INTEC and Barrick Pueblo Viejo hold a meeting on research projects.
SANTO DOMINGO – With the purpose of sharing scientific advances and strengthening academic-industrial cooperation in environmental matters, the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and Barrick Pueblo Viejo held the first Research Projects Meeting, a space where progress, results, and innovative solutions for acid water treatment, watershed revitalization, and environmental monitoring were shared.
The meeting, which included national and international researchers, began with remarks from Rosario Aróstegui, Vice-Rector for Research and Engagement at INTEC, who emphasized that, in the relationship between academia and business, universities provide an objective and technical perspective that impacts applied science, directly impacting society.
Representing Barrick Pueblo Viejo, Environmental Monitoring Supervisor Carla Mateo stated that the mining company is pleased to conduct research alongside INTEC researchers.
Researchers Teresa Valente and Margarida Antunes, from the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, gave lectures in which they shared European experiences on the current state of passive technologies for treating acidic mine water and the impacts of mining on watersheds, based on a comprehensive analysis of the environmental challenges posed by extractive activities.
The researcher Adriana Rojas, head of INTEC's Analytical and Environmental Services Laboratory, presented the results of a participatory monitoring program conducted at Barrick Pueblo Viejo. The attendees then toured the Analytical and Environmental Services laboratories, as well as the Reactors and Bioreactors laboratories.
INTEC PhD student, Patricia Meléndez presented the progress of its acid mine water treatment project. Then, Pamela Tejada and Elias Reinoso shared the first results of the study protocol of adsorption of heavy metals on activated carbon.
The team made up of Lizaira Bello and Jhoanna Montaño They presented the project for the characterization of sludge and water from the Hatillo dam, followed by the presentation of Lolymar Romero (INTEC) on the revitalization of the Margajita River, a joint effort for the benefit of the surrounding communities.