Past News
Nexus Program Manager Victor Maqque Discusses the Importance of Research and the New UNSA Technology Park in Panel
November 16, 2020
A panel discussed the importance of research for UNSA and its new Tech Park. Dr. Rohel Sanchez, Rector of UNSA; MS. Jean-Louis Gelot, from Arequipa's Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Victor Maqque, Program Manager of the Nexus institute; proposed key factors for promoting society impact oriented academic research at UNSA. Tech transfer in order to address fundamental problems of the region, ways to better integrate different actors capable of contributing, and the importance of a well-designed sustainable ecosystem for research with long-term impact, were discussed as critical in order to support UNSA’s goal to become a flagship public university in Latin America.
Nexus Program Manager Victor Maqque Discusses the Importance of Research and the New UNSA Technology Park in Panel
Peruvian congresswoman visited UNSA to discuss food security and industry in Arequipa
November 12, 2020
Peruvian congresswoman Rosario Paredes visited UNSA Rector, Dr. Rohel Sanchez, last week to discuss food security and industry. Mrs. Paredes, who is a member of the Agriculture Commission, highlighted the importance of The National University of San Agustín de Arequipa (UNSA) academic expertise in policy making regarding food safety and security. The effort to establish a Center for Food Security at UNSA, is the result of the UNSA - Purdue partnership for research and development to improve the quality of lives in Arequipa, Peru. Dr. Sanchez stated that UNSA is responding to local, regional and national needs with the school of food industries, nutrition, strategic allies such as Purdue and that will need the cooperation of the local and national government.
Peruvian congresswoman visited UNSA to discuss food security and industry in Arequipa
Capacity Strengthening for Postharvest Handling and Storage (CAST-PH) in Arequipa, Peru Team publishes paper
November 11, 2020
The Nexus Institute’s Purdue-UNSA researchers from the project: “Capacity Strengthening for Postharvest Handling and Storage (CAST-PH) in Arequipa, Peru” just published a paper titled: “Postharvest practices, challenges and opportunities for grain producers in Arequipa, Peru” in PLOS ONE journal. Dieudonne Baributsa, associate professor of entomology at Purdue and Jaqueline Zanabria from the Universidad Nacional de San Augustin de Arequipa (UNSA) are the Principal investigators. They are the co-authors of the article, along with Professor Charles Woloshuk and Postdoctoral researcher Jorge Diaz-Valderrama from Purdue and Dennis Macedo, Nacy Orihuela, Victor Casa, and Nelly Ramirez from UNSA. In this international collaborative research, they surveyed Arequipa farmers, in the lowland and the highland regions, to examine local views and practices on drying and storage of crops during postharvest.
Food Safety and Food Security virtual workshop : Arequipa Nexus 3rd Annual Workshop Series
November 10, 2020
Drs. Amanda Deering, Haley Oliver, Oscar Galagarza, and Alejandra Ramirez from the Nexus project: "Development of Good Agricultural and Manufacturing Practices Trainings for Growers and Food Processors in Arequipa, Peru", are hosting the “Food Safety and Food Security sessions as part of the virtual Arequipa Nexus 3rd Annual Workshop Series with their UNSA colleagues: Mariel Alvarez and Maria del Carme Ortiz. The modules focus on training UNSA participants on safe food production, processing practices to minimize bacterial contamination and on the use of traditional and molecular detection techniques to evaluate bacterial contamination in foods. The participants watch the recorded lectures and complete an assignment on the following topics: agriculture and manufacture practices, lab techniques in food microbiology.
PICS Technology in Arequipa, Peru via Nexus Partnership
November 6, 2020
Recently, PICS made forays into Central and South America, mainly Peru, with the work of C4E Affiliate Dieudonne Baributsa.
Arequipa Nexus News: Techno Park receives Congressional Backing
November 4, 2020
In October, the Peruvian National Congress unanimously approved the creation of the Parque Cientifico Tecnológico de Arequipa, the first such institution in the country. This techno park, once constructed, will be the administrative home for the Arequipa Nexus Institute—underlining the continued impact and long-term nature of this collaborative project.
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Environmental Justice Film Series
October 26, 2020
The Nexus Institute is co-organizing the 2020-2021 Environmental Justice Film Series with the Purdue Center for the Environment (C4E). The films in this series focus on the native communities in the South American Andes, the environmental injustices they face and the resilience they demonstrate as an inspiration for the world. The series include: Hija de la Laguna (Daughter of the Lake), Y Tambien la Lluvia (Even the rain), Return to the Andes, and Sembradoras de Vida (Mothers of the Land).
The Nexus Institute’s 3rd Annual Workshop on Sustainable Food, Energy, Water, and the Environment for the Region of Arequipa
October 26, 2020
The Arequipa Nexus Institute will host its Third Annual Technical Workshop Series from October 26 to November 30. The workshop sessions will be held on an asynchronous virtual format with a combination of video recorded presentations, prepared content, and assignments. The main objectives of the workshops are to deepen our commitment of tech and knowledge transfer and capacity building. We aim to contribute to the development of scientific research for the faculty and students from our partner university, the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin (UNSA), and examine solutions to critical issues of natural resource utilization with minimal tradeoffs to the environment of Arequipa. The series of modules in the workshops will cover a full range of technical aspects such as research techniques, development and applications of environmental sensors, food safety agricultural practices, food security, soil health monitoring and remediation, metals analysis in water and water management, Water origins, and high-performance computing.
Nexus Institute’s “Developing Good Agricultural and Good Manufacturing Practices” team published their manuscript
October 23, 2020
The Nexus Institute’s “Developing Good Agricultural and Good Manufacturing Practices” team achieved the publication of their manuscript titled: “Food safety in Peru: A review of fresh produce production and challenges in the public health system.” This article co-authored by Purdue researchers Amanda Deering, Haley Oliver, Alejandra Ramirez, and Oscar Galagarza and their UNSA partners Mariel Alvarez, Erika Pachari, and Maria del Carmen Oritz, was published by the journal Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety.
UNSA’s Technological Park for Arequipa
October 16, 2020
The Peruvian Congress approved the Arequipa’s Scientific and Technological Park managed by UNSA. The Peruvian Congress in its plenary session of October 15 of 2020, declared of national interest the creation Arequipa’s Technological Park. The proposal presented by UNSA had the full support of the congressional commissions of Education and that of Science, Innovation, and Technology.
