On June 30th, UPS officials, professors and students from the Biotechnology and Environmental engineering undergraduate program in Quito and professors from Universitá degli Studi di Ferrara (UNIFE) in Italy attended the inauguration of the bridge and the cottage of the Kutukú Biological Station located in the community of Sevilla Don Bosco, in the province of Morona Santiago.

UPS president Javier Herran pleasantly remembered the beginnings of the biological station and the valuable contribution of UPS professors and UNIFE. Father Herran blessed the place and then Father Granda cut the ribbon.

Dr. Alessandro Medici from UNIFE, who has helped UPS in different research projects, said "these spaces contribute to the research and studies of plant and animal biodiversity; it allows people to work together to contribute to the development of knowledge through projects that seek environmental, social and economic sustainability ".

Likewise, Fr. Granda spoke about the work of Salesians in the province, their work in evangelization and education. UPS president recalled that the Amazonian Natural Resources project started in 2002 under the direction of Fr. Silvio Broseghini, who sought to contribute to the technological development of the Shuar people.

The Kutukú Biological Station extends 400 hectares, crosses the Upano and Yukipa rivers and is inhabited by settlers of Shuar nationality. It has infrastructure suited for research activities, a botanical garden, forest area and a residence to house 34 people.

For more information on the station contact Dr. Paco Noriega at pnoriega@ups.edu.ec

VIDEO Inauguration of the bridge and cottage Kutukú biological station UPS 2017