They create a network of researchers in the Circular Economy of Plastics for the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States
INTEC and the Colorado School of Mines held the first Circular Economy Summit in the Dominican Republic, with the participation of researchers from institutions in the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States
SANTO DOMINGO.- The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and the Colorado School of Mines formed the first network of researchers in the Circular Economy of Plastics for the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States with the participation of dozens of representatives from universities, institutions and international organizations.
The formation of the network was one of the main results of the first Plastics Circular Economy Summit for Latin America, financed by the US National Science Foundation award #2301682 y held in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, in which 30 experts on plastics issues met with the aim of starting a process of writing a circular economy plan for plastics in LATAM.
“I am fully confident that with your experience, dedication and collaboration we will achieve significant progress in the search for sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges that we all face,” he said. Julio Sánchez Maríñez, rector of INTEC, who envisioned a fruitful and enriching summit for all participants.
When delivering the opening remarks of the summit, Sánchez Maríñez thanked the large group of specialists who traveled from other countries to the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, with the aim of contributing to the search for a more sustainable future for the region.
From this agreement, the researchers committed to address urgent plastic problems and innovations, publish a network strategic plan and a research roadmap that ensures sustainability and supports a circular economy, focused on addressing the most pressing plastic problems. urgent, while supporting planning and prioritization for a sustainable plastic future in Latin America and the United States.
The summit was held with the objective of identifying leaders among the participants who will advise the team on different programmatic efforts, find the needs of the next generation workforce, identify knowledge gaps and research needs, and collaborate on proposals for funding of projects and ventures that contribute to the circular plastic economy in the region.
The meeting participants evaluated key aspects of innovation in plastics, destination, transportation, research opportunities, policies, industry, challenges and opportunities.
Among the participants, the doctor stands out Amy Landis, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and who came to the country thanks to the Fulbright scholarship program; and Jessica Feliz, professor of the Engineering Area, who led the organization of the summit; Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources participated Indhira De Jesús, Vice Minister of Environmental Management. From INTEC, they were present Carlos Sanlley, Research Director; Rosaura Pimentel, professor in the Engineering Area; Ulises Jauregui, Danaae López y yaset rodriguez, teachers in the Area of Basic and Environmental Sciences.