Engineering in the face of climate change and new technological challenges takes center stage at an international meeting in Puerto Rico (See attached program)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
The future of cities, infrastructure security, water management, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence will be among the topics bringing more than 20 international specialists to Puerto Rico for the 2026 Biennial Meeting of the Pan American Academy of Engineering (API), to be held on November 16 and 17 at the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Surveyors (CIAPR).
The meeting, dedicated to the theme "Engineering: Essential for Sustainability, Resilience, and Adaptability in the Face of Climate Change and Natural Disasters," will convene professionals, academics, and researchers from Peru, the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Spain, and Puerto Rico, among other countries in the hemisphere.
The program will examine how various engineering disciplines can contribute to addressing problems that affect both large urban centers and communities exposed to natural phenomena, while incorporating new technologies and scientific knowledge into their professional practices.
One of the key areas of discussion will be infrastructure and its capacity to respond to environmental and technological demands. Engineer Pablo José Bereciartua, Minister of Infrastructure and Mobility for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, will address the future of cities, while American engineer Denise Nelson will analyze procurement processes for sustainable and disaster-resilient infrastructure. From Spain, engineer Fernando Rodríguez López, president of the International Association of Engineering and Architecture, will examine aspects of prevention, quality, and guarantees in the reconstruction of areas devastated by disasters.
The relationship between engineering and new technologies will also have a prominent presence. Engineer Cristina Contreras-Casado, from the United States, will present the challenges posed by the physical infrastructure of large data centers for artificial intelligence, particularly regarding sustainability and resilience. Dr. Jorge Vanegas, dean emeritus and professor at Texas A&M University, will examine engineering knowledge in the context of artificial intelligence. For her part, Puerto Rican engineer Jannette Pérez Barbosa will present innovative techniques to promote industrial engineering.
Water resource management will be another central topic. Dr. Shane Allen Snyder, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, will discuss scientific advances and the possibilities of water reuse. Puerto Rican engineer Yamil I. Castillo Crescioni will analyze the challenges Puerto Rico faces in ensuring the availability of the resource and advancing toward sustainable management. Joining these perspectives will be that of engineer José Ochoa Iturbe, president of the Venezuelan Academy of Engineering and Habitat, who will address water management in the face of variability associated with climate change.
The effects of natural phenomena will also be present in the deliberations. Peruvian engineer Fernán Muñoz Rodríguez will examine the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on a global scale, while Bolivian engineer María Teresa Dalénz-Zapata will offer a perspective on the contribution of engineering to the well-being of humanity.
The meeting will also address issues related to professional development and the innovation capacity of institutions. Engineer Sergio Contreras-Arancibia, from Chile, will discuss the need for a regulatory engineering system for Latin America and the Caribbean. In turn, Guillermo Aguirre Esponda, president of the Engineering Academy of Mexico, will speak on exponential engineering and disruptive entrepreneurship.
The training of new generations of professionals will occupy another space on the agenda. Dr. Stephanie Glenn Adams, dean of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas, will examine the collaboration between engineering professors and researchers specializing in education. Dr. Michael Georgiopoulos, dean of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Central Florida, will present the results of scholarship programs aimed at academic success in STEM disciplines. Likewise, Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, founding president of the National Academy of Inventors, will analyze the role of that institution in promoting innovation.
Holding the Biennial in Puerto Rico will allow for the expansion of professional and academic cooperation between countries that share challenges related to infrastructure, natural resources, and adaptation to climate change. At the same time, it represents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between professionals and institutions, share scientific and technical knowledge, and contribute to the development of engineering solutions for problems that transcend national borders.
