In our branch campus in Quito, students and professors from the civil engineering undergraduate program attended the inauguration of the Student Chapter: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI-UPS). This research institute will carry out research on seismology as well as make people aware of the risks in the country.

Gabriela Soria, director of the civil engineering undergraduate program, said "as citizens we should try to reduce damage caused by natural disasters. With the creation of the EERI –UPS we will work to reduce vulnerability and promote the science of civil engineering at UPS and the country."

Deysi Chicaiza, member of the students federation awarded Gabriela Soria the accreditation certificate from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute from the University of Oakland. 

"As a student chapter in UPS, our purpose is to improve strategies in education and implement regularization systems of construction processes by improving current construction norms considering the importance of planning and design", said Diana Quintana, professor and coordinator of EERI.

During the inauguration there were several talks from speakers from Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), AutoDesk - Aneic, Holcim and ACI – Internacional.