On December 11, 2025, the director of the IICG and Professor of Ecology at the URJC, Adrián Escudero, excitedly received the highest academic recognition from the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) of Ecuador, the distinction of Professor Honoris Causa.
The solemn and moving ceremony was attended by representatives from UTPL and local authorities. UTPL recognized the prolific and influential academic and scientific career of Dr. Escudero, an international authority in the field of ecology and a figure who inspires scientists, students, and citizens to commit to environmental conservation. “UTPL is honored by the presence of Dr. Escudero Alcántara due to his special connection with the Department of Biological and Agricultural Sciences and his remarkable impact on strengthening international scientific and academic collaboration,” stated Santiago Acosta Aide, Rector of UTPL. During the ceremony, the Laboratory of Tropical Ecology and Ecosystem Services also recognized Adrián for his scientific contributions and friendship with the research group.
Adrián Escudero’s relationship with UPTL dates back more than twenty years, to a time when Ecuador in general, and UPTL in particular, had a pressing need to train doctoral candidates. Within this framework, his collaboration with the Department of Biological and Agricultural Sciences at UTPL has contributed to the institution’s scientific development, where he has supervised six doctoral theses and led international projects. This work, in which he has been supported by other researchers from the IICG-URJC, has resulted in numerous scientific publications and collaborations that remain active today, strengthening capabilities, networks, and projects.
We invite you to watch the video of the event where Adrián gave a very enriching lecture and also to encourage you to visit the news published by URJC.