted on the fluvial systems in the amazonian region of Ecuador. Unplanned urban growth, illegal mining, inadequate design of landfill assets and de facto reuse of wastewater, are the main factors that are exerting an unstoppable pressure on the water bodies. Lead by Professors Marcela Cabrera and Rodrigo Espinosa, a set of Ikiam faculty and students are being conducting research in the following topics: Evaluation of the ecological risk and ecotoxicology on aquatic environments (Changay et al, 2021: Capparelli et al. 2021; Rosero et al. 2021); identification of organic compounds and microplastics in surface water and wastewater (Villegas et al. 2021; Villegas et al. 2022; Cabrera et al. 2023; Galarza et al. 2023). A future signature project of this research platform will be related to elucidate the virome of several fluvial systems and floodplains in the region. To do that, this platform will use VIRADEL (VIrus ADsorption and ELution) techniques –which includes the use of automated ultrafiltration devices–, as well as cutting–edge molecular biology approaches (such as Multiple Displacement Amplification for viral DNA/RNA isothermal amplification and MinION devices for in situ DNA/RNA sequencing).
Removal and inactivation of compounds of emerging concern by photocatalytic membrane reactors. The overall goal of this research platform lead by Prof. Miguel Herrera–Robledo, is to develop photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMR), small disinfection devices based on membrane separations coupled to advanced oxidation processes (AOP) that are capable of removing and inactivating viruses and oxidising most of the compounds of emerging concern (CEC). The strategy to develop these membrane photocatalytic reactors includes the following stages: (a) The synthesis and instrumental characterization of novel visible light active photocatalysts (such as bismuth oxyhalides, BiOX; in which X = Iodine, Chlorine, Bromine) (Zuarez et al. 2023); (b) its deposition on porous (ceramic membranes) and non–porous substrates (walls, floors) (Zuarez et al. 2022b); (c) The testing of its efficiency against viruses and CEC (Tuba–Guamán et al. 2022) and (d) Analysis on BiOX cytotoxicity versus different cell lineages (Zuarez et al. 2022a).
Sustainable architecture design. This platform, led by Prof. Irene Acosta, refers to the practice of designing buildings and structures that foster resilience to climate change, that promote the inclusion of the vernacular architecture of the study site, and the efficient use of natural resources to minimise environmental impact. These designs are based on environmental, social, economic aspects and ancestral practices, seeking to create habitable and functional spaces that promote the health and well-being of the occupants. The objective of this platform was to innovate in the design of structures and buildings used by Amazonian communities through the use of active and passive bioclimatic design techniques, the use of ecological construction materials with low environmental impact, recycled or of local origin, to reduce the generation of waste during construction and the useful life of the building, in addition to articulating integration with the environment by conserving existing vegetation and using sustainable landscaping techniques to preserve biodiversity. This platform, composed only by Ikiam faculty and students, was in charge of the reengineering of the Ikiam research station (IRS).
Bibliographical references (in order of apparition):
Quilumbaquin, W., Carrera–González, A., van der Heyden, C., Ortega–Andrade, HM (2023). Estudios de ADN ambiental y encuentro visual para el biomonitoreo de anfibios en ambientes acuáticos de la amazonia ecuatoriana. PeerJ. 11: e15455.
Tosa, M. y 11+ autores. (2021). El rápido ascenso de la historia natural de próxima generación. Frente. Ecológico. Evolución. 9: Artículo 698131 .
Moulatlet, GM, Ambriz, E., Guevara, J., López, KG, Rodez–Blanco, M., Guerra–Arévalo, N., Ortega–Andrade, HM, Meneses, P. (2021). Respuestas ecológicas de múltiples taxones a la pérdida y fragmentación del hábitat en la Amazonia occidental según lo revelado por los estudios de biodiversidad de RAPELD. Acta Amazónica 51 (3): 234–243 .
Santos, F., Meneses, P. Hostert, P. (2019). Monitoreo de la dinámica forestal a largo plazo con datos escasos: una implementación de clasificación multifecha en la amazonía ecuatoriana. Revista europea de teledetección 52: sup1, 62–78 .
Araujo, S., Guzmán, O., Guamán, A., Espín, R., García, I., Chulde, E. (2023). Tomografía sísmica de refracción en San Luis, zona de erosión de cabecera del río Coca. J. Aplica. Geofís. 212: 104981 .
Espín, R., Araujo, S. (2022). Evaluación de la estabilidad del talud de roca de lecho mediante Q-slope y tomografía sísmica: un estudio de caso en la amazonía ecuatoriana. Periodica Politecnica Civil Egr. 66 (1): 220–227 .
Araujo, S., Valette, B., Potin, B., Ruíz, M. (2021). Una tomografía preliminar del tiempo de viaje sísmico debajo del Ecuador a partir de datos de la red nacional. J. Ciencias de la Tierra Sudamericanas 111: 103486 .
Chancay, J. y 11+ autores. (2021). Integración de múltiples líneas de evidencia para evaluar la salud del ecosistema de agua dulce en una cuenca fluvial tropical. Reinar. Contaminación 289: 117796 .
Capparelli, MV y 11+ autores. (2021). Un enfoque integrador para evaluar el impacto ambiental de la contaminación por minería de oro en la Amazonia. Tóxicos 9 (7): 149 .
Rosero, P. y 11+ autores. (2021). Colonización de múltiples taxones a lo largo del antepaís de un glaciar ecuatorial en desaparición. Ecografía 44 (7): 1010–1021 .
Villegas, L., Cabrera, M., Capparelli, MV (2021). Evaluación de la contaminación por microplásticos y pesticidas organofosforados en cangrejos violinistas de un sitio Ramsar en el estuario del río Guayas, Ecuador. Toro. Reinar. contacto Toxicol . 107: 20–28 .
Villegas, L., Cabrera, M., Moulatlet, G., Capparelli, MV (2021). El efecto sinérgico de la exposición a microplásticos y malatión en la bioacumulación y supervivencia del cangrejo violinista Minuca ecuadoriensis . Contaminación marina. toro _ 175: 113336 .
Cabrera, M., Capparelli, MV, Ñacato, C., Moulatlet, G., López–Heras, I., Díaz González, M., Alvear, D., Rico, A. (2023). Efectos de la agricultura intensiva y la urbanización sobre la calidad del agua y los riesgos de pesticidas en los ecosistemas de agua dulce de la amazonía ecuatoriana. Quimiosfera 337: 139286 .
Galarza, E., Moulatlet, G., Rico, A., Cabrera, M., Pinos–Velez, V., Perez–Gonzalez, A., Capparelli, MV (2022). Evaluación de riesgos para la salud humana de metales y metaloides en zonas mineras del piedemonte nororiental de la amazonía ecuatoriana. Integración Env. Gestión de evaluación. 19 (3): 706–716 .
Zuarez-Chamba, M. y 11+ autores. (2023) . Síntesis de microbarras de Bi4O5I2 para la degradación de contaminantes mediante un proceso fotocatalítico. Letras materiales 336: 133888 .
Zuarez-Chamba, M., Tuba-Guamán, D., Quishpe–Quishpe, LM, Vizuete, K., Debut, A., Herrera-Robledo, M. (2022) . Degradación fotocatalítica del bisfenol A en películas nanoestructuradas de BiOI bajo irradiación de luz LED visible. Revista de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología A: Química 431: 114021 .
Tuba-Guaman, D., Zuarez-Chamba, M., Quishpe–Quishpe, LM, Reinoso, C., Santacruz, CP, Herrera-Robledo, M., Cisneros–Pérez, P. (2022). Fotodegradación de rodamina B y bisfenol A sobre fotocatalizadores impulsados por luz visible Bi 7 O 9 I 3 y Bi 12 O 17 Cl 2 bajo irradiación con LED blanco. Temas en Catalysis 65: 1028–1044 .
Michael Zuarez-Chamba, Saravanan Rajendran, Miguel Herrera-Robledo, AKPriya, Carlos Navas-Cárdenas (2022) . Fotocatalizadores de base bi para la inactivación bacteriana en agua: mecanismos de inactivación, desafíos y estrategias para mejorar la actividad fotocatalítica. Reinar. Investigación 209: 112834 .
2023 Pre–travel stage (July 8th to August 5th)
Each of the research platforms contacted the selected exchange students from abroad two months before the on-site stage began. This pre–travel academic period started the second week of June of 2022 and consisted of four sub-stages:
Explanation of the technical aspects of the research problem to solve.
Ikiam advisors (IAD) chat with the prospects and provide an explanation about the problem to solve and the hypothesis and objectives that they have been designed to attend the challenges. IAD also provided key biographical information (at least five research articles).
Homework 1: Read and understand the problem–hypothesis–objectives triad provided by the research platform faculty and staff. Identify and write quotations from the research reports provided by IAD (2500 to 3500 words). This homework was mandatory for all the prospects.
The materials and the methodology to follow. Ten days after the first conversation, IAD talked to the prospects and provided an explanation about the materials and the methods to be used in the research to perform.
Homework 2: Prospects identified and wrote quotations from “Materials and Methods” sections of the research papers provided by IAD (500 to 1500 words). This homework was mandatory for all the prospects.
The service learning component. Ten days after the previous conversation, IAD chatted again to the prospects, this time about the challenges that the local communities are facing and discussed several strategies to solve them. Two questions guided the development of the strategies: (i) How the research that we are conducting will help the quality of life of the inhabitants of the Tena metropolitan area (TMA) and its surroundings? (ii) What should we do to materialise the impact of the research in the community?
Homework 3: Analyse the diagrams designed by Dr. Christian Stollberg (see below). Write (or make a diagram) of a strategy to solve the problems faced by the population of TMA and surroundings. This homework was mandatory for all the prospects.
Integration of a research plan. IAD chatted with prospects ten days after the last conversation in order to explain how to merge the previous homeworks into a research plan with the following sections:
Theoretical framework (Max. 1000 words)
Problem to solve (Max. 500 words)
Hypothesis (Max. 500 words)
Objectives (Max. 500 words)
Strategy to connect the research with the improvement of local communities (Max. 1000 words)
Materials and Methods (Max. 700 words)
Physical, human and financial resources to be required (Max. 500 words)
Research timeline (A single table, with milestones)
Bibliography (Max. 1000 words)
Homework 4: Combine the homeworks to design a research plan. IAD provided feedback in order to enhance the scope, methodologies, financial issues and service–learning strategies. This homework was mandatory for all the prospects.
NB-Camps project is a continuation and extension of the NB-LAB project, funded by Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education programme between 2020 and 2023 (http://www.nb-lab.info/). While NB-LAB established the international cooperation and mobility agreements, the physical research facilities and methodologies for user-driven applied research at the partner universities, NB-Camps aims at their validation, curricular and institutional integration and transfer to further higher education and research institutions in the partner country Ecuador. The NB-Camps project targets the Amazon and Andean regions in Ecuador that have been involved in the NB-LAB project and extends the outreach to Galapagos, where two new partners now join the consortium. In doing so, the NB-Camps project will intensify the existing international cooperation between the partner universities in Ecuador and Germany. This will contribute to the structural strengthening of the established research and teaching capacities at the partner universities promoting a sustainable and reliable partnership with a common pool of expertise collaborating on solutions for global societal and environmental challenges.
In the decade of climate change, there is a need for more applied-research and challenge-based learning provided by universities. The role of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) is shifting towards empowering students to create tools that deal with the pressing societal challenges. This requires the availability of more research and development facilities that shall act as innovation ecosystems for students, researchers, business and society working together. Being faced with real-life problems, students should get away from the role of education recipients and become active co-creators of knowledge. Since an individual or a single professional domain will not solve complex challenges such as climate change, food security or social inequity, there is a need for mainstreaming sustainability in an interdisciplinary education through cross–professional cooperation team projects. To address these needs suitable research and education structures and mechanisms must be put into place in order to respond to the growing demand for sustainability–driven and impact–oriented higher education. A coherent and direct integration in both educational and research processes in the partner HEI will be pursued by the application of two interrelated approaches:
1.- Participatory research in a nature-based living lab camp setting from the scientific perspective
2.- Community–service learning from an educational perspective.
Both approaches will be combined and applied by mixed teams of students and researchers working together on a specific problem during a four-week research camp in different biological reserves such as the Galapagos islands and Cuyabeno biological reserve placed within the Yasuní national park. The evaluation of the four planned nature-based camps will provide evidence for the benefits of these approaches for students, academia and society paving the ground to mainstream them in existing teaching and research structures and initiate transfer to further higher education institutions. The camps will also act as a meeting point for researchers from various professional domains revealing the opportunity for 4-week research endeavours and expeditions with international peers. This is an opportunity to generate research-informed content for the subjects they teach and establish long lasting cooperation links organised around the research topics of sustainable living, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection. NB-Camps ties up on the preliminary results from the nature-based living lab pilot and the lessons learnt from the initial community service learning projects acting to explore options to embed these novel participatory research and experimental learning approaches into the existing teaching and research structures of the partner universities. The intended nature–based camps within the NB-Camps project will accommodate students and researchers applying combined both approaches in mixed interdisciplinary teams working on practicable solutions for the local communities living in the unique ecosystems in the Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountain and Galapagos Islands. Due to budgetary restrictions of the funding agency call (DAAD), the civil conflict situation in Peru and the specific cooperation opportunities with the partners from Galapagos, resulted at the end of the NB-LAB project, the current NB–Camps project shall be implemented in Ecuador only. Where possible, the relevant expertise from NB–LAB members will be involved in the NB-Camps project (e.g. training on community service learning for scientific staff and living lab participatory research approach or guest lectures on biodiversity topics). As some of the trainers come from partner universities in Peru, the south-south cooperation link can be retained despite the budgetary limitations of the project.
There were two different kinds of research clubs (RC) associated with the NB LAB project, one set of them (with focus on Technical Institute’s professors), aimed to design/develop/test several of the small scattered research stations (ssrs) required by the research platforms and the other set (with focus on undergraduate students), aimed to inspire young minds to pursue research–based careers.
RC in Technical Institutes: Instituto Central Tecnico and Instituto Napoleon Dillon (Quito), Instituto Carlos Cisneros (Riobamba) and Instituto Superior Tecnológico Tena (Napo) were the institutions in the scope of this set of clubs. The NB LAB team at Ikiam started each of them and established a timeline and a budget to design the ssrs. Central Tecnico’s faculty and staff were in charge of developing an automated photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR) prototype for achieving the goals of the research platform five (folder with detailed information about the prototype). Personnel of Institute Carlos Cisneros helped in the design and development of a rotatory biological disc (not used in NB LAB) aimed to treat bioleaching at laboratory scale (Folder_SmartLix) with detailed information about the prototype).
RC in undergraduate courses: Several attempts to develop RC with Ikiam undergraduate students were conducted, however only two produced outcomes. The RC aimed to study “Modern Materials” was conducted in company of second year chemistry students, each of the participants should analyse a research paper and later explain them in a public demonstration last February (2023). The analysis of the chemistry students can be found in the following link. The RC with focus in “Synthetic Cellularity – A tribute to Stephen Mann” was focused on third year undergraduate students of Biochemistry. This RC produced two kinds of outcomes: Essays based on the analysis of the references from Stephen Mann’s paper “Origins of life – Old problems, new chemistries” and associated podcasts/videos were analysed in a public event in February, 2023. The most relevant essays and videos can be found here.
An external consultancy (www.peruconsult.de) examined the performance, organisation and outcomes of the NB-LAB summer school conducted at Ikiam University (Aug–Sept. 2022). Evaluation consisted of: (a) Questionnaires with focus on elucidating the degree of satisfaction and personal opinion of students about the summer school; (b) Individual interviews with them with focus in the above described items, as well as (c) Analysis of the keynotes and closing seminars conducted between September 5–9, 2022. The main aspects that are in-depth analysed included: the short-term impact on personal development of the students; the integration of service-learning into the research; the degree of intercultural competencies and employability skills, as well as the degree of organisation–wide enhancements.
Consultancy results show that the summer school: (a) Was quite well organised with a consistently positive atmosphere; (b) Scientific team of Ikiam was highly motivated; (c) Students expressed that they felt very happy to work together in modern laboratories and in the field; (d) Students appreciated and enjoyed the time that they spent at Ikiam; (e) Research platforms were well organised and students said that they were treated well. On the other hand, the students acquired social, methodological, self–management, and research abilities. In general, the students were pleased with the intercultural experience that they acquired. It was interesting to learn about Kichwa’s culture and to experience the real world’s team spirit.
The evaluator used the Kano model, which assists in comprehending the varying levels of contentment that participants place on the various features. The model facilitates the realisation of participant expectations and the mapping of their current performance level. In the case of the project, the results show that positively surprising participants were an enthusiasm trait. They did not anticipate the combination of high-quality scientific work and student discipline. In addition, participants appreciated the equal treatment of coordinators and students, as well as the rapid and effortless integration of multiple cultures. They valued the cutting–edge scientific equipment at Ikiam laboratories and evaluated the field trips and immersed excursions (Sumak Kawsay, Minga Lodge) positively. Elimination of NB-LAB’s enthusiasm characteristics would have no negative effect on consumer satisfaction. However, it distinguishes an ordinary experience from an extraordinary experience.
Conclusion. The report reflects the NB-LAB Summer school 2022 was a successful pilot initiative. On a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = low, 10 = high), consultancy rating the summer school with 9. There are only a few amendment proposals, for example integration of service–learning in a deeper way, and time to connect with the communities and reduce the master classes. Additionally, it is essential to recognize that every participant has his/her own perspective and perception of NB-LAB. Ikiam university as a host did an outstanding job. It was essential to the accomplishment of the research goals. Each student was grateful to have participated in the pilot initiative. Some regard it to be “one” of the most significant experiences of their lives.
