Mérida, Yucatán — The Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (Secihti) has announced the Forum on Technological Innovation Applied to Sargassum, an event aimed at promoting sustainable solutions, fostering young talent, and facilitating dialogue among academia, government, industry, and civil society to address coastal environmental challenges. The forum will take place on Monday, August 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Instituto Tecnológico del Software in the Colonia México neighborhood. Admission is free.
Scientific Projects to Transform Sargassum into Opportunities
The program includes a keynote lecture on the macroalgae and presentations of student-led projects from the Center for Scientific Research of Yucatán (CICY) and the host institution. Geovanna Campos Vázquez, head of Secihti, emphasized that the forum seeks to demonstrate how knowledge and collaboration can turn environmental challenges into viable solutions.
A panel discussion will feature experts in marine biotechnology, circular economy, and technology transfer, with participation from representatives of CICY, Área 71, Adora Foundation, and the State Network of Researchers.
Innovation and Science from Yucatán to the World
Among the highlighted initiatives is a project led by Karla Azcorra May, a CICY researcher, to produce biogas from sargassum. Azcorra explained that her team is developing a unique chemical process—currently undergoing patent review—to convert the algae into fuel.
Beatriz Escobar Morales, also from CICY, is working on a project to create biochar from sargassum, with potential applications in renewable energy industries. She cautioned that improper handling of sargassum can cause dermatitis and harm coastal ecosystems, underscoring the need for careful management.
A New Perspective on Sargassum
"Sargassum is now part of the new normal in the Caribbean," Azcorra stated. "It helps clean the ocean and mitigate climate change effects, but we need large-scale, sustainable solutions."
The forum aims to foster scientific collaboration, identify viable ecological alternatives, and transform an environmental threat into an economic opportunity for Yucatán.
For more information, visit: ciencia.yucatan.gob.mx.
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