In October, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-BIOLAC took meaningful steps to renew its historic ties with Venezuelan academic institutions, reaffirming its commitment to fostering regional scientific collaboration.
On October 8, Dr. Gustavo Fermin, Head of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-BIOLAC, and Senior Administrative Assistant Omar Molina visited the Chemistry Department of the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV). The visit followed the successful fellowship of postgraduate student Sof¨ªa Salazar, who conducted research on chaotic 3D tissue printing at Tecnol¨®gico de Monterrey. Salazar is part of Dr. Jimmy Castillo¡¯s research group at UCV.
During the visit, Dr. Fermin explored the capabilities of Dr. Castillo¡¯s laboratory, with the aim of establishing formal collaboration channels between UCV and Tecnol¨®gico de Monterrey. The proposed partnership would leverage UCV¡¯s expertise in chemical processes and Monterrey¡¯s strengths in nanobiotechnologies, particularly through the laboratory of Dr. Grissel Trujillo, a long-standing ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-BIOLAC collaborator.
Later in the month, Mr. Molina traveled to M¨¦rida to engage with the Universidad de Los Andes (ULA) during the 25th edition of the Festival de la Ciencia, a flagship event for science outreach in the Venezuelan Andes. The festival, which showcases scientific experiments and demonstrations for students and the general public, provided a fitting backdrop for discussions with ULA authorities and biotechnology leaders about potential institutional partnerships.
Mr. Molina also met with former ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-BIOLAC fellows and course coordinators, who shared updates on their professional journeys and expressed appreciation for the Programme¡¯s support. They emphasized the urgent need for financial assistance for outstanding Venezuelan science students and early-career professionals, especially in the current challenging context. These conversations highlighted the importance of strengthening ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-BIOLAC¡¯s outreach efforts and ensuring timely access to information about its opportunities through academic networks.
