Marine Biology Symposium brings environmentalists to U.B.

A consortium of scientists from Mexico’s most prestigious universities, through the Embassy of Mexico, held an inaugural symposium with local biologists and environmentalists from the University of Belize this week.  The purpose of the two-day seminar was to brainstorm the development of an undergraduate program in Marine Biology at U.B.  During the meeting, information was also shared concerning research and educational programs among participating universities.  According to Marcelino Miranda, Public Relations Officer for the Embassy of Mexico, the first of its kind symposium was beneficial in creating a meaningful effort that will aid in developing and expanding the capacities of U.B.

Marcelino Miranda, Press Officer, Embassy of Mexico

Marcelino Miranda

“This is the first time Mexico and Belize are holding a symposium on biodiversity and the exchange in terms of environment and natural science.  For the first time we have a big delegation of Mexican scientists.  It’s more than fifteen scientists from the leading institutions in Mexico.  They are well recognized in Latin America.  They came to Belize especially to dialogue, to present some of their research and especially to extend some of the dialogue with Belizean scientists from the University of Belize.  We’re very happy, we are proud of having this symposium because now we are consolidating the exchange and the network that scientists from Mexico and Belize have established.  I would like to mention actually that there’s an M.O.U. by the University of Belize and some its institutions like the Mexican Polytechnic, the I.P.N.; this is the leading institution in Mexico, one of the most important.  And now we’re looking at the outcome of these efforts not only am I talking about the symposium but also that they have been able to establish direct contacts in order to extend the research and to look to explore to other areas of research.”

Topics discussed at the U.B. symposium included coastal ecosystems as well as pollution research in the Chetumal Bay and the Rio Hondo.