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A. E. Builes Vélez and P. A. Zapata Ramírez
distribution of natural resources, thus contributing to changes in the way that society
organizes itself to solve its dilemmas and create new opportunities.
– Ecosystem services and Infrastructure
The line will deal with issues related to the management and sustainable use of the
ecosystem services, as well as issues related to the infrastructure, understood as the
environment where a cycle of interaction and exchange of resources (matter, water,
energy, communication, social, money, etc.) toward the development of society and
common welfare in the built habitat takes place. While ecosystem services are understood as the benefits that nature brings to society, such as supply, regulation, support,
and cultural value, the line can address problems and challenges related to materials, waste disposal, valuation of ecosystem services, responsible use of resources
(energy, water, land, and air), availability of food, access to public space, recreation,
and cultural expressions, among others, ensuring rapid and non-polluting mobility.
The line will also address climate change issues such as resilience, adaptation, and
mitigation.
– Housing and Social Interaction
The line on housing and social interaction tends toward a systemic vision, considering that no single aspect leads to a sustainable habitat. For this reason, the study
of construction practices, materials, mobility, public space, and green space, among
others, seen in their interrelation, are of interest. Empowering citizens to use different
mobility solutions and to integrate them into the innovation process, motivating them
to participate, putting the right tools in place to enable a bottom-up dialog, and
translating ideas into sustainable commercial products or services, are also tackled
in this line. This implies, among other factors, the needed education, and participation of citizens (including the users, government, and industry), around topics
related to the projection of their environment, their interests, and the social and
ecological implications of the construction of housing or infrastructure with certain
characteristics.
5 Conclusion
The different strategies reported herein were important for the understanding of the
current sustainable approaches on the headquarters campus and the obstacles that
the university must overcome to become more sustainable and to fully fulfill the
goals stated in the Strategic Plan. To do so, we are constantly in contact with other
universities that have served as models for sustainability practices, attempting to
learn how their various communities’ initiatives succeeded in implementing similar
strategies. Furthermore, the results show that it is important, and necessary, to create
clear medium- and long-term strategies. Hence, the next efforts should focus on
infrastructure improvement and the expansion of the technological capacity that
could contribute new strategies to confront the increasing environmental challenges.
A. E. Builes Vélez and P. A. Zapata Ramírez
distribution of natural resources, thus contributing to changes in the way that society
organizes itself to solve its dilemmas and create new opportunities.
– Ecosystem services and Infrastructure
The line will deal with issues related to the management and sustainable use of the
ecosystem services, as well as issues related to the infrastructure, understood as the
environment where a cycle of interaction and exchange of resources (matter, water,
energy, communication, social, money, etc.) toward the development of society and
common welfare in the built habitat takes place. While ecosystem services are understood as the benefits that nature brings to society, such as supply, regulation, support,
and cultural value, the line can address problems and challenges related to materials, waste disposal, valuation of ecosystem services, responsible use of resources
(energy, water, land, and air), availability of food, access to public space, recreation,
and cultural expressions, among others, ensuring rapid and non-polluting mobility.
The line will also address climate change issues such as resilience, adaptation, and
mitigation.
– Housing and Social Interaction
The line on housing and social interaction tends toward a systemic vision, considering that no single aspect leads to a sustainable habitat. For this reason, the study
of construction practices, materials, mobility, public space, and green space, among
others, seen in their interrelation, are of interest. Empowering citizens to use different
mobility solutions and to integrate them into the innovation process, motivating them
to participate, putting the right tools in place to enable a bottom-up dialog, and
translating ideas into sustainable commercial products or services, are also tackled
in this line. This implies, among other factors, the needed education, and participation of citizens (including the users, government, and industry), around topics
related to the projection of their environment, their interests, and the social and
ecological implications of the construction of housing or infrastructure with certain
characteristics.
5 Conclusion
The different strategies reported herein were important for the understanding of the
current sustainable approaches on the headquarters campus and the obstacles that
the university must overcome to become more sustainable and to fully fulfill the
goals stated in the Strategic Plan. To do so, we are constantly in contact with other
universities that have served as models for sustainability practices, attempting to
learn how their various communities’ initiatives succeeded in implementing similar
strategies. Furthermore, the results show that it is important, and necessary, to create
clear medium- and long-term strategies. Hence, the next efforts should focus on
infrastructure improvement and the expansion of the technological capacity that
could contribute new strategies to confront the increasing environmental challenges.