This year, the 5MinPitch academic initiative brought together 518 students from across ESPOL, who presented their graduation projects within their respective faculties to a panel of business leaders, industry experts, and academics in concise 5-minute pitches. From this pool, 96 students advanced to The Final Pitch—the championship competition held on September 14–15 at the STEM Building on the Gustavo Galindo Velasco Campus—where 57 projects representing 30 degree programs competed for top honors.
Against this backdrop, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (FCNM) community delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing innovative projects focused on data processing, applied chemistry, and mathematical modeling.
The Faculty’s Finalist Projects
FCNM senior-level students and graduating candidates presented their projects across a wide range of disciplines:
Statistics: Aaron Calderón and Jorge Moreno presented "Population Structure of Guayaquil: Identifying Socioeconomic Gaps and the Potential of the Demographic Dividend," focusing on urban dynamics research.
Chemical Engineering: Sheila Vinueza showcased "Evaluation of Bioactive Formulations of Resveratrol and Momordica charantia Using Factorial Design for Antioxidant and Antihyperglycemic Applications." Additionally, Natalie Manosalvas and Diana González presented "Techno-Economic Analysis of Biochar Production from Cocoa Pod Husks for Heavy Metal Removal in Wastewater."
Mathematics: Raúl Borja and Christian Calderón developed "Ecuadorean Cocoa Price Forecasting Using Fractional Memory Models," while Freddy Muñoz and Nicolás Chasín introduced "Multivariate Spatial Modeling for Short-Cycle Crops: Integrating Flood and Drought Hazards in Agricultural Households Through Spatial Analysis Techniques."
The highlight of the faculty’s participation came from the Statistics department. Bianca Arteaga, a student in Statistics, delivered an outstanding performance in the final phase and emerged as the overall winner of FCNM’s 5MinPitch grand finale, captivating the judging panel with her project "Spatial Estimation of Socioeconomic Status in Ecuador: A Time-Transfer Approach Between Surveys and Censuses."
FCNM Science Delivers Real Value
The exceptional performance of our finalists and Bianca Arteaga’s victory reaffirm that research developed within FCNM classrooms and laboratories goes beyond theory—it turns into concrete solutions for society, industry, and sustainable development.
We congratulate all our students for representing the faculty with excellence and proving that the future is built on scientific rigor, talent, and passion!
