Revista I+D+i Nº 34 UdeC ENGLISH

Nº34 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCIÓN SEPTEMBER 2016

ENVIRONMENT: WE’RE BEING INVADED! A GUIDE OF INVADER SPECIES IN CHILE HEALTH: HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF TRAINING SOCIETY: HOW IS DISCONTENT BORN?

WITH THE SUN AS A COPILOT SOLAR CAR, SOLAR HOUSE, AND SOLAR CELLS SENSITIZED WITH INK ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS OF UDEC THAT USE SOLAR ENERGY.

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Vice Rector of Research and Development Universidad de Concepción Dr. Carlos González Director Director of Innovation and Development Universidad de Concepción Dr. Claudio Valdovinos General Editor Monserrat Quezada Journalists Ignacio Abad, Katterinne Arriagada, Javier Cisternas, Moira Fernández, Pía Fierro, Xuksa Kramcsak, Fernando Mejías, Carolina Olguín, Mónica Paz, Dania Pincheira, Claudia Reyes, Valeria Vásquez, Carolina Vega.

Design and layout Rubén Sillard Printing Trama Impresores Webpage www.udec.cl/vrid Contact Monserrat Quezada monquezada@udec.cl 41 2207469 2 I+D+i UDEC

The content of the articles and opinions contained in this journal is the responsibility of the authors of the contribution.

ENVIRONMENT Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Recovering the Hualpén Sanctuary INFOGRAPHY Solar car INFOGRAPHY Introduced Species

HEALTH

SmartFES Device Polarized Training Easy2fix Implant System

ECONOMY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP Advising Agricultural Entrepreneurships TerraData: Service for Locating Groundwater Improving Competitiveness though Academia-Business Affiliations Early Detection of Fungi on Berries Innovative Wood + Plastic Material

EDUCATION Interactive Center for the Sciences, Arts, and Technology INFOGRAPHY Seven Key Competencies for the Engineers of Tomorrow

SOCIETY

Indigenous Penal Systems School for Young Entrepreneurs Outrage made in Chile INFOGRAPHY Maule Heritage Trail

ART & ARCHITECTURE Cluster One Solar House: Easy, resistant, and sustainable

BUSINESSES & PRODUCTS R&D/INNOVATION IN REVIEW WHAT DOES SCIENCE SAY? I+D+i UDEC

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The well-known North American science communicator and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has compared scientific curiosity to the natural curiosity of human beings during infancy, stating that “a scientist is a child that never grew up.” This phrase references the innate ability of all humans to marvel at nature, question ourselves, and want to reach beyond more than we observe.

A scientist is the girl that asks why the heart beats or the boy who stops to watch a line of ants and ask why they march one behind the other without diverting off course. This phrase alludes to our own curiosity when we look up into the starry night sky and feel insignificant, discovering that we are face to face with the past.

the R&D/Innovation Digest by the Universidad de Concepción is for each and every member of our society. Herein, our goal is to evidence that RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION can be used to face a world full of challenges and can serve to solidify the foundations for strong and lasting solutions.

We hope that you enjoy this digest and that it can serve as a stimulus and invitation to collaborate in the search for rational solutions to current and future problems, because we all have the innate spirit of a scientist and because the Universidad de Concepción is an open space for reason, the common good, and free will: We are all With these perspectives in mind, we uphold scientists, and we all need each other. that the Universidad de Concepción is full of children, of scientists in all areas of human Dr. Carlos González knowledge who avidly search for answers, Vice Rector of Research and Development especially those that will solve the diverse challenges currently facing humanity.

As proposed by our first Rector, Enrique Molina, the goal of the Universidad de Concepción is to serve as a beacon that illuminates the path for new generations of students from the Biobío Region, Chile, and the world. We know that this path can be full of curves, bumps, and hills, but we also know that this path is walked by women and men filled with the innate curiosity of those who want to know and who are willing to lead the way for others.

Here we can find, for example, innovators; those who are not satisfied with the status quo and who are always looking on the horizon for improvements; those who toss and turn at night until finding the solution to a problem. Here we can also find entrepreneurs; those who are unafraid to take construct new roads even when they know they will face numerous challenges; those who do not doubt beginning this adventure because they firmly believe in their work as a driving force of society. And they are right.

Nevertheless, this renewed edition of 4 I+D+i UDEC

The mission of the Universidad de Concepción is to effectively contribute towards sustainable human, economic, and social development both regionally and nationally. To achieve this mission, the University is dedicated to the integrated and pluralistic formation of individuals who are socially responsible, creative, analytical, leaders, and entrepreneurs; to the generation, adaption, and transmission of knowledge; and to cultural creation and diffusion. Each one of these points represents a significant challenge for our community of researchers and partners.

Since the foundation of our University nearly a century ago, technological research and development have been fundamental protagonists of our daily responsibilities, and this dedication reflects back on the goals set forth by our founders when they established this ambitious institution.

In November 2002, the first edition of the R&D Digest was published to inform the university community of scientific and technological initiatives. The first run was a 16-page, three-color pamphlet. At the time, scientific outreach was not as important as it is now, and we are proud to have been one of the pioneering universities in dedicating a special publication to this subject. Since 2002, the digest has evolved, such as with the addition of “Innovation” to the title in June 2009. Furthermore, the December 2015 edition of the R&D/Innovation Digest contained 43 pages printed in full color on couche paper. Today, new changes are being made that seek to honor the history, tradition, and communal importance of this digest while also making it more attractive and approachable for readers. It is clear to us that without communication, research and development initiatives remain incomplete.

A reflection of this is provided by the July 2016 CONICYT survey entitled the “National Survey Regarding Social Perceptions of Science and Technology in Chile.” Analysis of the 7,637 completed

surveys concluded that much of the population feels either poorly (77%) or not at all informed (65%) about science and technology. Another noteworthy result was that 65% of participants believe in miracles, and 50% believe in the existence of spirits.

As scientists, we have an important social responsibility, a responsibility in which the communication of science plays a fundamental role. In the past, science communication took a back seat to other priorities, but today, this aspect is fundamental for any researcher. Without adequate efforts in communicating, a researcher’s work is left largely unshared.

Diverse scientific research and technological development initiatives are taking place at the Universidad de Concepción. Our institution now publishes over 900 scientific texts annually, in addition to having a recognized standard of quality according to international criteria. At the time of writing these lines, there are 611 different ongoing projects at the University. Considering this, I would like to highlight how difficult it was to select articles for this edition of the R&D/ Innovation Digest, leaving many research projects to be discussed in future editions.

These pages reflect a small portion of the developmental advances taking place at our three University campuses, with preference given to themes that daily affect our country. To highlight the plurality of our University, I would like to clarify that the content for each one of our digests is the exclusive responsibility of each mentioned researcher and article journalist. Finally, I want to emphasize that the selected articles were chosen as a representative sample of the University’s achievements in the areas of science, technology, the humanities, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It is hoped that the community will become familiar with the selected initiatives and that the subsequently gained knowledge will positively contribute to our society.

Dr. Claudio Valdovinos Director of Innovation and Development Director for the R&D/Innovation Digest

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ENVIRONMENT

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

FOODS THAT CAPTURE SOLAR ENERGY The progressive depletion of natural resources, among which the most important are combustible fossil fuels for energy, is one of the most preoccupying subjects not only for environmentalists, but also for the majority of governments. Scientists across the globe have dedicated their lives to resolving this problem, with one of the possible solutions inspired by vegetables – the creation of dye-sensitized solar cells for energy.

By CFM Communications / contacto@cfm.cl

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Hydraulic, solar, and wind energies are some of the known renewable energy sources currently in use worldwide.

However, an innovative project led

by Professors Paulraj Manidurai and Sivakumar Radhakrishnan of the Universidad de Concepción seeks to extract natural energy from food.

This initiative, supported by Conicyt, is underway at the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics at the Universidad de Concepción.

“We are living a reality in which most energy is produced from non-renewable resources, such as through the burning of fossil fuels. This reality has driven the development of alternative energy sources, such as solar cells. Worth highlighting among these are dyesensitized solar cells, or Grätzel cells. Just as in plants, these cells produce energy through color pigmentation. These cells are environmentally friendly and have an efficiency rate comparable to commercially available silicon-based solar cells,” explains Dr. Paulraj Manidurai.

What is a solar cell? A dye-sensitized solar cell is a device comprised of two electrodes – one photoelectrode and one counter-electrode with an electrolyte in the middle. This arrangement forms a “sandwich” that transforms light energy into electric energy.

VEGETABLES ARE AMAZING!

The majority of us relate vegetables with a healthy lifestyle, but we cannot image their usefulness. Food contains energy in the chemical bonds that join molecules, and Dr. Paulraj Manidurai postulates that it is through the pigmentation of these bonds, such as in red cabbage, beets, and carrots, that energy cells capture light and subsequently create clean and renewable energy.

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“In the laboratory, we are working on extracting dyes from fresh fruits and vegetables, including the maqui, black murta, red murta, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, spinach, squash, and carrot.

These contain different photochemicals responsible for absorbing light and for the color of each respective fruit/vegetable, including carotenoids, xanthophyll, chlorophyll, and anthocyanins.

These are used because they absorb determined wavelengths and provide the photoelectrode a wider absorption range than under conditions in which no dye is used on the substrate, thus improving solar cell efficiency,” explains Dr. Paulraj.

In contrast to silicon-based solar panels, the currently existing alternative, these dye-sensitized solar cells are patented by the chemist Michael Grätzel, are less expensive to manufacture, are long-lasting, and involve no additional economic costs for the population.

Professor Paulraj Manidurai describes this technology as flexible, portable, organic, and cheap. “This type of solar cell bends, allowing it, for example, to charge while you are walking outside. Furthermore, these cells are easy to install; they can be put on a roof, like a carpet, or, as seen in some buildings and houses, on the windows.” Worth mentioning, these cells work even in low light, such as on cloudy days.

While the aim of these cells is to imitate the photosynthetic process of plants, Dr. Paulraj clarifies that each pigment has its respective degree of efficiency, which, in some cases, is still insufficient for use by the general population. Due to this, current research is being conducted to select the most efficient and optimal pigment and color combination.

ENVIRONMENT

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Doctor Kuppuswamy

2 Kalyanasundaram explains solar cells to students.

Physics department welcomes

3 Doctor Kuppuswamy Kalyanasundaram.

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Food products contain energy in the chemical bonds that join molecules, and the pigmentation of these bonds can be used to capture solar light, thereby imitating photosynthesis, a clean and renewable energy source.

Dye-sensitized solar cells, or Grätzel cells, are a flexible, portable, organic, and economical technology.

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ENVIRONMENT

Hualpén Sanctuary

OUR BEST KEPT SECRET “A social, cultural, and environmental heritage that we should protect.”

This is the underlying motto of the Hualpén Peninsula Nature Sanctuary Project, an endeavor that aims to emphasize the value of this expansive protected area – a unique and beautiful area abandoned to chance, until now.

By Javier Cisterna - jcisterna@cfrd.cl / Infographics: Gerardo López / Photos: Mauricio Aguayo

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The Hualpén Peninsula Nature Sanctuary, a protected area constantly under threat by population and industrial growth, was the focus of a scientific-technological intervention undertaken by the Eula Center, the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, and the Training and Educational Resources Center of UdeC. These groups worked in collaboration with the BioBío Regional Secretariat (Seremi, Spanish acronym) for the Ministry of the Environment to conserve the rich biodiversity of this sanctuary.

This initiative, led by a scientific team from the Eula Center of the Universidad de Concepción, sought to consolidate society’s connection with this territory by creating recreational areas, which had an added touristic value, and by designing an educational program about the environment that considered new ways to teach younger generations.

To reinforce the sanctuary as a must-see destination within the region, two entry points were installed – one at Lenga Cove and another at the beginning of the Pedro del Río Zañartu-Chome Cove sector. Similarly, viewpoints, waysides, and informative panels were installed,

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and hiking trails were improved.

Regarding the necessities addressed by this intervention, Mauricio Aguayo, PhD in Environmental Science and director of the project, indicates that “the community’s lack of knowledge and awareness regarding the social and environmental implications of the Hualpén Peninsula Nature Sanctuary are factors that have led to its current state of degradation. Fortunately, the Hualpén Peninsula remains an important and significant natural and cultural heritage, the preservation of which is everyone’s responsibility.”

ENJOY THE SANCTUARY FROM YOUR PHONE Complementary to improvements made in the field, the Training and Educational Resources Center (CFRD, Spanish acronym) of the Universidad de Concepción created an “augmented

reality” mobile application that allows users to explore the distinct natural species that inhabit the Hualpén Sancutary. This tool, which functions with Android, gives users the ability to digitally view ten characteristic flora and fauna of this protected zone, including the marine otter, the blue whale, and the Humboldt penguin, as well as flowers such as the kuele, puya, and copihue (or Chilean bellflower).

This augmented reality app can be easily downloaded from Google Play and can be used to scan codes located within the sanctuary (see Infographic for instructions). Leonardo Letelier, the CFRD computer engineer that led app development, explains that use of this application helps individuals to “become intimately connected with the nature of this region and to learn facts about native wildlife and forests.”

Pedro Martínez, who was in charge of application design, highlights that “this mobile technology allows the educational community to view species in 360°.” Some modules are even animated, which captivates the interest of children “who are, ultimately, the future caretakers of our sanctuary.”

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· The Hualpén Peninsula Natural Sanctuary Recovery Project is financed through the Environmental Protection Fund, which, in turn, is funded by a resource-transfer agreement between the Chilean Ministry of the Environment and the National Petroleum Company (ENAP, Spanish acronym). This agreement was established as part of the reparations made by ENAP following an oil spill along the San Vicente Bay in 2007, which affected the coastal areas of the Hualpén community. · The Hualpén Peninsula Natural Sanctuary is a protected area that was established in 1976 and has a surface area of 2,662 hectares, nearly 50% of the entire Hualpén community. · For more information on the hiking trails, activities, and heritage of this sanctuary, please visit SantuarioHualpen.cl, where you can also find useful information, images, maps, and videos.

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Gazebo at Lenga Wetland.

Photo by Mauricio Aguayo.

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Instructions for downloading and using application of augmented reality. / Design by Gerardo López.

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Lenga Wetland.

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ENVIRONMENT

AntüNekul2s, Winning Solar Car of the Atacama 2016 Challenge

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, PIECE BY PIECE Without doubt, the knowledge gained through five years of constructing two solar cars, a task with an infinite number of technological trials to optimize each element, will not only remain part of the potent solar car AntüNekul2s, winner of the latest Atacama Solar Car Challenge, but will also be shared.

By Team Solar / Photograph: CEBBRA Productions

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ENVIRONMENT

With the support of the BioBío Innova and Corfo projects, the young engineers of Team Solar KAN are working to not only improve solar car technology and performance for future competitions, but also to share their experience in developing an aerodynamic solar vehicle, an experience filled with significant effort, dedication, and patience. Team Solar KAN belongs to the Faculty of Engineering at the Universidad de Concepción, and its members include UdeC students and graduates from diverse engineering specialties.

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CONSTRUCTION OF A MACHINE TO THERMOFORM PLASTICS The aim of this is to provide the publicity and manufacturing industries an alternative to traditional plastics construction (polycarbonate, PETG, acrylic, etc.). “Over time, the plastics industry has been able to offer the market high mechanical performance materials, capturing the interest of designers and engineers.” One practical example is shelves, which are traditionally constructed from various elements, but, thanks to thermoforming, can now be built using a single piece that has mirror-polished surface terminations and the color of the material, thus eliminating painting costs.

REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR LITHIUM BATTERY BANK CHARGE/DISCHARGE The aim of this system is to monitor the voltage and current of the battery bank, to determine the quantity of stored energy, and, in the case of a car, subsequently establish the number of kilometers that can be travelled. In the case of an off-grid system, the system establishes the number of remaining hours that energy can be provided. Another important function of the system is balancing the charge of individual cells with the charge in the battery bank to maximize the extractable usable energy from the bank. Finally, the most important function of this system is to maintain cell voltages within normal operating ranges, since any variance from this range can mean a serious fire risk. “This system will allow any person to easily and securely use lithium batteries, without needing extensive technical skills.”

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ENVIRONMENT

SERVICE SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY MONITORING FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR TRANSPORT

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The aim is to design a remote monitoring device that provides a central monitoring center with real-time information regarding fuel consumption and the electromechanical state of the vehicle (e.g. temperature, tire pressure, oil levels). This information can be used to create reports for each vehicle following route completion. “This will allow us to minimize maintenance times and create fuel-use profiles for each driver. The application of an algorithm to the collected information will further allow us to measure and predict the possible defects that the vehicle could have while in use.”

CREATION OF A PERMANENT MAGNET ELECTRIC GENERATOR FOR WIND TURBINES The aim is to create a highly efficient motor prototype sized according to the load and energy needs/restraints of each vehicle. “This product will decrease the use of contaminating energy sources in transportation, particularly for light vehicles that do not have significant energy demands and that, currently, are designed larger than necessary. This motor will also be able to increase the distances possible for human-powered vehicles, which will provide users with a contamination-free alternative to traditional public or private transport options.”

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WE’RE BEING INVADED! Did you know that many cute animals, such as cats and dogs, can greatly damage our ecosystem? UdeC’s comprehensive catalogue for invasive feral species within Chilean territory is a valuable tool for combating misinformation regarding this subject.

By Xuksa Kramcsak / xuksak@gmail.com

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ENVIRONMENT

Scientists working under the direction of the Laboratory for Biological Invasions of the Faculty of Forestry Sciences at the Universidad de Concepción, and with the support of the GEF/MMA/PNUD Project on Invasive Exotic Species, created the first comprehensive catalogue for invasive feral species within Chile’s national territory. The registry identified more than 1,000 exotic floral and faunal species that are causing serious damage to local ecosystems.

“We have all heard about the damage caused by minks, beavers, yellow jackets, rabbits, etc. but there are literally thousands more. Invasive exotic species represent one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide,” states Fernando Baeriswyl, national coordinator for the GEF/MMA/PNUD EEI Project.

“It is crucial for us to have a detailed registry of the naturalized plants and animals in our country since without sufficient information, any efforts for species’ control would be inefficient and could mean wasting the few resources available to conserving natural ecosystems,” notes Aníbal Pauchard, director of the Laboratory for Biological Invasions and researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB).

The registry considers 12 taxonomic groups that include plants (terrestrial and aquatic), algae, fungi, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, fish, and mollusks (see table).

The registry also identifies which species are feral, providing information about

distribution; the how and when of introduction to the country; and the impacts to biodiversity and commercial production.

This registry is available through the Ministry of the Environment.

The central zone of the country has the greatest presence of invasive exotic feral species, with the Valparaíso and BioBío Regions being the most affected.

“This distribution pattern is similar across nearly all taxonomic groups. This finding is particularly preoccupying when we consider that the central zone possesses the greatest richness of endemic Chilean species but the least amount of environmentally protected areas,” comments Aníbal Pauchard.

Among the invasive animal species, feral cats and dogs were the most recorded in the country. These species, which were intentionally introduced by the Spanish as pets, can notably harm native fauna, including coastal birds, small animals such as the pudu, reptiles, invertebrates, and Chile’s national emblem, the south Andean deer. These introduced species can also transmit diseases, such as distemper.

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ENVIRONMENT

THE INVADERS

DIDYMO

TERRITORY. COQUIMBO; VALPARAÍSO; LIBERTADOR BER NARDO O’HIGGINS; AND METROPOLITAN REGION

IMPACT. WHILE HARMLESS TO HUMANS, THIS MICROALGAE FORMS LARGE CONGLOMERATES THAT ADHERE TO ROCKS IN RIVERS AND LAKES, POSSIBLY IMPACTING TOURISM DUE TO UNAPPEALING LANDSCAPES. OCCASIONALLY, THIS MICROALGAE CAN OBSTRUCT FILTERS USED FOR COLLECTING DRINKING WATER.

ACACIA TERRITORY. VALPARAÍSO; METROPOLITAN REGION; LIBERTADOR BERNARDO O’HIGGINS; MAULE; BIOBÍO; LA ARAUCANIA; LOS LAGOS; AND LOS RÍOS; AS WELL AS THE JUAN FERNÁNDEZ AND EASTER ISLANDS

WATER HYACINTH

IMPACT. REDUCES DIVERSITY BELOW ITS CROWN. HAS TOXIC EFFECTS (ALLOPATHIC) THAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF NATIVE SPECIES LIVING BELOW ITS CANOPY. INTERRUPTS WATER FLOW AND INCREASES BANK EROSION ALONG WATER COURSES.

TERRITORY. ATACAMA; COQUIMBO; VALPARAÍSO; AND BIOBÍO

IMPACT. DISPLACES NATIVE SPECIES. ELIMINATES THE GROWTH OF PLANTS BELOW ITS SHADE. CAN COMPLETELY PUSH OUT NATIVE FLOATING AND SUBMERGED PLANTS, CHANGES THE TEMPERATURE AND PH OF WATER, IN ADDITION TO AFFECTING THE SURVIVAL OF NATIVE ANIMALS BY DEPLETING THE DISSOLVED OXYGEN IN WATER.

ELMLEAF BLACKBERRY TERRITORY. COQUIMBO; VALPARAÍSO; METROPOLITAN REGION; LIBERTADOR BERNARDO O’HIGGINS; MAULE; BIOBÍO; LA ARAUCANIA; AND LOS LAGOS

VASCULAR TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC PLANTS NON-VASCULAR TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC BRYOPHYTES (MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS) FRESH AND SEAWATER ALGAE (MICRO AND MACROALGA)

IMPACT. COLONIZES NATURAL AND SEMINATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. COMPETES WITH AND DISPLACES NATIVE SPECIES, RESULTING IN HABITAT DEGRADATION, THUS NEGATIVELY AFFECTING NATIVE FAUNA.

TERRESTRIAL FUNGI TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES (MAMMALS, BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS, AND REPTILES) TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES (INSECTS) FRESH (POLYCHAETES AND MOLLUSKS) AND SEAWATER (MOLLUSKS) VERTEBRATES AND INVERTEBRATES

774 29 21 71 39 109 76

TOTAL 1119 ESPECIES CATALOGUE SUMMARY FOR THE FERAL/NATURALIZED EXOTIC SPECIES IN CHILE MORE INFORMATION AT: WWW.GEFESPECIESINVASORAS.CL

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ENVIRONMENT

AMERICAN BEAVER TERRITORY.

MAGALLANES AND THE CHILEAN ANTARTIC

IMPACT.

LOSS OF LENGA AND ÑIRRE FORESTS DUE TO DEFORESTATION AND FLOODING.

YELLOW JACKET TERRITORY. COQUIMBO; VALPARAÍSO; LIBERTADOR BERNARDO O’HIGGINS; MAULE; BIOBÍO; LA ARAUCANIA; LOS LAGOS; AISÉN DEL GENERAL CARLOS IBÁÑEZ DEL CAMPO; MAGALLANES AND THE CHILEAN ANTARCTIC; METROPOLITAN REGION; AND LOS RÍOS

IMPACT. THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS WASP EXTENDS BEYOND BITES AND IRRITATION TO HUMANS. THIS INSECT CAN AFFECT TOURISM IN NATIONAL PARKS, AGRICULTURE, AND, NOTABLY, ENDEMIC BIRD POPULATIONS. ON THE JUAN FERNÁNDEZ ISLANDS, HUMMINGBIRDS AND SHEARWATERS ARE AFFECTED.

AFRICAN FROG TERRITORY. COQUIMBO; VALPARAÍSO; LIBERTADOR BERNARDO O’HIGGINS; AND METROPOLITAN REGION

IMPACT. VORACIOUS SPECIES THAT CONSUMES INVERTEBRATES, AMPHIBIOUS LARVAE (INCLUDING OF ITS OWN SPECIES), AND SMALL FISH. HAS NOTABLY IMPACTED PEJERREY FISH POPULATIONS IN THE COLLIGUAY SECTOR OF THE MAIPO RIVER AND THE LIMACHE ESTUARY OF THE ACONCAGUA RIVER.

ATLANTIC SALMON TERRITORY. LOS LAGOS; MAGALLANES AND CHILEAN ANTARCTIC; AND LOS RÍOS

IMPACT. COMPETES WITH AND TRANSMITS DISEASES/PARASITES TO WILD SPECIES. CROSSES WITH SALMONIDS AND OTHER NATIVE FISH SPECIES.

RAINBOW TROUT TERRITORY. ANTOFAGASTA; ATACAMA; COQUIMBO; VAL PARAÍSO; LIBERTADOR BERNARDO O’HIGGINS; MAULE; BIOBÍO; LA ARAUCANIA; LOS LAGOS; MAGALLANES AND CHILEAN ANTARCTIC ; METROPOLITAN REGION; AND LOS RÍOS

IMPACTO. LOS IMPACTOS INCLUYEN LA HIBRIDIZACIÓN, LA TRANSMISIÓN DE ENFERMEDADES, LA DEPREDACIÓN Y LA COMPETENCIA CON ESPECIES NATIVAS. PRODUCE CAMBIOS EN EL CICLO DE NUTRIENTES DE LAGOS

AMERICAN MINK TERRITORY. BIOBÍO; LA ARAUCANIA; LOS LAGOS; AISÉN DEL GENERAL CARLOS IBÁÑEZ DEL CAMPO; AND MAGALLANES AND THE CHILEAN ANTARTIC

IMPACT. GENERALIST PREDATOR OF NATIVE SPECIES, PARTICULARLY THREATENING TO SPECIES THAT NEST IN THE GROUND; PREDATOR OF SMALL DOMESTICATED ANIMALS AND OF AQUACULTURE SPECIES.

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HEALTH

Technological Device for Improving Foot Drop

GREATER SECURITY WHILE WALKING One of the common consequences of a stroke is an inability to maintain the foot horizontal, a condition known as foot drop. A device developed

by UdeC, termed SmartFES Foot Drop, helps improve patient gait, thereby returning a patient’s lost independence and, with this, selfconfidence.

By Carolina Vega A. / comunicacionfi@udec.cl / Photographs: FI Communications Office

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HEALTH

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At the time of his accident on March 15th 2013, Guido had finished his Engineering studies with a minor in Marketing at a professional institute in Concepción, a city where he also worked as an attendant in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit of the Reginal Hospital. “Maybe the stress was more than I thought,” he comments today, after having changed his lifestyle out of both choice and necessity. “Before, I was very preoccupied about a number of things. I’m still that way, but less so.…I don’t get together with people that stress me or do things that are bad for my health,” Guido tells us.

At 33-years-old, Guido Tolosa suffered a stroke that not only physically affected his right side, but that also had emotional consequences. After the accident, Guido had to postpone his career and move in with his parents.

Today Guido is 36-years-old and desires to overcome his limitations and continue growing.

In his search for independence, Guido found SmartFES. “I started looking on the internet for anything because I wanted to recover, and I found some devices in the United States, but they were very expensive. Then, I found that some devices existed here in Chile. A kinesiologist commented to me about the device being developed by Pablo Aqueveque and Francisco Saavedra,” says Guido.

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2 SMARTFES: UDEC AT THE SERVICE OF SOCIETY Foot drop, which occurs as a consequence of central nervous system damage, impedes or hinders elevating the tip of the foot while walking (i.e. foot dorsiflexion). This means that the frontal part of the foot is dragged along the floor, increasing the probability for tripping and falling. This condition can arise as a result of a stroke, from incomplete medullary lesions, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease.

SmartFES Foot Drop is a devise designed for these patients and consists of a Functional Electrical Neurostimulator controlled with a smartphone or tablet. This device can stimulate lifting the tip of the foot while walking by applying controlled electric pulses to the peroneal nerve, which is in charge of activating muscles involved in movement. Through a pressure sensor located beneath the heel of the foot in the shoe, the stimulating device detects the stage of walking and, thanks to an algorithm, generates stimulatory pulses at the required moment, facilitating improved walking for the patient. The stimulatory pulses are transmitted superficially over the common peroneal nerve and anterior tibial muscle with superficial electrodes frequently used in physical therapy.

The stimulation applied by the device is safe and comfortable for the patient.

This device was created by Pablo Aqueveque, a Civionics Engineer and academic in Biomedical Civil Engineering at the Universidad de Concepción, and by Francisco Saavedra, a Biomedical Civil Engineer and current doctoral candidate within the Faculty of Engineering at UdeC. The long-term use of this device is currently being assessed in cooperation with the Kinesiology Unit of the Faculty of Medicine at UdeC; specifically in two patients who suffered cerebrovascular accidents that affected their walking abilities. The impressions of these patients regarding SmartFES are promising. “This device not only gives you confidence while walking, but it also allows you to feel good,” assures Guido. A similar impression 24 I+D+i UDEC

is provided by Martita Villablanca, who says that, “Before, I would arrive crying to my appointments because of the pain in my hip, but now I have no pain and barely get tired. To those that have this condition, I would say that this device can be used with your eyes closed; it is a lifesaver. I could never have imagined all I would achieve after my accident.”

THE CHALLENGE: A LOW-COST DEVICE While the SmartFES Foot Drop device was designed for safe walking, the improved state of mind for users has been most significant impact. This vision is shared by Hernan Oporto, a kinesiologist who has worked with patients within the Faculty of Medicine at UdeC. Regarding the benefits he has observed, Hernan says that, “Patients not only show significant improvements in walking, but also in their emotional health. I have found that patients feel more comfortable and safe; that they can perform their daily activities with greater confidence, and more convincing than any test result.

When patients tell us that they have gained functionality, that they feel better, this is real confirmation that the device works.”

The technology used in SmartFES is not exclusive; there are other devices on the international market that can improve the gait of persons with drop foot. However, the high cost of these alternatives, in addition to the import fees, prohibits mass accessibility. This was the primary underlying motivation for SmartFES Drop Foot, which began as a project by the then thesis student in Biomedical Civil Engineering, Francisco Saavedra. Today Francisco is one of the principal investigators on this technology, together with Pablo Aqueveque, who possesses a doctorate in Electrical Engineering and post-doctorate in Medical Physics and Bioengineering from the University College London, England.

“The idea began in 2010 when we wanted to bring a device to Chile. Since all of the options were very expensive, we decided to construct one, always with the objective that this would cost less,” explains Dr. Aqueveque, who further mentions that the team is now applying for innovation funds to start a business.

HEALTH

Over the various years, a number of prototypes have been tested. The team is on the verge of becoming a business, a status that will permit commercialization of the device on a national level. “Since the start, the development of SmartFES prototypes has been financed by BioBío Innova and Fondef, with the additional sponsorship and support of IncubaUdeC,” states Dr. Aqueveque.

3

1

Guido Tolosa, SmartFES

SmartFES, a functional electronic neurostimulator controlled by a smartphone or tablet, applies controlled electric pulses to the peroneal nerve to life the tip of the foot while walking.

How were you able to create a device at a lower cost than offered in the foreign markets?

There were various contributing factors.

On the one hand, receiving foreign certification is a complex process that can take up to 4 or 5 years. This means that many inventors design a device and do not modify the design at all for many years. For example, the two most famous devices available are expensive and have technology from the 90s, despite that newer, better-quality and cheaper devices could be created today. In Chile, obtaining certification is still not obligatory, meaning that changes can be quickly implemented to a device without having to once again receive certification. On the other hand, technology is advancing quickly, which notably reduces costs.

With all of the experience gained over the past five years, how will you improve the creation process of future apparatuses or devices?

From the start, we will include health specialists in the process, such as kinesiologists, doctors, or other relevant personnel. Furthermore, since product design is a time consuming process, it is worth understanding the practical points and functional limitations of a device as early as possible. This perspective will be gained by including patients. Overall, I believe the involvement of other professionals and potential users from the design stage is crucial for integrated multidisciplinary projects.

More information can be found at www.smartfes.cl

2 Guido Tolosa and Pablo Aqueveque 3 SmartFES components

“This device not only gives you confidence while walking, but it also allows you to feel good,” says Guido Tolosa.

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HEALTH

Polarized Training

THE MOST EFFICIENT EXERCISE FOR IMPROVING HEALTH

Successful results were obtained for the effects of polarized training in a group of female students with cardiovascular risk factors from the UdeC Los Angeles Campus.

By Dania Pincheira / daniapincheira@udec.cl/

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HEALTH

The results for Karina Laporte are clear. At 23-years- Education four years ago, I did not weigh so much. old, Karina is in the best physical shape of her life, However, a poor diet and lack of exercise led to my having normalized her glycemic and insulin profiles, 20 kg weight gain over four years.” in addition to modifying her body composition. These The results obtained by Karina were similar to those achievements were reached following participation of Andrea Mendoza, a Commercial Engineering in a research project directed by Rafael Zapata student who comments that the project required a commitment to physical Lamana, an instructor activity. “It was a challenge of Physical Education Research by Rafael Zapta L. was awarded first to rigorously attend all of at the Universidad de place during the I International Symposium for Exercise and Physical Activity Sciences (SICE the training sessions held Concepción who holds a 2016) held in Santiago during April. within the three months Master’s degree in Sports of the project, particularly Medicine and Science considering the academic and who will soon be demands of the semester.” beginning a Doctorate program in Spain on the Psychology of Health and However, Andrea was able to adjust her schedule and, consequently, notably improve her physical Sports.

When Karina began, she weighed 94 kg. Today, six abilities. Andrea comments that she currently months after finishing the project, she is happy with maintains a more active lifestyle, incorporating her 70 kg weight, which has considerably increased polarized training into her life. her self-confidence. “I was dangerously overweight.

When I first enrolled to study Basic Elementary I+D+i UDEC

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HEALTH

PROTECTIVE FACTOR FOR HEALTH It is no secret that a regular exercise routine is important protective factor for one’s health. One of the effects of exercise is improved cardiorespiratory fitness, an indicator recognized within the last decade as a precise marker for cardiovascular health. Indeed, this point has become so relevant that a consensus has been reached regarding its measurement.

The aim of the research carried out by Professor Zapata was to improve the physical status and cardiovascular risk factors in a group of 60 university students with a BMI greater than 28. “Women were chosen based on the results of the ‘National Survey on Health’ conducted by the Ministry of health, which indicated this group to have greater cardiometabolic risks, as well as the greatest index of inactivity,” explains Dr. Zapata.

How was research performed?

Different exercise models were designed to modify parameters associated with cardiometabolic health. These models were designed as we could not prescribe an exercise program of uniform intensity to two different people. Due to this, each participant had to complete an initial physical fitness test, the results of which were used to individualize each exercise program. The project began by assessing four parameters: physical fitness, energy substrate oxidation, the biochemical profile, and body composition. Following the initial assessment, participants trained on bicycles three times per week, with each session lasting one hour. After 12 weeks, health parameters were once again assessed to determine the effectivity of the three exercise models used.

What results were obtained?

Our hypothesis was confirmed. Specifically, the polarized training model was the 28 I+D+i UDEC

most efficient at improving the measured parameters. The polarized training model consisted of maintained low-intensity exercise sessions punctuated by highintensity cycles within the same session.

The obtained results mean that the students not only improved their physical fitness, but also significantly reduced their glycemic and insulin profiles.

How would you rank the results of the study?

This project was an overall success.

Regarding adherence, 97% of the participating students completed the program. Furthermore, for a scientific perspective, our proposal was very well received. This project and its results are already being presented at congresses, and, given the scientific foundation of our model, we are in advanced conversations regarding the implementation of this program at a local healthcare center in Los Angeles. The aim of this implementation will be to benefit Cesfam recipients, a group with high rates of overweight and obese individuals, translating into high cardiovascular risk.

SUPPORTING PUBLIC POLICIES This project was supported through a Universidad de Concepción VRID Initiation project and was executed through a strategic Alliance with the Meds Clinic of Santiago and with the Universidad Santo Tomás, which has an exercise physiology laboratory. Furthermore, this study was awarded first place in the speaking category at the I International Symposium for Exercise and Physical Activity Sciences (SICE 2016). This event gathered more than 300 Latin American doctors and leaders in promoting physical activity.

Fernando Concha Laborde, a professional researcher/advisor on physical activity for the Universidad de Chile’s Nutrition and Food Technologies Institute (INTA,

HEALTH

Spanish acronym) and official within the Ministry of Health’s Subsecretariat Assistance Network, comments that the topic of physical exercise has become a point in public policy and should be understood by everyone. Within the Ministry of Health, Mr. Concha is a key player in the national physical fitness program titled “Healthy Living: Risk Factor Intervention for Non-Transmissible Diseases.”

How does this project contribute to the Ministry of Health’s public policies?

Currently, the Ministry of Health has strengthened the technical focus of the Healthy Living Program. Due to this, the exercise project conducted by the researcher Rafael Zapata provides concrete data sustaining that it is possible for people to improve their physical fitness. Specifically within the framework of the project, the obtained results support that regarding cardiovascular risk factors, exercise, once again, is the most potent, economical, motivational, and efficient remedy. Altogether, the benefits of exercise can be used to combat problems arising from changes in habit.

1 Polarized training (Pol) increased the cardiorespiratory capacity of overweight and obese women. A) Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) B) Reached ventilatory potential (pVO2max) C) Potential ventilatory threshold (pVT1) after 12 weeks of resistance or endurance training (End), high intensity interval training (HIIT), and polarized training (Pol). While the three groups evidenced improvements in the three measured variables (A, B, C), the greatest improvements were obtained in polarized training individuals.

1 2

The figure indicates that the three groups of physical exercise increase the cardiorespiratory capacity in university students, however, the group of polarized training, was the one that obtained better results compared to the start of the intervention program.

2 Rafael Zapata I+D+i UDEC

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Easy2Fix Implant System

LAUGH AGAIN It is only when we lose something that we realize its importance. Poets and philosophers have theorized on this idea, but real life provides the best examples. Today, a bar with two little pins is giving our senior adults a renewed life, a real life of being able to talk to strangers on the bus, laugh, and eat candied quince.

By Monserrat Quezada L. / monquezada@udec.cl / Photographs Monserrat Quezada and CRAI

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1 Medical negligence took the smile of Guadalupe San Martín. “When I was expecting my first baby, they told me I had a gum infection, and my midwife believed the only solution was to take out all of my upper teeth. A similar event occurred during my second pregnancy, and I was left without teeth. Afterwards, I learned that all I had were cavities that could have been taken care of with a crown, but I learned this when it was too late.”

From the age of 22 until a few months ago, at more than 40-years-old, Guadalupe used a full set of dentures.

However, her lower gums receded so much that she was unable to continue using dentures. “They came off, and I couldn’t eat solid foods, only mashed or very bland foods. I couldn’t talk with people on the street or even in my house because the dentures would come lose.

It was very uncomfortable.” All of that is

now history.

EASY2FIX Jorge Jofré is a UdeC odonatologist and creator of the Easy2fix system, which changed Guadalupe’s life- “I had the opportunity to study in Germany, were I lived in a fascinating world, a researcher’s ‘Disneyland’. We had three floors dedicated to R&D. This was where the first implants in the world were manufactured and designed, and where if you had an idea, in three weeks it was on the market.

I studied with world eminences, and I had the chance to stay, but I would have been another link in an already perfectly functioning chain. Here in Chile, there remains so much to be done.”

Continuing to reflect on the significance of his definitive return, Dr. Jofré comments that, “Chile has parallel worlds; there are people that have access to all of the technology of the first world, but a larger portion of the population has no chance at all. Being here, you don’t want to see this reality, and you try to get together

only with people from your ‘bubble,’ but when you go outside, when you leave the airport, you begin to see the things they try to hide behind advertisements and trees…it’s shocking.”

Dr. Jofré comments that he was inspired by a patient he attended during his undergraduate studies, Alicia Brulé, whose lower prosthesis had never quite fit. “So, when I returned, I arranged to get her some very cheap implants.

Nevertheless, these were not permanent due to mechanical limitations; they do not tighten after a while, but we thought that at least they would work while we found another way. When I inserted the implants, I realized that I had been delivered a modified system. At that moment it occurred to me to join the two; an idea calling back to biomechanical analyses performed by engineers in Germany. I remembered that joining the system with a bridge improved overall system mechanics. I got in touch with Patricio Cendoya, from engineering, and together we determined that by joining these minimally invasive, small-diameter systems with a bridge, they became much stronger. To develop this idea, we applied to Fondef in 2001, and that’s how it began.”

Jeannette Fuentes, Clinical Coordinator for the Oral Rehabilitation and Implant Center of UdeC, and Easy2fix team member, explains the significance of this advancement: “Our greatest failure in odontology is the retention of a complete mandibular prosthesis. Lower dentures do not have the same suction as upper dentures. So when patients use lower dentures, they are uncomfortable because the dentures are not fixed. They use the upper dentures for esthetics and eat like that. This problem is solved by two little implants, placed in the midline of the anterior mandible through minimally invasive surgery, and a silicone bar.”

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THE JOURNEY “After we won Fondef in 2001, we spent ten years performing objective assessments with patients, such as ‘how does this feel’, in addition to carrying out bite, strength, and grinding tests, which resulted in a good amount of published research,” explains Jeannette.

But as any entrepreneur can attest, the road to product manufacturing and commercialization is winding and filled with potholes. “We had a licensing deal ready in 2006 with a Germany company that offered many things, even gym facilities for its workers, but due to our inexperience in negotiating, the deal fell through,” comments Jorge Jofré. After this frustrating event, Dr. Jofré closed the project and intended never to revisit it.

However, his social vocation insisted. “At one point, I had to change computers, and I started to read old emails. This project had been covered by a Channel 13 news report, and this report had resulted in 1,500 emails from people needing treatment. My heart was touched. How could I not help them? The need of people is real, and it impacted me to think how something so small could change their life quality, could allow them to be able to de basic things like talk and eat.”

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“While I was a student, we once invented a rotating hydraulic toothbrush, a precursor to those on the market today.

We presented this to Duralón, a business later bought by Oral-B. But during the presentation, the toothbrush got clogged, and, since it was hydraulic, everyone got wet. All of these experiences are useful and have made me resilient. You realize that things don’t work on the first, or second, or third try; they only work after 100 tries, and you’re still there. That is the “Chile has parallel worlds; there are people that have access to all of the technology of the first world, but a larger portion of the population has no chance at all.” – Dr. Jorge Jofre.

only way to achieve your goals. This is an important message that I can share with other researchers,” stresses Dr. Jofré.

THE GOAL: PUBLIC SERVICE His change of heart led Jorge Jofré to apply in 2011 for a Valuation of Research Results project (VRI, Spanish acronym) offered by FONDEF. This project, and the opportune creation of a Transfer and Licensing Office at the University in 2012, allowed Dr. Jofré to find a business willing

to buy the license for his product: Cortex.

Sandra Araya, Executive Director for UdeC’s Transfer and Licensing Office, comments on the process: “It is important to highlight the perseverance of Dr. Jofré, of his desire to license the product so it could be used. He contacted Cortex, and, thanks to the VRI project and in collaboration with IncubaUdeC, he was able to travel to Israel. This was in January 2012, and in October that same year, we came to a preliminary agreement with Cortex. After this came prototype production and testing, all while parallel negotiations regarding licensing terms were taking place. In March 2016, the final, signed contract arrived. We are now awaiting a report on the results of the first stage, to know where and when the product was sold and how the product has been received worldwide.”

Cortex Dental Implants is an Israeli business that was founded in 2008 by dentists specialized in implants, maxillofacial surgery, and reconstruction.

“Our products are designed and developed by specialized dentists. As such, they are medical products for doctors,” explains Abraham Genkin, Cortex CEO. “The idea is to introduce revolutionary products to the field of implant dentistry that help patients, are easy to implant, and have a high costto-benefit ratio.” Genkin further explains

HEALTH

that development was not easy, stating, “We took two years to arrive at a final prototype. It is one thing to assess a product through university-level research, but another thing is ensuring the product is suitable for mass production. The important thing is that it was worth it.

Today, this product is being sold in many parts of the world, and the best thing is that the product is helping those who need it most.”

Abraham Genkin is specifically referring to the acquisition of 300 Easy2Fix implant systems by the Chilean Ministry of Health. These will be used in a pilot program in the Metropolitan Region. “There is a great need in Chile to make implant dentistry a subject of public service. Most still see implants as something esthetic, but not of functionality.

However, the Easy2fix system is made for seniors that cannot eat or speak. The traits of this product make widespread use possible: it is economical; it does not involve a traumatic treatment; and the treatment time is relatively immediate. I believe that what is happening in Chile should be a model for the rest of Latin America, because governments many times forget their senior population,” comments Diego Zapolski, Marketing Manager for Cortex in Latin America.

2 “You realize that things don’t work on the

first, or second, or third try; they only work after 100 tries, and you’re still there. That is the only way to achieve your goals.”.

1

Guadalupe San Martin

2 Easy2fix System.

Jorge Jofré, CRAI.

“I believe that what is happening in Chile should be a model for the rest of Latin America, because governments many times forget their seniors.“ – Diego Zapolski I+D+i UDEC

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Advising Agricultural Entrepreneurships

THE VALUE OF GOING THE EXTRA MILE Innovation and entrepreneurship are highly complex endeavors that require a lot of enthusiasm and conviction, with success also depending on economic factors and on training. Due to this, a number of farmers from the BioBío Region seek support each year from the Agroindustrial Pilot Plant at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering of the Universidad de Concepción, where they receive orientation and help in channeling their ventures.

By Moira Fernández / moirafernandez@udec.cl / Photographs: Alfredo Zenteno

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ECONOMY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Beneficiaries: Farmers from the Itata Valley Product: Olives UdeC Support: Preservation techniques and adding value to sub-product Results:Technical visits established within the framework of Local Development Plans brought together farmers from the Ninhue, San Ignacio, Ránquil, Coelemu, Quirihue, Portezuelo, and San Nicolás communities for a visit to the Agroindustrial Pilot Plant at the Chillán Campus of UdeC. At the plant, they attended talks and received training about preservation methods and the added value of olive sub-products. More

specifically, they received advice on how to better prepare and preserve olives, as well as on how to innovate in regards to olive sub-products, such as with smoked, garlic-flavored, or merken-flavored olive pastes. These types of products allow farms to expand their product to alternative culinary markets.

José Arraigada, for example, constructed a processing room in his house in the Portezuelo community. This allowed him to participate in regional festivals, which subsequently let him expand his tree farm and buy fruits from other neighbors. His next challenge is to obtain a health permit, for which he is receiving technical advice.

Beneficiaries: Erich Hannh Product: Processing plant for sweetbriar rose oil in the Tirúa community UdeC Support: Processing of sweetbriar rose oil Results: Erich Hannh received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Agricultural Engineering from the Universidad de Concepción.

While still a student, Erich sought aid from the Pilot Plant for his first ventures.

He began with the idea of exporting snail slime, which required sending samples to receive health permits. Due to this, the Pilot Plant became a fundamental pillar for this entrepreneurship. However, after some time, and after having gained experience and more contacts, Erich decided to make a change and began looking to export sweetbriar rose oil.

Regarding this, the Pilot Plant aided in packaging the first oils for export, as well as in implementing the technologies that today allow Erich’s venture to operate with complete independence; sending periodic shipments of 5000 liters of sweetbriar rose oil to Europe. Erich’s next challenge is to import new presses from the United States to improve and expand his production line.

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ECONOMY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Beneficiaries: Sonia Carrasco Antileo Product: Dehydrated wild goods UdeC Support: Processing unit for dehydrated and processed non-wood forestry products Results: Following a technical tour at the Agroindustrial Pilot Plant, Sonia Carrasco took part in a training workshop for techniques in drying and dehydrating foods. Following this, she received technical counseling on how to implement these technologies and subsequently built a multifunctional processing room to dehydrate and conserve food products and to make fruit jams. The University further supported this initiative by connecting Sonia with a consultor, and together they received financing to construct a biomass-fueled oven. Sonia’s next goal is to construct a mixed-function dehydrator that works with solar energy during the day and biomass fuel during the night. Currently, Sonia and her team work with fungi, fruits, medicinal herbs, and Mapuche cosmetics. These products are offered nationally at different festivals, allowing Sonia to establish her product as more than just a brand, but also as a cultural heritage.

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ECONOMY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

TerraData Ltda.

TAKING CARE OF A VITAL RESOURCE Geological exploration and geophysical modelling are the services offered by TerraData Ltda., an agricultural business founded in Concepción. The goal of these services is to provide efficient solutions to water shortages affecting the region.

By VRID Team / incuba@udec.cl / Photographs: Personal archives of Alejandra Muñoz Jensen

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ECONOMY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The phrase “April showers” is no longer true. Currently, low rainfall in the winter and high temperatures in the summer have exacerbated water shortages across the country. In the Biobío Region, there is a 19.7% deficit as compared to last year, according to data provided by the Directorate-General of Water (DGA, Spanish acronym) and as published in the newspaper El Sur. Furthermore, the Biobío, Chillán, Diguillín, Duqueco, Itata, Laja, Ñuble, and Perquilanquín Rivers registered a 78% deficit during June 2016, as compared to statistics from the same period in 2015. These figures are worrying to local farmers who depend on these rivers as primary water sources for irrigation.

Alejandra Muñoz Jensen and Ivo Fustos Toribio, geophysicists from the Universidad de Concepción, established TerraData Ltda. in 2013 with the objectives of providing efficient solutions to water shortage problems and to minimize meteorological uncertainty.

The inspiration for TerraData Ltda. came from a thesis presentation that suggested thermal waters could be detected.

That same year, Muñoz and Fustos sought sponsorship from IncubaUdeC, a platform for technological ventures at the Universidad de Concepción, and applied to the 10th call for Innovative Female Entrepreneurs by Innova Biobío.

Ultimately, TerraData was awarded funding and, to date, continues to be sponsored by IncubaUdeC. TerraData performs geological explorations and constructs geophysical models for the agricultural industry, providing services such as soil surveys and estimates for meteorological variables.

Importantly, reports are provided to clients in a timely manner and in easy-tounderstand language. Each day, farmers are using more and more innovative 38 I+D+i UDEC

products and services within their overall chain of production, all with the end goal of minimizing economic losses. One client of TerraData is Robinson Uribe, a farmer from the El Carmen community that, in 2013, needed to find groundwater to successfully plant and harvest blueberries.

“It was a very good experience. According to the information I was provided, the best option was to use a percolation trench instead of a wellpoint, and that’s what I did,” comments Robinson. Using this service meant Robinson saved both money and time.

“Robinson was our first client with whom we technically validated our service.

He has since recommended us to other farmers,” says Alejandra Muñoz.

FROM MINING TO AGRICULTURE According to Alejandra, the innovation of TerraData is in that, “the soil is left undisturbed since there is no need for excavations.” The exploration technique employed by TerraData is not new and has been used for a number of years in the mining industry. However, this is the first application of this technology in the agricultural industry.

Specifically, electric currents are injected into the ground, and the behavior of these currents in the subsoil indicates which/ if water and minerals are present. The process begins by delimiting the terrain to be studied. After this, two metallic stakes are put into the ground, and a continuous electric current is run between them, going from point A to point B. Similarly, a pair of sensors is used to measure results in voltages. “Depending on composition, soils become polarized when stimulated by an electric current. To ensure that we are measuring how the soil would naturally respond to such a stimulus, we

1

“The soil is left undisturbed since there is no need for excavations.”

Alejandra Muñoz.

ECONOMY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

2 also test the opposite cycle. That is, we inject electricity from point A to B and, then, vice versa,” comments Alejandra Muñoz.

The resistivity scale, measured in ohmmeter (Ω∙m), is used for studies since, as is widely known, water conducts electricity.

Due to this property of water, a high degree of resistivity in the signal indicates a lack of water, whereas a low degree indicates the existence of groundwater.

“The final client report indicates the location, dimensions, depth, and volume of the detected resource. This information helps the farmer to sustainably use water resources,” indicates Alejandra Muñoz.

Furthermore, the final report provides a geological profile for the sector, delivering inferences and suggestions as to where perforations can or cannot be made.

Other soil survey services offered by TerraData Ltda.: Surface stratification studies to determine soil type, identify any contaminants in forest plots, and establish the degree of soil acidification.

Slope stability assessments based on hydraulic factors: Different simulations of hydric stress are run considering the geological and topological characteristics of the study area, calculating the possibility of subsidence events or terrain collapse. Similarly, fault planes are reviewed, and technical proposals are made for stabilizing the area.

Additional services associated with meteorological variables include the following: estimating atmospheric variables and creating virtual meteorological stations; delimiting zones susceptible to frost events (i.e. isotherm less than zero); and estimating

susceptibility to land and mudslides.

TerraData is currently executing a farmmonitoring project in collaboration with Orafti Chile S.A. and with the Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA, Spanish acronym) in Chillan. This year, TerraData also won funding from the Innovative Venture Seed Program granted by the Biobío Committee for Productive Regional Development. This funding will allow TerraData to update their current monitoring equipment and build additional equipment.

Furthermore, TerraData might establish its own laboratory dedicated to soil research, the end goal of which would be to standardize measurement values according to national geography. Of course, it is worth highlighting that the largest challenge faced by this Concepción-based business is raising private capital.

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3

4

“The final client report indicates the location, dimensions, depth, and volume of the detected resource.

This information helps the farmer to sustainably use water resources.”

Alejandra Muñoz.

1

TerraData is a minimally invasive detection water system.

TerraData

performs

geological

geophysical

2 exploration and modeling in the agricultural sector.

3

Drought is a problem that increasingly affects agriculture.

result is a report that allows the client to make 4 The efficient decisions and with that, save resources.

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Businesses and the University

COMING TOGETHER FOR BERRIES

Fifteen regional businesses and microbusinesses related to the berries industry sat down to discuss challenges facing food safety and took steps towards identifying and closing the gaps that currently hinder work. Notably, these talks moved towards the inclusion of academic research in certain areas.

By Moira Fernรกndez / moirfernandez@udec.cl / Photographs: Moira Fernรกndez

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It is no small task to bring together representatives from related industries to discuss permanent partnerships and ways to best face a number of different challenges. However, this feat was achieved by 15 regional business and microbusinesses involved with the farming and export of berries. In particular, representatives participated in a series of activities, including workshops, focus groups, and seminars, as part of the project “Connecting the Universidad de Concepción with berry farming and processing businesses affiliated with Chilealimentos, increasing competitiveness by ensuring the safety of exported frozen berries.” This project, which was financed by Conicyt and the Innovation Fund for Competiveness (FIC, Spanish acronym) of the Biobío Regional Government, was led by Juan Antonio Cañumir from the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering at the Universidad de Concepción.

A NEEDED EXPERIENCE

representatives was to select a subject that was really important to them.

Ultimately, the subject of food safety in agricultural development was able to unite 15 businesses, small farmers, and public institutions. Max Ramírez, Manager for the Quality Assurance Department at the Chillán de Alimentos y Frutos S.A. processing plant, comments, “Safety is our first priority because there is no point in having a product that is competitive, cheap, and highly valuable if finally this product is contaminated and inedible.”

On the importance of this type of project between universities and businesses, Ramírez further states, “Businesses do not always have money available for research, and many of the problems facing the food industry must necessarily be assessed through monitoring initiatives.

We don’t have the time or the economic support for this, and, as such, this type of partnership is very important. Universities can be of enormous help in developing new technologies that help prevent the problems that affect our industry.”

One of the principal participants of the project was the Chilealimentos Trade Union, the member companies of which are responsible for close to 70% of Chile’s food exports. Regarding the importance of this initiative, Andrés Acevedo, Research and Development Manager at Chilealimentos, explains that, “a link between academia and business should be the conventional way for industry to operate, but in Chile, there has always been a separation between the private sector and universities. The paradigm needs to be broken that researchers do their work between four walls and that businesses move faster and seek solutions elsewhere or through their own means.”

These types of partnerships have always been relevant to the Universidad de Concepción. “We have spent years trying to approach businesses,” comments the Vice Rector Dr. Carlos González, “but in some industries, partnerships have failed to materialize. Working with Chilealimentos, as we are doing now, is very important for us since this trade union brings together many farmers.”

González also highlights that “some myths surrounding communication and proximity are being broken. This project has demonstrated that the both the commercial and university sectors have done away with misconceptions to work together, particularly since this is an associative, not independent, initiative.”

In the face of this reality, a principal challenge in bringing together business

Project director Juan Antonio Cañumir says, “While a lot of research is conducted

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“The paradigm needs to be broken that researchers do their work between four walls and that businesses move faster and seek solutions elsewhere or through their own means.”

Andrés Acevedo, Chilealimentos.

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Project team visits the company Alifrut.

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First Regional Coordination Committee meeting.

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Visit AG Small Producers of Berries to the Faculty of Agricultural engineering.

1 at universities, the resulting knowledge is not applied in most cases. In other words, technological development does not exist; for me, technological development is when you apply the information you have gained. Therefore, this project helped reveal to industry players that we are performing a lot of research relevant to solving their problems. This is why we are continually seeking to establish longlasting collaboration networks, and this project went beyond our expectations in achieving this goal.”

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UNEXPECTED RESULTS

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Notable results of this project included four collaboration agreements. The first was with Chilealimentos AG; the second was with the Biological Systems Engineering Department at Washington State University (Pullman, WA, USA); the third was signed with the Subsecretariat of Agriculture, and the fourth, and perhaps least expected, agreement was signed with the Trade Association for Berry Farmers in the Biobío Region, officially known as Berries Valle de Itihue AG. This final agreement indicates that despite the business-oriented nature of the project,

other relevant actors were able to actively participate, including small berry farmers and public institutions such as ACHIPIA, SAG, and MINAGRI, among others.

With the participation of these actors, the project was able to take on new perspectives that were originally limited to academia and businesses. Ultimately, a common ground was established on a subject that, in addition to being complex, presents an incalculable number of variables that need to be understood before establishing a “culture of food safety.” Indeed, this concept was discussed over the course of the project, and, coincidentally, ACHIPIA is now using project definitions to promote food safety policies.

“This project really brought everyone closer. Businesses communicated their needs to the University through meetings, workshops, and during researcher visits to the processing plants. On the other hand, the researchers were able to communicate their abilities, and these interactions led to common viewpoints and expectations for continued teamwork.”

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Early Detection of Fungi on Berries

BLUEBERRIES IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM

Two researchers from the Biotechnology Center at UdeC founded DiagnoChrome, which offers an innovative kit that can detect disease in blueberries. This kit promises to positively identify fungi infections in blueberries within hours, a significant reduction from the traditional wait time of days or weeks. As in humans, early disease diagnosis can make all the difference.

By Fernando MejĂ­as / femejias@udec.cl

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1 A small Styrofoam box addressed to her is left at reception. As soon as she is told, she picks the box up and takes it back to one of the Center’s laboratories, where she has worked for more than three years. Once there, she opens it up and carefully inspects the contents – 100 grams of blueberries from Chillan. The temptation to eat them is always there, especially for someone who knows how they taste and of the health benefits they offer. Unfortunately, she cannot eat them, and, in fact, it is probable that at least some of the blueberries are sick, infected with a fungi that causes millions of dollars in yearly loses for the agricultural sector. Her job is to identify which blueberries are infected and which are not as fast as possible.

“We identified that one of the keys to successful blueberry exportation was having a fast, low-cost tool that could detect the disease caused by the fungi Botrytis cinerea,” explains Andrea Donoso, a Plant Biotechnology Engineer with a Master’s in Forest Science and one of the directors of DiagnoChrome. This initiative

is hosted within UdeC’s Biotechnology Center through funding granted by the 2015 Young Innovators competition held by the Foundation for Agricultural Innovation (FIA, Spanish acronym). The novelty of DiagnoChrome’s transportable kit is that pathogens can be detected in the field earlier, quicker, easier, and at a lower cost than traditional methods. What’s more is that these are not the only benefits offered by DiagnoChrome.

“We do not want the farmer to have to send samples to the laboratory. We want to bring the laboratory to the farmer. Any person, even those without advanced knowledge in phytopathology and molecular biology, can use this technology to make quick diagnoses, with the entire process taking no more than a few hours,” highlights Donoso. To date, there are very few techniques that can be applied in the field, and many of those that do exist are expensive and can take days or weeks.

This diagnostic delay reduces the window in which effective countermeasures can be taken, ultimately resulting in significant losses.

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CHILEAN BLUEBERRIES In the last ten years, Chile has become the second largest blueberry producer in the world. According to the National Blueberry Commission, more than 15,000 hectares in Chile are dedicated to blueberry farms, the harvests of which produce profits exceeding 600 million dollars. Within Chile, the Biobio Region is second after the Maule Region in blueberry production. Nevertheless, the latest harvest was greatly impacted by grey rot, or botrytis, which affected more than 1,000 farmers and 300 businesses/ exporters related to this industry. The negative effects of this outbreak included export losses exceeding 85 million dollars.

Considering these figures, it is no wonder that a number of farmers have shown interest in the kit offered by DiagnoChrome. “In May, we had a promising meeting with Hortifrut S.A., one of the principal berries exporters in Chile,” comments Donoso. “We arrived at an agreement to carry out diagnostic field tests in distinct blueberry varieties at farms in Los Angeles.”

This is an important step towards consolidating the use of this kit in the field, particularly as field validations are critical, even when laboratory results are excellent. “So far, the detection tests we have run have been in fruits and flowers sent to us from farms in Chillan. We then process these samples in the Genomics and Molecular Biology Laboratory within the Biotechnology Center at UdeC.” UDEC INNOVATION FOR THE WORLD “The procedure is very simple. The kit includes an extraction reagent, tubes for the reaction, and a detection reagent.

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“We want to bring the laboratory to the farmer. Any person, even those without advanced knowledge in phytopathology and molecular biology, can use this technology to make quick diagnoses, with the entire process taking no more than a few hours.”

Andrea Donoso.

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1 Andrea Donoso 2 Sofia Valenzuela 3

Blueberries in Advanced state of botrytis contamination or gray rot.

Ph/ Fernando Mejías

the extraction reagent, add a drop of the sample to the tubes included in the kit, and finally add the detection reagent.

The samples incubate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. After this period, the tubes are checked for any color changes. If any changes exists, then the pathogen is present,” explains Donoso.

practices need to incorporate new tools for decision making and for disease control. This technology aligns with these needs, diagnosing if fungicides should be used by confirming the presence or absence of an environmental pathogen,” adds Moya.

Technologies like this are achieved with an integrated outlook that goes beyond just a vision. This is clear to Dr. Sofía Valenzuela, a researcher and Subdirector for the Biotechnology Center that, together with Donoso, founded DiagnoChrome SpA. Strictly speaking, DiagnoChrome is a spin off that arose from the idea to detect phytopathogens, as contemplated within the framework of the Bioeconomy area of the Center. “This is only a model we are using to validate our technology.

The idea for the future is to have a series of specific kits for different bacterial and fungal pathogens that can be used at different types of farms. One interesting niche is that of quarantine pests, where trusted monitoring measures are critical,” explains Dr. Valenzuela. “Over our ten years of history, the UdeC Biotechnology Center has participated in various research and development initiatives. Today, we are trying to get technologies onto the market, which obligates a shift in our thinking, a shift towards being innovators that create products that can impact our region and country.”

Finally, Donoso sustains the positive impact of this kit in improving accurate pathogen detection, particularly when visual diagnoses are made. “We compared the two techniques, ours and that of simple visual observation. While visual diagnoses were correct in some cases, we observed that blueberries were sometimes classified as infected when, in reality, they were affected by pathogens unrelated to botrytis. This information can be crucial for deciding on the phytosanitary measures that should be taken in blueberry farms, ultimately reducing losses for farmers.”

The DiagnoChrome founders have received fundamental support from Dr. Ernesto Moya, a researcher for the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UdeC who has worked in product creation and on applications for disease control in the agriculture industry. “This could be a valuable tool for decision making.

Climate change, which has caused spring to be dry one year and rainy the next, has meant that traditional management

The latest blueberry harvest was greatly impacted by grey rot, or botrytis, which affected more than 1,000 farmers and 300 businesses/exporters related to this industry. The negative effects of this outbreak included export losses exceeding 85 million dollars.

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Wood and Plastic

AN ECO-FRIENDLY PAIR The business American Home offers wood-plastic products constructed from material developed by researchers and engineers at the Technological Development Unit of UdeC. These products are now on sale in Santiago, Valparaíso, and Concepción at the retailer Sodimac.

This is a successful example of technology transfer to the commercial industry, with businesses betting on the added value to plastics by offering the community with quality, eco-friendly products developed

by Chilean scientists.

By Mónica Paz / m.paz@udt.cl / Photographs: Mónica Paz and Nelson Zbinden

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Creating a material is like cooking an elaborate dish. It is not enough to have the right ingredients in the right proportions, or to precisely follow instructions. Rather, the recipe must be tested under different conditions to determine the right temperatures and timings, to establish ingredient quality, and to define the instruments that will be needed, among other factors.

This methodology was repeated over years before finally obtaining a woodplastic composite that could be used in the injection molding of products.

Materials composed of wood and plastic have been used for twenty years in the United States, but in Chile, this technology was only known through imported construction goods, such as decking or siding, among other extrusion applications.

The forestry industry in the Biobio Region produces a large amount of wood wastes. This reality, together with the support of plastic processing companies, paved the way for establishing a Biomaterials Area within the Technological Development Unit (UDT, Spanish acronym) at the Universidad de Concepción. This area was able to develop a Chilean version of the wood-plastic composite, providing innovations in technology and in final applications by using exclusive raw materials and processing methods.

We spoke with Carolina Olivari, a Project Engineer and manager of the Biomaterial Pilot Plant overseen by the UDT. Carolina has 12 years of experience in this area and is the most knowledgeable in the region on woodplastic composites.

WHAT IS A WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITE AND WHAT COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES DOES IT HAVE? This is a material that mixes plastic with wood wastes, such as sanding dust and sawdust, among others. The advantages of this material include its durability; since it is not affected by microorganisms, it is resistant to a number of climactic conditions.

Furthermore, it is easy to clean, and, by using wood wastes, can help to decrease manufacturing costs. There are two primary uses for wood-plastic composites: in extrusion applications, such as in frames and molds for construction; or in injection molding products, such as containers, planters, trays, and any other product made from a mold.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHILEAN VERSION OF A WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITE? This choice was basically based on the opportunities provided by our region. The Biobío Region is characterized by a strong forestry industry and by widely available biomasses, such as bark, sawdust, and wheat straw. Until a few years ago, these waste products were burned, but now we have the opportunity to give these biomasses added value by innovating in applications, such as through fine chemicals or biomaterials.

WHAT DOES THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS CONSIST OF? In simple terms, at the UDT we produce pellets of raw wood-plastic composites. To successfully mix these components and obtain a usable end-product, a twin screw extruder is used, processing the materials by cutting and mixing them together. After this, the pellets are mixed in a plastics processing plant with plastic wastes and are fed into an injection machine. The solid material melts and is poured into a mold, where it sets back into a solid state. This process results in an injection product.

HOW CAN THESE PRODUCTS BE POSITIONED IN THE RETAIL MARKET? American Home, a subsidiary of Comberplast and one of the largest processing companies in the country, has decided to use this composite to provide added value to their products. They came to the UDT and learned about the material and some test products. Since the formula and operating conditions were similar to a previous project, American Home is able to use existing infrastructure, machines, and molds. In the end, unique, esthetic products are produced.

American Home and the UDT began working together towards using the wood-plastic composite to meet market demands. In particular, while UDT provided the raw material, the plastic wastes from traditional manufacturing were provided by Comberplast. The use of industrial wastes is important not only from an environmental perspective, but also in terms of cost, with this project exemplifying the possibility of adding value to apparent waste. Going back to the cooking analogy, it would be like making turnovers and then using the leftover dough to fry “sopaipillas.”

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“The professionals at American Home make eco-friendly products built from wood wastes and recycled plastics, and consumers have positively responded,” comments Carolina Olivari. As of March 2016, more than 30,000 units of home goods based on wood-plastic composites have been sold. These products were initially offered at just two Sodimac stores in Santiago, but today they are available in 20 stores located in the capital, Valparaíso, and Concepción.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? This eco-friendly line began with dish racks, trashcans, utensil holders, and, recently, trays. In addition to a possible extension of this product line, there is also an opportunity to introduce products based on biodegradable plastics that replace conventional plastics with polylactic acid (PLA). Furthermore, work is taking place to design and mold “green” wall modules. “We are also interested in obtaining multicolor fibers to create a version 2.0 of wood-plastic composites.

The materialization of years of work is highly gratifying for me; I love this material, it is like my own child,” states Carolina Olivarí.

In 2016, the UDT was chosen to participate in an acceleration program that stresses developing new uses for wood-plastic composites. This program promotes the market transfer of numerous technological innovations that are in advanced stages of development and that have commercial potential. The UDT is supporting the aim of bioeconomics to replace petroleumderived products with renewable raw materials.

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Other UDT Technologies Biodegradable retail bags Valuable products from plastic wastes Nutritional additive obtained from wood heat treatments Appetite inhibitor based on pine tree seeds Biodegradable containers for forest saplings Biodegradable films for agricultural crops Pharmaceutical excipient for diabetic patients Wood adhesive from the extract of pine tree bark

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Products developed with a wood + plastic base marketed at Homecenter Sodimac.

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Fernando Orellana, from the store Sodimac of Mirador BiobĂ­o Mall; Carolina Olivari, Biomaterials Pilot Plant Manager Engineer of UDT and Juan Mardones, Executive Director of Productive Development Committee.

BiobĂ­o.

EXTRUSION: A process that compresses a material and squeezes it through an opening (such as when we push toothpaste out of the tube).

INJECTION: A process in which a material is pressure-injected into a mold.

More information about this and other projects at: www.udt.cl/biomateriales

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Interactive Center for the Sciences, Arts, and Technology

PURE ENERGY “Biobío, Energy of Chile” is just one of the CICAT initiatives that have impacted the region and nation, serving as a laboratory for educational innovation. More than anything, CICAT has become a place where all students in the region want to go.

By Claudia Reyes / claudiareyes@udec.cl / Photographs: Cicat Team

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1 “I like the science classes because there are experiments, which I love.

The experiment that I liked the most was the one where we had to build a circuit because I like to build things,” comments José Eugenio Herrera, a fifth-grade student from the José René Salgado Burgos School, located 30 km from Pemuco. José, or “Queno” as he is called by his friends, is one of the more than 5,000 students across the region that have participated in the educational program “Biobío, Energy of Chile.” This initiative is led by the Interactive Center for the Sciences, Arts, and Technology (CICAT, Spanish acronym) and seeks to directly improve student performance in subjects related to energy, which are a required part of any elementary school’s curriculum.

Following the three-year success of the

“Get Energized” program, which was developed in collaboration with teachers and students from Coronel and with the support of Colbún, the “Biobío, Energy of Chile” initiative was designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy. Currently, “BioBío, Energy of Chile” benefits 150 teachers across 32 communities in the Biobío Region, providing them with training, a complete kit with didactic material for students, and technical support during science classes. This initiative won the 2015 “Prize for Educational Innovation in Science,” awarded by the Scientific Foundation for Youths and UNESCO.

many things, but sometimes they don’t have the opportunity to show their skills.

I am always concerned about considering the most unruly students, and with the help of programs like this, I am able to make these students feel important, and this helps them to behave better. This occurred because the program stresses teamwork, which helps unruly students to find their place within the class. Many students were notably frustrated, but when their classmates helped them, a very special teamwork environment is created.

Science class was like another world. I will never forget what these three years of the ‘Get Energized’ program have done.”

Blanca Figueroa, a science teacher from the Ramón Freire Serrano School in Lagunillas de Coronel and “Get Energized” program participant, comments, “Children are capable of

Teacher training programs such as “Get Energized” and “Biobío, Energy of Chile” reflect the educational strategy used by CICAT. Specifically, CICAT serves as a link between the Universidad de Concepción I+D+i UDEC

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and public and private entities, all with the objective of establishing valuable, strategic alliances that benefit students and teachers in the BioBío Region.

This strategy is reflected by projects such as the “Eco-brigade Album” (see Figure) with Essbio; “Eureka, a World of Ideas” and “Ideas Factory” with the BioBío Committee for Productive Development; “A World of Polymers” with the Research Center on Advanced Polymers (CIPA, Spanish acronym); and “The Surprising History of Electric Energy” with a number of local energy companies, among other initiatives.

“In these times when educational quality is a subject of debate, we have realized that in the area of science and technology, we have a tremendous task to propose initiatives, innovate, and aid teachers in improving scientific awareness among our students.

Knowledge is fundamental for the development of the country, and is important to position CICAT as the connection between the knowledge provided by the University with public and private initiatives that seek to finally deliver this knowledge to our visitors,” comments Juan Carlos Gacitúa, CICAT Director and instructor who completed his undergraduate studies at the Universidad de Concepción and doctoral studies at the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in Spain, where he also worked for ten years.

“Our challenge in transferring what we have created to reach more students and teachers is to solidify CICAT’s didactic model, the Karios Interactive Model. The Biobío Region is the only region to have an interactive center with these traits, and we should be proud of contributing ideas for the scientific formation of school children nationally,” expresses Gacitúa.

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The Eco-Brigade Album The “Eco-Brigade Album” contains a total of 90 collectable sheets that serve as didactic material for themes associated with caring for the environment. These sheets, which were designed for first and second graders, touch on six topics: climate change, water resources, watersheds, energy efficiency, recycling, and biodiversity. The only way to obtain these sheets, and complete the “Eco-Brigade Album,” is to participate in activities that educate on and help the environment. More information can be found at. http://www.albumecobrigada.com/

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From Laja to the world The Regional Partnership Project, supported by Conicyt funding through Explora Biobío, is a key CICAT initiative.

One important event within this project is the Student Science and Technology Fair. This year, two junior students from the Polivalente Hermanas Maestras de la Santa Cruz High School, in the Laja community of the BioBío Region, won a $5,000 dollar prize in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) after participating in the National Explora-Conicyt Student Science Fair.

Claudia Poblete and Roxana Cuevas created an Earthquake Alert System able to detect tremors nine seconds in advance. This invention was inspired by the 2010 earthquake in Chile, which left Roxana’s house in ruins. Roxana and her family were taken in by relatives, including her classmate and cousin, Claudia. This experience forced both to think about an alert system that could prevent similar future tragedies. With the help of their teacher, Claudio Valenzuela, Claudia and Roxana designed an alert mechanism based on the accelerometer in cell phones.

“Winning at the National Science Fair in Valparíso was already a big achievement for us. It was a challenge for us to compete in the United States, especially when we saw that the other participants in the software category were from Russia, Germany, and South Korea; so winning one of the prizes was spectacular. Now we want to work on expanding our project and ensuring functionality across the country, in addition to widening its use to help people after an earthquake,” comment the winners.

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Blanca Figueroa.

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Delegation of students from first cycle performing the CICAT rocket.

Science and Technology Scholar

3 Regional Congress, Explora 2015.

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Teachers of Biobio Energy of Chile knowing the interactive exhibition "The Amazing History of electric power".

5 Interactive itinerant exhibition

"The Amazing Story of the Electrical power" in San José de Cañete Highschool.

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SEVEN KEY COMPETENCIES FOR THE ENGINEERS OF TOMORROW The Engineering Faculties from the Universidad de Concepción, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso met to develop a strategic plan for training the professionals Chile will need in 2030, starting today. Following are some of the currently existing centers, projects, and programs at these three faculties that strengthen the so-termed “2030 Partnership, expanding the frontiers of engineering” project and contribute towards seven key competencies future engineers should have.

RESOLUTE Center for Renewable Energies: integrate R&D/ innovation into the creation, storage, distribution, and use of energy, with preferential attention given to renewable energy sources. (UdeC)

Advanced Manufacturing Center: support industry competiveness, taking on long-term technological challenges to foster the demand for technological innovation and creation of new products with market potential and high degrees of added value. (UdeC)

CONNECTED

By Carolina Vega / cvegaa@udec.cl

Technological Laboratories on the Internet of Things, as well as virtual and augmented reality: create applied solutions to real problems in society using cutting-edge technology and innovation (PUCV) Smart Campus Challenge: suggest technological solutions and software applications that could improve on-campus university life. (PUCV)

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Smartcity, "Technology for City Planning”: convert Valparaíso into a Smart City, connecting technology ventures with the large problems facing the city. (PUCV)

EDUCATION

HIGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE

Prototype Development: support the creation, scaling, or commercialization of prototypes from ventures that need innovation management. (USACH)

ETHICAL Good Neighbor Challenge: increase awareness among the university community about problems facing the Estación Central neighborhood in Santiago. (USACH)

Spin-off workshops, Creating businesses from the University: foster the creation of spin-offs and simultaneous participation of spin-offs with those in education and research.

(PUCV) Collaborative Space Valparaíso Makerspace: learn about and carry-out work in robotics, electronics, mechanics, carpentry, and 3D printers, among others.

(PUCV)

GearBox, Technology-based Program for Entrepreneurship and Innovation: create spin-offs between engineering students through mentorship, workshops, and contests during the year (UdeC)

Center for Technological Extension (CET, Spanish acronym): address the demand for knowledge and innovation in small businesses through CET abilities, in collaboration with Georgia Tech. (UdeC) 2030 Open Innovation Program: offer external R&D services that provide innovative solutions to the manufacturing problems faced by businesses, with the goal of adding value.

(PUCV – USACH – UdeC) Business Impact Tournament: provide innovate solutions in the energy and environmental sectors for businesses associated with Asexma. (USACH)

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Researching Indigenous Penal Systems

ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS INTEGRATION OF THE WALLMAPU

Currently, the customs of indigenous Chilean peoples are only recognized to absolve or attenuate criminal sentencing, without considering if the behavior under question is criminal within the person’s native culture.

One UdeC researcher seeks to reconcile both systems.

By Katterinne Arriagada / kattarriagada@udec.cl / Photographs: Katterinne Arriagada

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The modern Chilean population knows little about the Mapuche culture, and this lack of awareness is more acute when discussing the ethnography of law. Currently, indigenous peoples in Chile are judged under Chilean penal laws and not according to those within their native culture. This is due to a restrictive interpretation of the national laws that regulate the legal rights of indigenous peoples and to the preference given to national laws over Convention 169 of the International Labor Office, which states “the social, cultural, religious and spiritual values and practices of these peoples shall be recognized and protected….” This subject is currently the focus of the VRID-funded research project “Indigenous penal traditions and the principles of legality” being carried out by Rodrigo González-Fuente, who holds a PhD in Law and forms part of the Department of Penal Law within the Faculty of Judicial and Social Sciences.

How did the idea to research indigenous penal systems arise?

Despite the proximity of southern Chilean regions to areas with Mapuche populations, no thorough study on the subject exists.

In fact, this is one of the principal research objectives: to establish a written precedent for Mapuche traditions regarding law, particularly since judges require such evidence and are not obligated to be familiar with indigenous systems.

What does indigenous criminal law entail?

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The Mapuche, one of the most important indigenous ethnicities in Chile, are governed by the “admapu,” or moral, religious, spiritual, and legal social rules and values kept within their territory. Due to its characteristics, the admapu is viewed as a gift given by a deity to Mapuche ancestors. Invocation of the admapu does not mean returning to the past or an unwillingness to evolve. Instead, the goal is to adapt ancestral traditions to the present, I+D+i UDEC

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a task that necessarily involves evaluating the coherency and interpretation of tradition. The culture of today’s Mapuche is definitively a reflection of Mapuche culture as it has always been – a culture communicated through a living mother tongue; a culture of tradition; a culture of religiousness, etc.

What has been the most complicated part of this investigation?

Without doubt, the hardest part has been acquiring information and doing so from a primary source. As a community, the Mapuche are reluctant to talk; it is difficult for them to provide information because there is a lot of distrust. There are people that have conducted research and then used the gained information for commercial ends. The Mapuche do not agree with this and become more isolationists. This situation has complicated the interview stage of research and receiving permission to access the needed information.

What was the legal objective of your research?

The legal objective is to try and reconcile Mapuche tradition such that it can be considered legally relevant and valid in possible future cases. Currently, the customs of indigenous Chilean peoples are only recognized to absolve or attenuate criminal sentencing FULFILLING RESEARCH There are currently situations in which Mapuche customs are in conflict the Chilean legal system. For example, Dr. González Fuente comments, “for a ‘machi’, it is not a crime to carry a shotgun, and sexual offences are not considered a crime when the two parties have less than 14 years of age difference.” Cases like this highlight the complications of aligning national law and indigenous 60 I+D+i UDEC

customs, although “judges overseeing conflict areas try to adapt to indigenous views and customs. What happens is that Mapuche law is based on customs, and while judges try to grant leeway where possible, they cannot disregard Chilean law.”

psychologists, historians, linguists, and astronomers, with each contributing to form a complete vision of the Mapuche.

That is the most beautiful thing about culture: you cannot compartmentalize indigenous studies; you must understand a little of everything.

What are some of the next steps regarding this subject?

I consider that that the world of law has a long way to go in these aspects, because if we are able to gain a greater degree of recognition and rigorous application of indigenous customs, judges need to be prepared. We do not currently have an indigenous jurisdiction within our legal system, and this should be implemented with a Mapuche representative acting as the judge. However, since we only have Chilean judges, it will be their responsibility to become familiar with indigenous traditions. Other countries in Latin America are far more advanced in this sense, and I think that looking to them will serve as a good roadmap for Chile.

What do you feel the current standing of the Mapuche image is?

I believe that every day we are giving into the idea that Mapuche are poor and are poorly educated, when in fact, Mapuche professionals can be found across the many fields of knowledge. The breaking of classist and racist stereotypes will allow people to admire the Mapuche culture.

Modern Mapuche want to maintain tradition while also adapting to modern times, and it is very gratifying to support this.

What other aspects have caught your attention during this project?

Normally, legal studies only examine laws, but in this case, we have had the chance to share with people from other areas, such as anthropologists, sociologists,

“Invocation of the admapu does not mean returning to the past or an unwillingness to evolve. Instead, the goal is to adapt ancestral traditions to the present.”

“The breaking of classist and racist stereotypes will allow people to admire the Mapuche culture.”

“We do not currently have an indigenous jurisdiction within our legal system that has a Mapuche judge overseeing proceedings.”

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Dr. Rodrigo González.

SOCIETY

School for Young Entrepreneurs in Curanilahue

THE REAL GAME Some of them were selected by their teachers. Others came up with ways to be there, taking the place of classmates that could not attend.

No one quite understood what they were going to face, what they were getting into, and what they would be doing on those Saturdays that they could no longer sleep in until past noon. What is now known is that those days transformed 24 young adults into agents for change in their city: Curanilahue.

By PĂ­a Fierro O. / pifierro@udec.cl

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“When I arrived, I never thought it would be so important,” explains Francisca. Just like Julián and Antonia, she did not have much idea of what they were going to do at the School for Young Entrepreneurs.

The word “school” already stirred up feelings of resentment, implying they would have to pay attention to some form of instruction that would be given only on Saturdays, a sacred day of rest for any adolescent.

Bianca Cofré, a thesis student in Civil Industrial Engineering at UdeC, fell in love with entrepreneurship and social innovation thanks to the course “Projects Workshop,” dictated by Pablo Catalán from the Faculty of Engineering.

Bianca learned about and became quickly affiliated with the AcercaRedes Foundation, where she had the chance to work in direct contact with people. Within this same organization, Bianca now acts as coordinator for the School for Young Entrepreneurs, a pioneering program within the Foundation that arose from an initiative led by the Curanilahue Chamber of Commerce. This program is further supported by the business Momento Cero, who developed the game “The Plan” and additionally donated teaching materials to participating high schools.

Later support for the program was further provided by the Curanilahue Municipality and the Lota-Arauco Center for Technical Training (CFT, Spanish acronym).

PARTICIPANTS Students learned by playing the game, “The Plan: an entrepreneur’s adventure.”

This design diluted the fears of having a “class” on Saturdays. Sophomore and junior students from six high schools in Curanilahue met each Saturday to play a game about entrepreneurship. Three sophomore students, Francisca González (15-years-old, Mariano Latorre High 62 I+D+i UDEC

School), Julián Zapata (17-years-old, Politécnico High School), and Antonia Beltrán (15-years-old, Alonso de Ercilla High School), reflected the tenseness of that first Saturday. No one spoke much; everyone was mistrusting; and prejudices between schools prevailed. However, when the instructors asked them to form groups with students not from their own schools, they respected the request.

“The first day, I arrived to a closed world, a world where I didn’t know anyone and where I couldn’t open anything because I didn’t have the key to do it. As I got to know the others, that was great because together we became the key,” says Julián, whose strong character was shown from the get go. At first, Julián was reluctant and extremely critical of any instructions.

He confesses with regret that many of his comments hurt his classmates. For her part, Antonia remembers that, “I had a hard time getting close with the others; it was very difficult for me.” In contrast to Julián, Antonia is shy and acts reflexively.

She is worried about saying the wrong words, and prefers to remain silent and observe. Francisca was also reserved, but showed resolve. She enjoys telling others about all she learned in the School. “It was the best experience I have had, and it helped me a lot to explore my own abilities,” she comments.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN! Each one of the teams had to select a theme that would likely solve a problem within their community. Julián’s group designed a volunteer network to prevent animal abandonment. “We based our work on the irresponsibility of people, on pet who owners who abandon animals because they don’t have the time to take care of pets.” This volunteer network helps owners by taking care of their pets. This includes taking animals for walks, giving

them baths, grooming them, taking them to the veterinary, and even feeding them.

All of this is done for voluntary donations.

“We sought aid from two organizations that have been helping abandoned dogs for two years: Animal Dignity and Enemies Against Animal Abuse (ECMA, Spanish acronym).” These organizations provided a registry of the pets that had been abandoned.

Francisca and her group decided to tackle a very complex, and sensitive, subject: preventing drug consumption in 1st to 4th grade children. “When we selected this subject, we found out that adults were already aware of drug use issues, but this was not true of younger children, who are the most impressionable.

We decided to implement interactive educational initiatives, such as through theater and play.” Together with her group, Francisca attended a talk given by the National Service for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Drug and Alcohol Consumption (SENDA, Spanish acronym),

SOCIETY

1 which helped them to better structure their project. Another goal was that their initiative would be implemented longterm in the schools they visited, with plans to train high school students and teachers that would continue the mission. Due to a smaller age gap as compared to adults, Francisca believes that drug prevention talks will be better received by children if taught by teenagers.

Antonia’s project was vastly different and was focused on analyzing the way the Entrepreneurship School was run, on how it was designed, and on how each project was executed. This required special guidance and instruction, a role taken up by Bianca. Despite this challenge, Antonia says, “I did not see it as a greater responsibility [compared to the other groups], but we did understand that our goal was for the Entrepreneurship School to continue in the future. I would like many other students to have the chance to participate in this great experience.”

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LEADERS OF CHANGE, FROM CURANILAHUE TO THE WORLD Lota-Arauco CFT invited all of the students to participate in the “Generation for Change” contest organized by Ashoka, a global social entrepreneur network, and by Panal, an NGO dedicated to promoting a change of thinking in young adults. Additionally, Disney acted as a sponsor of the event. Without too much thinking, the groups signed up. Once their projects were selected, they had to face the most challenging task of all: asking their parents for permission.

“The parents of Curanilahue are very overprotective. It was very difficult for many to give permission for their children to travel. This experience meant a big change for them too,” explains Bianca.

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1

Young Entrepreneurship School Team, Curanilahue representatives.

2 Young representatives of Curanilahue preparing the presentations of their 3 projects in Generación Cambio.

4

4 Many of the students had never traveled outside of Curanilahue; only some had visited Concepción, and almost none had visited Santiago, where the event was held. “The program instructors had to speak a lot of times with my mother because she didn’t want to give me permission. She was scared that something would happen,” comments Francisca. The organizers even held an informational meeting for the parents, an instance that naturally became a time for mutually getting to know one another.

Finally, Francisca’s mother gave her permission.

The “Generation for Change” contest brought together more than 150 students between the ages of 13 and 18 from the Arica and Parinacota, Antofagasta, Metropolitan, O´Higgins, and Biobío Regions. The 24 students from Curanilahue were the only representatives from their region. When they left for 64 I+D+i UDEC

Santiago, nearly the entire community came to send them off. Little by little, the students realized they were living a transformative experience that would lead them to become agents of change and to understand that their ideas had the potential to be implemented and, thus, positively impact their city.

Thirty-two teams competed, but, more importantly, participants had the chance to share ideas, think about innovative solutions, learn the stories behind known social entrepreneurs, participate in workshops that enriched their own project ideas, and share with people their own age from across the country that were also seeking to make a difference. The ten most innovative ideas were awarded with $200 dollars in seed funding to implement their ideas. These initiatives included subjects related to culture, the environment, drugs, health and diet, cultural heritage, entrepreneurship and

From Left to Right: Antonia, Francisca, Bianca, and Julián

innovation, tourism, poverty reduction, sexual diversity, and communication, among others.

WHO WON? Everyone. Those 24 students are now ambassadors for social entrepreneurship in their high schools. Their classmates, now intrigued, are asking them about their trip to Santiago. They are sharing their experiences, and are commenting on how leaning to create solutions impacted them. These students are now seeking support to continue their projects. All are grateful to and value the institutions that supported them from the first day. “Being an entrepreneur was a great experience because we all did it together,” comments Julián.

SOCIETY

Made in Chile: Discontent

HOW IS DISCONTENT BORN? Strikes, marches, demonstrations, and forced take-overs are becoming more and more common forms of protest in Chile. The reasons for protesting are diverse, ranging from education and health to the environment, ethnical issues, human rights, and, sometimes, all of the above together. Through an interdisciplinary study, and considering social imagery, researchers from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Universidad de Concepciรณn analyzed the process that gives rise to indignation.

By Ignacio Abad / ignacioabad@udec.cl / Photographs: Aracely Veloso

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To understand dissatisfaction with a societal model, such as that which has prevailed for the last 30 years in Chile, the reasons underlying this sentiment must be evaluated. Clarifications regarding these reasons can be provided through the social sciences, particularly sociology, anthropology, and social psychology. Thanks to collaborations between these research areas, the phenomena driving each social protest can be studied, including the distrust of institutions and the Chilean government; the mistrust of market realities, such as the commercialization of social relationships; and, finally, the lack of trust between citizens in day-to-day spheres.

Based on this premise, Dr. Andrea Aravenoa, Professor of the Anthropology Program at the Universidad de ConcepciĂłn, together with Dr. Manuel Antonio Baeza, Director of the Sociology Department, conducted research through the Fondecyt project, “Constructing the social imagery of distrust and relating this with current discontent in Chile.â€? Specifically, the aim of this project was to understand the genesis of mistrust and discontent within the context of social imagery, all with the final goal of renewing or creating new ways of reflecting on social realities.

The results of this study, published in 2015, contribute to ongoing debate by identifying more than 20 focal points that can trigger distrust and discontent within the population at the micro, meso, and macro scales. Moreover, regional and national newspapers between 1990 and 2014, together with a series of indepth interviews with the leaders of national movements, were minutely analyzed, with findings suggesting a sequence of stages for understanding the process of growing dissatisfaction among citizens.

STAGES OF SOCIAL UNREST For some observers and analysists of the social sciences, transition processes are borderline cases that dramatically illustrate how difficult it can be to neutralize the fear of threats, either 66 I+D+i UDEC

SOCIETY

real or imagined, to explain that these processes play a central role in uncertainty.

Based on this confirmation, the first stage in understanding social unrest within the Chilean population is doubt.

Baeza, “Discontent is the manifestation of feelings of progressive marginalization by authorities, institutions, or the State, which often appear paralyzed by ineptitude or disabled by an inability to respond to needs.”

“In our work, we

established that Baeza highlights Doubt, distrust, discontent, and post-dictatorship that, “One of the interpellation are the stages proposed within the research project “Constructing Chile has settled findings of our the social imagery of distrust and relating on a coherent research was the this with current discontent in Chile.” social process necessity of thinking similar to those in about and deducing other countries. that discontent can However, we found have various origins. that in Chile, this process began with This is the benefit provided by performing doubt. Therefore, before discontent, research in collaboration with other the first seed planted among citizens areas of the social sciences, such as the was doubt. Will democracy be the multidisciplinary combination between best way of government? Are these sociology and anthropology. What’s more, the most appropriate governors? Will the anthropological standpoint teaches us they solve the problems created by the that discontent can also be inherited; for destabilization of the prior system?” example, in relation to things said about explains anthropologist Andrea Aravena. ethnic minorities in Chile, particularly the Mapuche. This implies that socialized After doubt comes distrust “of the traditions can mean generations having authorities that arrived, of the onions an almost cultural distrust for the Chilean that were established, of the judges State.” that had not condemned people, and of implementing public policies. This is DISCONTENT AND INTERPELLATION how the second stage was lived.” Distrust arises as a response to expectations When the citizenry feels that their within the population not being problems have no solution, the process satisfactorily addressed by the political of discontent begins. In this third stage, system or by governments that have persons within a movement become come after the dictatorship. “Distrust conscious of the fact that there are not does not mechanically occur. Rather, the only ones with doubts and that their it is the fruit of various processes. We mistrust is shared by a collective group discovered more than 20 aspects in which of people. Finally, when the discontent people addressed, in ascending order, population decides it is necessary to take doubt, mistrust, and discontent. The link the next step in expressing their unrest, between these last two increases the interpellation occurs, the last stage in the longer the mentioned problems remain sequence. unsolved. This is when distrust grows and becomes a larger dilemma. It is a “In the case of indigenous peoples, kind of notice to the government, to the who protest a return to democracy, one authorities, or the State to resolve those example would be the interpellation problems,” comments sociologist Manuel to the State when the government

started constructing the Alto Biobío hydroelectric dams. Doubt, discontent, and interpellation were present in this case. This critical moment resulted in a break between State and indigenous relationships, particularly so with the Mapuche peoples. Nevertheless, this episode with Chile’s indigenous cultures in the 1990s did not spread to the general society until 2006, when the “Penguin Revolution” occurred. Although the most well-known student protests happened in 2011, it was in 2006 that the process of doubt, distrust, discontent, and interpellation happened, leading to the students decision to take to the streets.

These are two of the most emblematic contemporary social movements in Chile related to the phenomena of distrust and discontent,” summarizes Aravena.

Interpellation is the last stage in the process because it reveals the relevance of the subject at hand, as well as indicating a chance for radicalization. “This occurs when the discontent, bad mood, or unrest among the citizenry transforms into something that has a specific objective: the most direct interpellation possible at distinct levels of political power. Our research came to an end at a point that, for us, appears to be the most critical. It is something that we caught a glimpse of, but we cannot continue our study for now. In the meantime, we are left with the question: What is beyond interpellation?”

“What’s more, there is also inherited discontent. This implies that socialized traditions can mean generations having an almost cultural distrust for the Chilean State.”

Manuel Baeza.

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MAULE HERITAGE TRAIL Thanks to the Heritage Trail in the Maule Region, it is now possible to explore sites closely connected with important historical events for Chile’s indigenous peoples, such as the Inca expansion, the Arauco War, the Spanish conquest, and colonial expansion.

The trail includes significant archeological sites, historic sectors, and spaces for cultural activities, which are used by existing Mapuche associations and communities from the Maule Region. The following photographic album portrays the Negros de Lora dance, as presented in the Licantén community.

By Ignacio Abad P. / abad.parraguez@gmail.com / Photographs: Germán Lagos

Through aid provided by the Technical Assistance Office (ATEC, Spanish acronym), the Faculty of Social Sciences from the Universidad de Concepción designed a Heritage Trail for the indigenous peoples of the Maule Region. This project was considered within the framework of an agreement signed between the Chilean Ministry of National Assets and UdeC in November 2015.

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This project arose out of necessity, with more than 20 Mapuche associations and organizations from the VII Region asking the Ministry of National Assets to establish a Heritage Trail, the execution of which was entrusted to Udec.

This collaborative project was completed by a technical team (including anthropologists, sociologists, and geographers) and Mapuche representatives, who best know the history and knowledge of the areas associated with their history and world views.

This trail extends across the entire provincial communities of Curicó, Talca, Cauquenes, and Linares.

“This project is new for our faculty and opens up two lines of work for the Technical Assistance Office: one related to the study of territorial development and another linked to indigenous populations,” states Germán Lagos, sociologist, instructor, and ATEC coordinator within UdeC’s Faculty of Social Sciences.

Trails were delineated with minimal-impact signposts and by installing a visitor’s center with information. These initiatives will ensure a safe and self-guided visit.

Currently, 65 Heritage Trails exist, which include nature, cultural, human rights, and indigenous paths. For more information, visit http://rutas.bienes.cl/

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ART & ARCHITECTURE

Cluster One Solar House

EASY, RESISTANT, AND SUSTAINABLE Is it a stilt house, an urban intervention, a dollhouse scaled to real life? While the design of the Solar House has dazzled visitors to the Concepción Campus of UdeC since last year, the most impressive features are inside.

By Monserrat Quezada L. and Team FAUG / monquezada@udec.cl / Photographs: Rodrigo Bastías

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ART & ARCHITECTURE

As with many stories, everything began with an invitation. The sender was the NGO Solar Route, who, together with the Ministry of Housing and Urbanization and the Chile Green Building Council, was organizing “Build Solar 2014.” This was the first contest to offer Chile a real chance of obtaining sustainable yet economical housing options. Who were the invitees?

The Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism and Geography (FAUG, Spanish acronym) of the Universidad de Concepción, a faculty that continued to receive other critical invitations that ultimately led to future achievements.

At the time, Pablo Pinares was a fifthyear student of Architecture and was charged with assembling a team that would participate in the contest. Juan Pablo Klempau, a specialized workshop instructor, led the group as an architect and coordinator. Together, Pinares and

Klempau formed the first directive council for the UdeC Solar Cluster.

SUPPORT After passing the pre-selection stage, one of the greatest challenges faced by the team was to concrete their idea, which required a number of resources. “We presented our idea to Mariano Campos, the manager of the national Lottery. He was convinced and strongly supported our venture through the conviction that this was an opportunity to show the abilities of UdeC on a national stage. This alliance allowed us to take on the project not just as a Faculty, but also in representation of the UdeC University and Corporation.

Overall, the project included participation from the Virginio Gómez Professional Institute; the Faculty of Engineering, who contributed with their experience on building a solar car; and the Vice Rectory

for Research and Development through the Patenting Office,” remarks Bernardo Suazo, the FAUG Dean.

For his part, Mariano Campos Ramírez explains that, “The greatest achievement of this project is that it provided confirmation of the great things that can be accomplished when working in a team, when taking advantage of the experiences and abilities of different disciplines and institutions.”

THE HOUSE “The first thing that we did,” explains Pablo Pinares, “was to define where a sustainable house would be most needed today. Researching the subject, we found that the primary problem was not access to housing, but rather, the quality of housing. This gave rise to the idea of intervening through energetically efficient materials.”

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Instructor Juan Pablo Klempau emphasizes the benefits provided by the selected construction material, plywood; not only in regards to properties, but also cost.

“Plywood is cheap compared to other materials. Due to this, our innovation is in how construction is undertaken, with our project addressing how to simplify and automatize the process. The key is in how the sheets are joined, and our method provides significant resistance and stability while maintaining the excellent properties of plywood.”

Construction was so simple, in fact, that when the house was being built, students were able to undertake the task to meet deadlines. “They told us, ‘it’s very risky, no one has done it before,’ but it was our way of confirming just how simple construction was, and it worked. The house was ready in five days, even though no one had prior experience in construction.”

took first place in a number of the 13 distinct categories that were assessed, including in the ‘innovation’ and ‘team spirit’ categories. We are very proud of this,” mentions Klempau regarding the outcomes of the contest.

A PROTECTED IDEA This project was recently granted a patent for its innovative construction system.

“This is recognition for the years of Faculty dedication towards generating innovative and creative ideas that can be applied and transferred to reality,” expresses Bernardo Suazo. Indeed, this patent brings the project one step closer to commercializing a pre-cut construction kit, which will facilitate building energetically efficient houses. “If we are able to commercialize this project, it could be a housing solution that is effective, economical, and quick,” explains the FAUG Dean.

“At the end of five days, we had constructed the 14 structural units that “This is a great achievement that form the house. Similarly, deconstruction encapsulates all we strive for as a and posterior loading of the house into University,” adds the Vice Rector of a truck took just Research and ten hours and Development Dr. “The greatest achievement of this project saved significant Carlos González, is that it provided confirmation of the resources as “It provides great things that can be accomplished compared to the society with viable when working in a team, when taking use of cranes. product originating advantage of the experiences and The project was from research abilities of different disciplines and transported in time and involving institutions.” to Santiago, where collaboration Mariano Campos Ramírez, the house was once between students Manager for the Concepción Lottery. again constructed in and professors.

Parque O’Higgens, This patent is a this time in a record very important step seven hours. By a wide margin, ours was that brings us closer to transfering this the first house in the Solar Village to be knowledge into real solutions for current constructed and ready for visits by the societal problems.” public,” comments Ricardo Soto, a team member of the project.

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“If we are able to commercialize this project, it could be a housing solution that is effective, economical, and quick.”

Bernardo Suazo, FAUG Dean.

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BUSINESSES & PRODUCTS Universidad de Concepción resources for entrepreneurs and businesses.

LOS ANGELES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER In its first months of operation, the Los Angeles Business Development Center of UdeC met with 240 businessmen and entrepreneurs. Of this group, 200 received training and 65 have already become clients with defined work plans. It is expected that by year end, this Center will have advised 150 businesses, trained more than 600 individuals, and performed at least three research projects. More information can be found at http://www.losangelesudec.cl

PULENGIUM: ORGANIC PRUNING PASTE Pulengium is a 100% organic healing sealant based on pulegone (i.e. essential oil of pennyroyal) and beeswax. This paste inhibits the growth of pathogens such as Chondrostereum purpureum, Neofusicoccum eucalyptorum, Phytophthora cactorum, and Phytophthora cinnamomi, which are present at blueberry plantations. More information can be found at http://incubaudec.cl/ SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE (SME) PORTAL The aim of this initiative is to strengthen UdeC’s Technology Transfer and Business Platform so that SMEs from the BioBío Region can align with the technological abilities and research of the University, as well as have access to the development of new technologies that will innovate their products/services and/or manufacturing processes, consequently impacting competitiveness. This portal is focused on the forestry, agriculture, and fishery/aquaculture industries. More information can be found at http://otludec.cl/ CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGICAL EXPANSION IN MANUFACTURING The aim of this Center is to significantly improve the productivity of businesses through the incorporation of technology and new coordination mechanisms. This Center is specifically aimed at manufacturing industries in Concepcion, Los Angeles, and Chillan.

Lead partners include Georgia Tech and the trade associations Pymemad (small and medium-sized wood enterprises) and Asexma Biobío (manufactured exports). More information can be found at http://www.cetudec.cl/ 74 I+D+i UDEC

GEARBOX: REINVENTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP GearBox is a technology-based program for entrepreneurship and innovation created by the UdeC Faculty of Engineering. The proposal of this project is to accelerate good ideas and to provide workshops, mentorship, and competitions for upcoming entrepreneurs. Furthermore, GearBox aims to trigger cultural changes that will motivate students and instructors alike to participate in entrepreneurship. The program, which was inaugurated in March 2016, has already helped two entrepreneurships get sales – “Take It,” which is a low-cost dispenser for coffee, soup, or tickets; and “Innapel,” which manufactures pellets from wood and organic residues. More information can be found at www.gearbox.udec.cl / comunicacionfi@udec.cl FIRST NETWORK FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND INVESTORS IN THE BIOBÍO REGION Through the Innovation Fund for Competitiveness, granted by the Regional Government, the BioBío Committee for Productive Development will install a network for entrepreneurs and investors termed BioBío Wings. The aim of this program is to create a culture of informed “angel investors,” where creators and businessmen alike can establish partnerships. More information can be found at www.alasbiobio.com

UDEC 360 UdeC 360 is a virtual university-business platform that allows the business world access to the services and technologies available at the Universidad de Concepción. The provided information and service catalogue are primarily aimed at businesses in the forestry sector.

More information can be found at www.udec360.cl/

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT AGAINST HUMIDITY AND FUNGI FOR WOOD BOARDS “Emulsión” is a bio-product created by researchers from the Biotechnology Center and the Technological Development Unit of UdeC. This cost-competitive product is sustainable and improves the properties of wood boards with no additional processing.

This project was awarded USD$40,000 in funds by Masisa, competing at the Latin American level in the Leanplay R&D category. With this funding, the researchers founded TECSUS INNOVATION SpA, a spin-off dedicated to manufacturing and licensing this technology. Today, Tecsus Innovation SpA is being incubated by Masisa Lab and maintains a close relationship with both R&D centers at the Universidad de Concepción and with the wood industry to promote the expansion of this regional innovation. More information can be found at http://www.centrobiotecnologia.cl/ & http://www.udt.cl I+D+i UDEC

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R&D/ INNOVATION IN REVIEW Newsworthy activities related to research, development, and innovation at the Universidad de Concepciรณn.

UdeC Science Competition: Challenges in Student Ingenuity This event took place on July 10th and consisted of elementary and high school students participating in one of two categories. In the Maxwell category, students designed a machine to launch an electric spark the farthest possible.

In the Da Vinci category, students had to design a machine to throw a projectile the farthest possible. Some of the participating institutions included the Alerce School, the Humanities Institute of Concepcion, the Charles Gaulle High School, and the San Pedro Concepcion School.

CFM Launches a YouTube Channel Among the new initiatives led by the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (CFM, Spanish acronym) is the launch of the UdeC CFM Youtube Channel. The aim of this channel is to serve as a space for the Faculty to promote events. This channel will also be available for studentand instructor-led outreach and scientific diffusion activities.

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First Tetraktys Mathematics Festival a Success More than 200 high school students from 20 regional schools participated in this teamwork-oriented initiative, the goal of which was to motivate students to understand and become interested in mathematics. The festival took place on Saturday May 14th and was organized by the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences.

UdeC Highlighted in QS Rankings of Latin American Universities The Universidad de Concepciรณn placed 13th in the latest QS World University Rankings for Latin America, which measured the 300 best Latin American universities.

The QS ranking considers various aspects of each institution, including academic quality, valuation in the labor market, and scientific research. Of a maximum 100 points, UdeC scored 87.3.

UdeC Profiles the Most Important Investigators from the Last 20 Years

Scientific Journal from the Campus indexed in SciELO

Chillan

A new goal in development was met by the Chillan Campus with indexing of the journal Agricultural & Animal Science in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). This electronic library contains a selected collection of 95 Chilean scientific journals covering all areas of knowledge.

Bernabé Rivas named UdeC Candidate for the National Award in Applied Sciences The Universidad de Concepción nominated Dr. Bernabé Rivas for the 2016 National Award in Applied Sciences. With 390 ISI publications, an H-index of 32, and 6 patents, among other important achievements, Dr. Rivas is the most productive investigator from UdeC. Moreover, Dr. Rivas has played an important administrative role, currently acting as a Vice Rector for UdeC while continuing to train new scientists for the country.

Rector Sergio Lavanchy formally recognized ten of the most prolific Universidad de Concepción researchers from the last 20 years. “We wanted these ten researchers to personify all investigators, of which there are many who significantly contribute towards the development of the country,” expressed Dr. González Correa, the Vice Rector of the Research and Development Office, which was in charge of organizing the event.

Chilean Scientist Becomes Professor at Oxford Dr. Ricardo Ruiz currently serves as a Full Professor in Numeric Analysis for the oldest university in the world – Oxford, an institution that has given rise to some of the best scientists in mankind’s history.

Professor Ruiz has dedicated recent years of research to an application of mathematics in biomedicine, where phenomena related to the mechanical structure of a cardiac contraction interact with electrical wavelengths. This project has direct, concrete relevance to various areas, including in the development of pacemakers and prosthetic valves.

Dean of Environmental Sciences Participates in United Nations Assembly The Dean of Environmental Sciences at the Universidad de Concepción, Dr. Ricardo Barra, was invited to participate in a round table titled “Advancing sustainable chemistry in a sustainable development context: opportunities for global, regional, and national chemicals,” at the Second Assembly of the United Nations for the Environment. This assembly took place at facilities of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya.

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UdeC Recognized on World Intellectual Property Day In the presence of Michelle Bachelete, the President of the Chilean Republic, Dr. Claudio Valdovinos Zarges, Director of Development and Innovation, received recognition on behalf of the Universidad de Concepción for being the third university with the most patent requests in the year 2015.

UdeC Granted Its 100th Patent According to Dr. Carlos Gonzélez, Vice Rector of Research and Development, the Universidad de Concepción’s 100th patent is a significant milestone. “This reflects our focus on protecting the creations of our researchers, and our support in valuing ideas that originate from within, and external to, our university.” Currently, another 134 Chilean patents and 106 foreign patents are in process.

UdeC Team Becomes Champion International Atacama Solar Race

at

A brilliant victory was achieved by Team Solar KAN of the Universidad de Concepción, who took the crown in the most difficult category of the tournament. After coming in last in two prior competitions, Team Solar KAN from UdeC took a giant leap to become the champions of the 2016 edition of the Atacama Solar Race, the only ecological rally in Latin America.

UdeC Signs Agreement for Improved Oceanic Monitoring Along the Chilean Coast On April 15th in the Office of the Vice Rector for Research and Development, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Vicer Rector, Dr. Carlos González, and the President of US firm EOS Investments, Colin Williams. This Memorandum establishes EOS Investments as a sponsor for the Chilean Oceanographic Observation System (CHIOOS). More specifically, the aim of this initiative is to expand the capabilities of CHIOOS, which is overseen by the UdeC Department of Geophysics.

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on

Advanced Microscopy Center Receives Excellent Evaluation

During the first semester of 2016, a traveling audiovisual exhibition visited a number of schools in the Talcahuano, Chiguayante, San Carlos, Cabrero, Quillón, and Coihueco communities. Similar prototypes have been launched in Antofagasta and Valparaíso with the objective of sharing concepts associated with oceanography.

The BioBío Advanced Microscopy Center (CMA, Spanish acronym), which falls under the direction of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the Universidad de Concepción, received its final project evaluation

by Conicyt. The results of this evaluation accredit its excellence, which means the center will continue to receive funding for the next five years.

Presentation by the Millennium Institute Oceanography Brings Science and Schools Closer

Scientific Chocolate: Marine Biodiversity in Ceramics Scientific Chocolate is an integrative initiative that aims to teach science through didactic methods in line with the curriculum established by the Ministry of Education. For example, students from the Balmaceda Saavedra de Chiguayante School learned about the marine biodiversity of the littoral zone through art, creating ceramic figures of the distinct species from this habitat and subsequently learning about the traits of each species. The figures created by students were exhibited as part of the ArtsSciences Symposium at the 2016 Marine Sciences Congress held in April at UdeC.

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RED TIDE

Expert: Dr. Laura Farías, Department of Oceanography roduce AB) can p e Bloom (H e transmitted a lg A l fu Harm can b fish and ns, which neurotoxi chain to d o fo l for ally morta ly The inaccurately termed red tide through the not norm ad e ile d h e W b . consists in the massive proliferation shellfish xins can , these to Toxina . n d u o fa fo a e n se ri of various organisms, the majority of ma e at consum events which are microalgae. The coloration for people th e proliferation use a lg a can still ca r of this phenomenon depends on free micro ugh these Fo o h s. lt ct a e , ff st e the type and respective pigments also exi echanical m ns h io g ill u m ro f 2016, of the dominant microalgae. While damage th summer o me e so th d n in a , , le d some pigments can be red, others examp ere kille salmons w re dumped in the can be green or brown. Red tide is a of caged e w sh fi dead naturally occurring, yet unpredictable, of these process. A multiplication event termed ocean.

WHAT IS IT?

Why is this t opic an issue?

this topic: regarding nitrogenous residues that fertilize n io in what p o Expert use, and to marine waters and favor microalgae primary ca a e er th Is growth; and increased atmospheric ts during degree? d tide even re CO2 s levels (i.e. Climate Change) due This subjec ve Lo si e es t became e succ 16 in th controversial Th to anthropogenic activities. Considering d fall of 20 in the sum us an o al er m m o m an su mer of 2016 der the the prior, there is no doubt that red tide occurred un not only because of rn, were gos Region environmenta that, in tu ns o l concerns, La events will become more and more iti but also beca nd ne in co lo tic yc ac tic use of a quic im an k escalation cl frequent in the future. Governments of socioeco gered by an ated into an nomic prob rimarily trig This transl . lems. This p and fic society in general are not prepared ch escalation oc ci hi Pa w h curred follow the Sout t summer, ing a HAB ht for this eventuality, thus highlighting near Chiloe ig dry and ho sl y d el an n em Island and as tr ex diatio sociations of this event w 30% solar ra in part the importance of addressing this ith the dumpi resulted in nomenon he p a ng of dead , g salmon alon in itions phenomenon through interdisciplinary nd co e g the island’ ater warm es w s coastline.

El Niño. Th The general y and collaborations, both between areas and b , th ed w uc ro g population ha prod icroalgae s demanded m explanations r red institutions. fo ed l and want th are idea the observ ere to be a definite ca lly explain ting fu un d co ul ac co is ly use. Resolutio th uent n of this situation requ ity, conseq tal crisis. ires the colle tide intens environmen nt ue ction and q analysis of se b n also ca e evidence rela r the su w fo , ted to the planations possible envi ex ctors, e fa es g th in ronmental ci To er contribut phication rcumstances th o for the HAB, l ra ve and only thro eutro add se ugh sufficient evidence will e increasing lled the general including th aters; the uncontro population w and regulato the r l ve ta o as y ry authorities of co industr be satisfied with any expl e salmonid uces anation. growth of th an industry that prod ars, past 30 ye

Email: laura.farias@ udec.cl Website: oceanografia.udec.cl/

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Photograph: Photographic catalog of marine phytoplankton of the south of Chile, COPAS Sur-Austral, 2016.

WHAT DOES SCIENCE SAY? In this section, scientists from UdeC provide brief facts and perspectives regarding controversial topics discussed this semester.

VACCINES

Expert: Dr. Oliberto Sรกnchez, Faculty of Biological Sciences

WHAT ARE THEY?

Through the vaccination process, these biological formulas induce a specific immune response that ultimately protects against multiple diseases. It is important to clarify that as vaccines are biological formulas, they contain various components.

Antigens are the fundamental primary active component of a vaccine. These antigens act against the pathogen to which we want to provide protection.

Why are they the subject of debate?

have tried Pseudoscientific groups cines with vac of use the e to associat is based on autism. This association organic form the use of thimerosal, an used as a nly mo com is of mercury that cine formula. vac the in with e ativ serv pre hypothesis, Due to the severity of this to 2010, at 9 199 between the years of 12 million g udin incl ies, stud five least se studies The . ted duc children, were con is no link demonstrated that there

Email: osanchez@udec.cl Website: biofarmacos.udec.cl/

between thimerosal, present in some vaccines, and the developm ent of autism.

Expert opinion on the subject The health of individuals in mod ern society is based on three fundame ntal pillars: vaccines, hygienic prac tices, and the use of antibiotics and antiv irals.

Vaccines are a safe and econ omical option for controlling infectious dise ases.

The implementation of strict vacc ination programs has nearly eradicated mult iple pathogens that are real afflic tions for humanity. For example, than ks to worldwide vaccination programs , we have eradicated smallpox from the face of the earth.tierra, por ejemplo.

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SMOG

Expert: Dr. Jorge JimĂŠnez, Civil Industrial Engineer and Eula Environmental Sciences Center

WHAT IS IT?

The word smog is English in origin and combines the words smoke and fog. Smog is used to describe conditions of poor air quality, when the typical fog of cities such as London, for example, mixes with the smoke emissions of factories.

In Chile, the term smog is used to define the visible part of poor air quality; a brownish cloud that contains particulate material and

the city ses. In a g g n ti a enerated contamin og is g sm , red o g a ti ons trigge s of San ical reacti a m e n h w c o h n k g throu n, also o ti ia d ra by solar g. mical smo ic photoche of this top ause e c n a rt o p ec im b t n t Curre ortan ct is imp at smog has je b su is th Th ect effects els of of the dir ealth. Greater lev h atory n ir a sp m u on h cause re n o f ti a in m number o air conta orsen a w se d e n h a T s problem asthma. such as ad to diseases, n even le a c ts c e ff e secondary

the premature death of exposed individuals. The most vulnerable segments of the population include lactating children, pregnant women, seniors, and persons with respiratory and cardiac issues. Smog has gained growing media coverage since not only big cities such as Santiago are affected; rather, smog now negatively affects air quality in a number of cities.

What sourc rements primarily res es are What measu? for increasedponsible can be taken sources of smog? e primary

Across Chile, there are diffe rent primary sources for sm og. In Santia go, vehicle emissions in general are the principal source for sm og. In the case of Rancagua and Coyhaiqu e, the prim ary source of air contam ination is the residential burning of w ood for heat and cooking.

In the case of the ten metropolitan communities of Concepci Ăłn, there is an equal co ntribution of particulate contaminants by commerci al industries and by residen tial wood burn ing.

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Furthermore, a current pilot housing study in Los Angeles is assessing the use of a system that combines heating pumps and photovoltaic solar panels. Los Angeles currently has most high contaminat g th ion levels, and it is Considerin sions, one of the is to expected that mis the results of this study harmful e l methods o tr n co to g o ms will result in improvements. effective sm ential heating syste sid ibles. improve re se of cleaner combust as is eu f natural g C promote th the use o , de le U p r, m ve xa For e Moreo an wood. vanced, ad ly al cleaner th ic g s. g technolo alternative is explorin , heating n e le e b ab rd fo e yet af ies hav stems, ility stud sy g in at e Pre-feasib h t for central throughou conducted ute heat d o ib o tr w is d f which e use o without th udy has also a home st t ac p r An im pact on ai heaters. for the im t l u o ra u d at ie n mostly been carr anging to rial ch st u at d th in y it d qual tial an e residen ld have. gas in th cion wou p ce n o C f o rs o ct se

Email: jorgejimenez@udec.cl Website: www.dii.udec.cl/

WHAT ARE THEY? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms to which a DNA sequence from another or the same species has been added to confer a desired characteristic.

It is also possible to silence or “edit” some genes. GMOs exist for bacteria, plants, animals, and algae, among others. GMO plants have been available for commercial sale

TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS Expert: Dr. Sofía Valenzuela, Biotechnology Center Why are GMOs under debate?

since 1996, and in 2015, close to 200 million hectares were seeded with GMO plants (i.e . the equivalent surface area of South America). The primary GMO cro ps are soybean, canola, and cotto n, which each have resistances to herbicides and/ or insects.

led to new The use of GMOs has strial uses, indu for s medicines, enzyme accepted by ely wid ts duc pro er oth and ts, it is not the public. Regarding plan controversy and clear why opposition ple are peo d, han one the On exist. on the but eat, y the t worried about wha a significant other hand, there is also about GMOs. amount of disinformation

EXPERT OPINION ON THE SUBJECT Myth 1: GMOs cause cancer.

False. These crops are extensively studied to ensure food safety standards and are JUST AS SAFE as conventional crops.

Email: sofvalen@udec.cl Website: centrobiotecnologia.cl/

ve the Myth 2: GMOs ha e supotential to becom In cases per-weeds. False. , the of resistant weeds te is herbicide glyphosa und applied. This compo enis unstable in the ickly vironment and qu ate has degrades. Glyphos 1996, been in use since d has and, to date, no wee e. evidenced toleranc

Myth 3: Glyphos ate is carcinogenic. False . Glyphosate is classified as a Group 2A carcinogen , meaning that it is probab ly carcinogenic for man ac cording to the Internationa l Agency for Research on Ca ncer. Nevertheless, it is im portant to mention that th is category also includes frie d-foods and the hairstylist profession.

Glyphosate is le ss carcinogenic than tobacc o, alcohol, air contaminatio n, and solar radiation.

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