by Dr.
Daniel Alberto Jacobo-Velázquez
Associate
Dean of Research and Scientific Graduate Programs for the School of Engineering
and Sciences at Tecnológico de Monterrey
This year, for the first time, the world will
celebrate on November 27, the International Day of Engagement in Science for
Sustainable Development, this ephemeris, promoted by Ukraine and backed by
dozens of countries within UNESCO, is born at a particularly decisive moment.
As a background, it is worth mentioning that
just a year ago, the International Decade of Science for Sustainable
Development (2024–2033) was proclaimed; in that context, UNESCO warned that
by the end of 2024, only 17% of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals
were on track. More than a third are regressing. The call is urgent: if only a
few participate in science, science is not enough. If it is not open, it does
not transform. If it does not involve society, it does not scale. If it does
not incorporate young people, it has no future.
We echo the reflection: we need to reposition
science as a collective force in the service of the public good. Science cannot
transform reality if it remains isolated from the rest of society. Worldwide,
research is advancing by leaps and bounds, but its benefits do not arrive with
the speed, scale, or clarity that our times demand.
The spirit behind the International Day of
Engagement in Science for Sustainable Development is profoundly
transformative. It does not seek only to recognize scientific advances, but to
activate an ecosystem of participation in which citizens, students, companies,
governments, and academia work together to generate real solutions and
accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals.
It is a powerful reminder: science is more
effective when it is opened, shared, and built with others; we need a new
social contract between science and society. The resolution approved by the
UNESCO Executive Board establishes a powerful mission: "To empower people
with the knowledge, tools, and platforms necessary to transform their
communities."
This approach reflects something that we live
every day at the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnológico de
Monterrey: high-impact applied research is no longer measured only by
publications, but by its ability to improve lives, strengthen productive
systems, and provide sustainable solutions.
The climate, water, health, and industrial
crises we face today are too deep to be addressed from a single discipline or
by a single actor. They need engineering, science, public policies, education,
financing, and citizen participation working in a coordinated manner.
In Mexico, we are betting on a model that
embodies this spirit. From the School of Engineering and Sciences at
Tecnológico de Monterrey, we promote an impact research strategy, science that
becomes real solutions: we drive research that addresses critical problems.
In the area of health and well-being, we
prioritize accessible medical technologies, early diagnosis, biotechnology for
prevention, always thinking about the well-being of the population. In terms of
climate and sustainability, solutions for water, regenerative
agriculture, energy transition, resilient cities, our goal is the care of the
planet. In the field of industrial transformation, we are at the
forefront of the development of artificial intelligence, automation,
semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, always seeking to generate value for
society. We believe that science must reach the place where it generates the
most impact: hospitals, industrial plants, farms, cities, and public policies.
For this reason, we promote broad participation
between academia, industry, and government. The most successful projects we
develop have a common element: co-responsibility. We believe in science that
strengthens competitiveness and sustainable development; for us, applied
engineering is an economic engine, yes, but also a tool for equity, resilience,
and well-being.
Within the framework of this ephemeris, we
believe that science needs allies, not spectators. Those who promoted the
celebration of the International Day of Engagement in Science for
Sustainable Development remind us of something fundamental: science cannot
transform if there is not a constant flow of knowledge between scientists,
educators, students, companies, and citizens.
For this, an open and permanent dialogue is
essential, allowing us to better understand the risks and benefits of science
in daily life, build informed public policies, generate trust in innovation,
share new perspectives and forms of knowledge. And, above all, create more
inclusive and sustainable solutions.
If the last decade has taught us anything, it is
that without active collaboration, scientific advances remain on paper or in
the laboratory. With participation, on the other hand, innovation becomes a
force for transformation.
November 27 must become a date to assume
commitments; from the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnológico de
Monterrey, we will continue to promote a science that listens, dialogues, and
transforms; a science built with and for society.
At the School of Engineering and Sciences, we
believe in that purpose: to research, innovate, and train leaders who integrate
science, technology, and social responsibility. And we do so convinced that
21st-century engineering must be interdisciplinary, inclusive, ethical, and
profoundly human.
The proclamation of the International Day of
Engagement in Science for Sustainable Development is a call to act. A call
to open laboratories to everyone. A call to governments to foster new public
policies based on updated scientific evidence. A call to companies to invest in
responsible innovation. And a call to citizens to get involved and trust in
rigorous knowledge.
Science does not advance alone. It advances when
society advances leveraged on science. If we want a sustainable, equitable, and
resilient future, that future must be built by everyone.
# # #
About
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Tecnológico
de Monterrey (http://www.tec.mx)
is a private, non-profit university recognized for its academic excellence,
educational innovation, and global vision. It was founded in 1943 and currently
has a presence in 33 municipalities across 20 states of Mexico, with an
enrollment of 60,000 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as more than
27,000 high school students. Accredited by SACSCOC since 1950. It is ranked
#187 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and #7 in Latin America according
to the THE Latin America University Rankings 2024. It also stands out in global
employability and entrepreneurship programs, and is part of international
networks such as APRU and U21.
About
the School of Engineering and Sciences of Tecnológico de Monterrey
The
School of Engineering and Sciences (EIC) of Tecnológico de Monterrey is a
leading institution in the training of engineers and scientists in Mexico and
Latin America. With a focus on academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and
engagement with industry, the EIC prepares its students to face the challenges
of the 21st century and to become agents of change in their communities.
Its
research strategy is focused on applied science and centers on three main
research cores: Health (Application of biotechnology, nanotechnology,
informatics, and electronics to improve human health), Climate and
Sustainability (Addressing environmental issues such as climate change and the
transition to renewable energies), and Industrial Transformation
(Implementation of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and
innovative processes in manufacturing and supply chains). These cores are interconnected
with three strategic initiatives: the first dedicated to artificial
intelligence, the second to nanotechnology, and the third to semiconductors. To
learn more, visit: https://eic.tec.mx/es
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