Editorial: BioCamb: 10 años contribuyendo al conocimiento de la biodiversidad en el Ecuador

Abstract

This editorial summarizes the 10-year of history and main achievements of the Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), of the Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica (UTI). BioCamb was created on July 15, 2011, to help to know the biological diversity of Ecuador, including its interrelation with the human beings. More than 140 articles have been published in journals indexed in Scopus, in collaboration with researchers of 48 countries from 412 institutions. BioCamb's work has focused on Ecuador and the Andes and has described 53 new species. BioCamb, in conjunction with the School of Environmental Sciences, has launched the Engineering in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, and the master's degrees in Biodiversity and Climate Change and in Environmental Management. In addition, the center has promoted citizen science, organizing BioBlitz’s and the Urban Nature Challenge in Quito, as well as with community work within research and academic projects and outreach society. In this way, BioCamb has managed to integrate the three substantive functions in higher education, teaching, research, and outreach, and has provided knowledge and professionals who work for the sustainable development of Ecuador and the conservation of its biodiversity.