In August, students from the Ecology Club and the "Laudato Si" Group visited the university's branch campus in Cuenca to learn more about the "Ancestral Pharmacy" project. The project was created by the Ancestral knowledge and Interculturality Research Group and the aim is to appreciate ancestral medicine by studying medicinal plants located in the university premises and are part of the endemic species of the area.

The students were welcomed by Noemí Bottasso, a research professor and member of the research group, who explained the intention of this project which is to contribute to the knowledge about care and uses of the species. During the talk the students knew: the process of implementing the orchard; the execution of the biofiltration project with reused water for the application in orchard with organic fertilizer in Quito; the contributions of owning an organic garden, the relationship between the university community and the citizens to have ancestral crops.

Professor Bottasso also spoke the spiritual, cultural and scientific value of the rescue of medicinal plants, such as floripondio, altamisa, ruda, san pedro and cactus, which withstands diseases in people. She gave students some recommendations for implementing environmental projects.
 
"It was an opportunity to establish bonds of friendship between members of the different groups to unify and strengthen projects in academic spaces," said Johana Meneses, a biotechnology student