Country of Residence
Discipline(s)
Institution
Universidad de Investigación y Tecnología Experimental Yachay
Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas e Ingeniería
Hacienda San José s/n, Urcuquí
Imbabura, Ecuador
Research Interests
sustainable agriculture, entomology, chemical ecology, biocontrol, agroecology
Topics to speak on:
insect science for sustainable development, one health approach, scientific outreach, insect and biodiversity conservation
“Be the change you want to see in the world”. M. Gandhi
Biography
He is an insect ecologist focused on Applied Entomology in Agroecosystems, although he started his career studying bacteria for biocontrol of fungi in cocoa pods. His master in Plant Sciences investigated the effects of plant quality (Brassica genotypes) on densities/sizes of insects at three trophic levels. He led a research unit on the management of tropical crops pests at INIAP (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias), and a laboratory of arthropods´ diagnosis at AGROCALIDAD in Ecuador. He got a PhD on the use of soil beneficial organisms to control root herbivores, using chemical and field ecology methods. His postdoc studied the use of plants combinations (Agroecology), and the chemistry behind to control maize pests in smallholder farms in Kenya. He participated in the 1st Science Leadership Programme for Latin America and The Caribbean of the GYA in Colombia. He leads the formation of the Academia Joven de Ecuador.
Awards
Nuffic Scholarship of the Dutch Government
Excellence Scholarship of the Swiss Government