Conference Agenda

Este trabajo analiza la integración de la perspectiva de género y la ética profesional como componentes estructurales en el ejercicio de la ingeniería orientada al desarrollo sostenible. Desde una mirada crítica e interdisciplinaria, se examina cómo las soluciones tecnológicas pueden reproducir desigualdades preexistentes si no se diseñan desde marcos inclusivos y éticamente responsables. Se argumenta que incorporar una perspectiva de género no solo es una cuestión de equidad en el acceso y participación, sino también una estrategia clave para mejorar la eficacia, relevancia social y sostenibilidad de los proyectos ingenieriles.

La investigación adopta un enfoque metodológico mixto, combinando análisis cualitativos y cuantitativos. Se realiza una revisión sistemática de literatura científica, estudios de caso y entrevistas a profesionales del ámbito de la ingeniería, con el fin de identificar barreras, buenas prácticas y oportunidades para institucionalizar enfoques éticos y de género en la formación, investigación y transferencia tecnológica. Los resultados evidencian la necesidad urgente de repensar las prácticas ingenieriles desde una lógica interseccional, inclusiva y comprometida con los principios de justicia social y sostenibilidad.

Women in engineering continue to face invisible walls that hinder their persistence in the profession. In Colombia, evidence on these experiences remains scarce. This study aimed to give voice to Colombian women engineers to understand the supports that drive them and the barriers that hold them back in their professional trajectories. Through in-depth interviews with 9 participants and thematic analysis, we identified common patterns and contrasted them with international literature. Findings highlight key supports such as mentorship and role models, but also persistent barriers including discrimination, harassment, and tensions between work and personal life. These experiences align with evidence from the U.S. and Latin American. However, differences were also found, for instance a more overt and explicit discrimination that contrasts with U.S. literature, where discrimination is more often described in subtle forms.

This paper examines gender inequalities in urban mobility in Bogotá (2023) and Medellín (2017), with a focus on care-related trips as a key dimension of the right to the city. Using gender-disaggregated data, we characterize modal patterns, trip purposes, and travel distances. The results show a marked feminization of care mobility: women account for 74% of care trips in Bogotá and 62% in Medellín, predominantly in low-income households, with shorter trajectories and a reliance on walking and public transport. In contrast, men participate less, but are more present in middle- and higher-income groups, making longer trips and more frequent use of private cars. These preliminary findings highlight structural gaps in time and access, providing evidence to integrate gender perspectives into transport planning. Future work will expand the analysis to urban form and transport networks, advancing both academic and applied agendas.

Female student dropout in STEM disciplines constitutes a structural problem in Latin America, with rates of 45% during the first two years of engineering. This study analyzes the impact of virtual mentoring programs on the academic retention of women in STEM careers (2020–2024). Through a longitudinal analysis of 1,247 students across 15 universities in 8 Latin American countries, three models of virtual mentoring were evaluated: peer-to-peer, professional-to-student, and group mentoring.

The results show that participants in digital mentoring demonstrated 23% higher academic retention (78.4% vs. 55.1%) compared to the control group. In El Salvador, where women represent only 17% of graduates in engineering and technology, students engaged in digital mentoring recorded a 31% increase in academic retention. The hybrid peer-to-peer model combined with professional mentoring proved most effective in the early years.

Virtual mentoring represents a scalable and cost-effective strategy to reduce the gender gap in STEM.

This text presents the outcomes of a research and innovation initiative developed through the Orquídeas Postdoctoral Program, promoted by Colombia’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The project was led by a female team from Universidad EAFIT, in collaboration with a leader from the Fundación Movimiento Feminista Niñas y Mujeres Wayuu. Together, they co-designed and implemented a territorial exploration framework that integrates scientific methods with ancestral knowledge, focusing on gender equity, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable landscape management.

The study focused on the geodiversity and morphometric diversity of La Guajira, a region of significant geological and cultural value. Thirty Sites of Geological Interest (SGIs) were identified using GIS analysis, field validation, and participatory mapping. Results show a strong correlation between morphometric and geological diversity, influenced by the Oca and Cuisa faults and the hydrological dynamics of the Ranchería River.

The initiative highlights intergenerational learning, women’s leadership in geosciences, and the active role of local communities—especially Wayuu women—in sustainable resource governance. It aligns with Colombia’s national science missions in Bioeconomy and Territory, Science for Peace, and the Human Right to Food. It also incorporates acoustic biodiversity, particularly bats, as indicators of ecosystem health.