We strengthen the research culture with the XXIV Student Research Conference in Chitré
On April 18, the UMECIT headquarters in Chitré was the scene of the XXIV Student Research Conference, This activity demonstrated the collaborative work between the Research-Innovation and Academic Coordination offices, as well as the institutional commitment to strengthening research thinking in students.
This event is part of a robust operational plan led by the Directorate of Research and Innovation at the national level, aimed at consolidating a solid research culture in the university community.
The event featured a special appearance by the student César Tobar, who served as the keynote speaker, sharing his experiences and achievements through research, motivating attendees to continue developing skills in this field.
During the event, approximately 70 student researchers presented a total of 23 projects, corresponding to the undergraduate programs in Law and Political Science, Criminalistics, Systems and Programming, Medical Records, and Environmental Management. The event was held in a hybrid format, promoting spaces for analysis, discussion, and the collective construction of knowledge within the various academic groups.
In addition, there was participation from evaluating teachers who guided the research contributions and enriched the training process, including: Miriam Jiménez, Ángel Pérez, Francis Escobar, Osvaldo Solís, Karen Botello and María Guerra.
Following the evaluation of the projects, the following research projects were highlighted:
- 🥇 First place: “Water and Community: Situation of the Public Well in the Chitré Forest Park”, Developed by students Jaime Villarreal, Agustina Pérez and Anabetzy Gutiérrez, under the tutelage of teacher María Guerra (Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Management).
- 🥈 Second place: “Equality before the law and its impact on the rights of the father in the Republic of Panama”, presented by Paula Rodríguez Díaz and Martín Moreno Donoso, under the tutelage of the teacher Daniel Cedeño (Bachelor's Degree in Law and Political Science).
- 🥉 Third place: “Diseases associated with pollution of the La Villa River”, developed by student Jaime Luna, under the tutelage of teacher Osvaldo Solís.
- 🏅 Honorable Mention: “Accumulation of garbage and risks to community health on El Retén beach, Herrera province”, presented by Yulianis Guerra Domínguez, Yolanda Ortega and Meybelin Ríos Vega, under the tutorship of teacher Masiel Vergara.
All the research projects stood out for their high methodological level and social relevance, demonstrating the students' commitment to generating applied knowledge.
With this type of initiative, UMECIT reaffirms its commitment to research as a fundamental axis of academic training, promoting the development of critical, innovative professionals committed to the transformation of their environment.
