The UPRM Chapter of Puerto Rico Water & Environment Association (PRW&EA) recently presented the 1st Symposium of Students and Posters Exhibition Conference (SSPEC). The event demonstrated the initiative of the students of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM), pioneers in the realization of this kind of forum at a national level.

As indicated by student Héctor Camareno, president of the student chapter of PRW&EA, the professional association is composed of specialists and apprentices of the industry of landscaping, management of drinking water, distribution, filtration and control of used water, currently counts on student chapters in various university institutions in the country.

“It’s the first time that this space is organized so that students can present their research. Thirteen graduate and undergraduate students, all from UPRM participated in the event. Our goal is to stimulate the other student chapters to organize symposiums and conferences like this one through which we are able to share ideas, and findings related to the improvement of contaminated water and land for the community’s benefit,” indicated Camareno.

Professor Pedro Modesto, representative of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (AFPA by its Spanish acronym) of the Caribbean region, was satisfied with the quality of the work presented by UPRM students.

“I am surprised with the work that undergraduate students are doing along with their professors in Chemical and Civil Engineering at UPRM, especially with respect to reducing contamination and the implantation of new sources of fuels,” said the professor, who gave a presentation on the AFPA’s movement in favor of the improvement of Puerto Rico’s environmental situation.

The participating students exalted the completion of the event through which they were able to present their research in front of classmates, professors, company representatives and environmental associations.

Student Yahaira Lugo Morales, undergraduate student of Civil Engineering and Surveying, commented that “this forum has many benefits. First, at a collective level we are all impacted by the ideas on improving the environmental and second, to be part of these student presenters prepares me for the dynamics and competitiveness of graduate school.”

Another one of the student presenters, Daniel Concepción, felt that the Symposium converted into a place for students, professors, and other specialists to share and exchange their ideas to try and establish an alternative plan for resolving Puerto Rico’s pollution problem.

Graduate student María de Lourdes Irizarry shows a classmate the poster for her research.

Representatives of Puerto Rico Water & Environment Association along with the officers from the UPRM student chapter.

Officers of the PRW&EA student chapter: María de Lourdes Irizarry, Laura Rodríguez, Valerie Rodríguez, Diana Martínez and Héctor Camareno.

From left to right: Pedro Modesto, Héctor Camareno, Daniel Concepción and Yahaira Lugo Morales.

Photographs by Marta Yazmín García Nieves / UPRM Press