PRESENTATION OF HIGH SOCIAL IMPACT PROJECTS AT THE METROPOLITAN AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY (SOCIAL SPACE) (SEPTEMBER 25, 2024)

On September 25th, 2024, the Metropolitan Autonomous University presented a diverse range of high-social impact projects at an event organized by the Division of Social Sciences and Humanities (DCSH). This event, entitled 'Social Space: Exchange of Knowledge and Experiences', showcased projects with the most significant social impact and academic relevance, in which the students and faculty of our University participated. However, it's important to note that the success of these projects was not just due to the efforts of the students and faculty, but also the invaluable contribution of the local community. Based on a transdisciplinary approach, these projects covered a wide variety of areas of knowledge for rescuing La Piedad Lagoon. The project's success in integrating the knowledge of the community with scientific knowledge has proved its social and environmental innovation to support a sustainable green transition.

To strengthen the solutions proposed, qualitative and quantitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews applied to the community that lived near La Piedad Lagoon by the students of Economics and Sociology. These interviews were conducted during field trips that took place on March 14 and July 23, 2024. The fieldwork was essential to obtain a comprehensive perspective of the area's socioeconomic and environmental needs, which helped to define more effective interventions from a holistic perspective. To understand the complex problems associated with the pollution of the Lagoon and identify actions that favor their solution, the students and faculty visited examples of success stories in the municipality of Iztapalapa, in Mexico City, with intervention models based on social and solidarity economy, circular economy, and care economy implemented in vulnerable communities. During these visits to the intervention known as "Utopies”, the students and faculty participated in various activities to observe first-hand some of the actions undertaken to recover and transform polluted and conflictive urban environments. This visit reinforced the crucial role that synergies between communities, authorities, and academia have in constructing sustainable, inclusive, and gender-focused solutions.

At the event "Social Space: Exchange of Knowledge and Experiences", the students of Economics and Sociology, in collaboration with graduates of Graphic Communication Design and the faculty, developed audiovisual material with a list of interventions for the socioeconomic reintegration of the population in La Piedad Lagoon, once this water body of water is environmentally restored. These interventions include educational programs to raise awareness about environmental issues, training workshops to equip the community with necessary skills, economic diversification strategies for creating a local market that sells organic products, and the construction of urban gardens to promote sustainable living. Also, the student proposed developing ecotourism activities by constructing a recreational park with rest and camping areas and eco-cafeterias with organic food with a zero-waste approach. Finally, the students proposed the project "Sembrando Sostenibilidad", in which spaces are provided in the areas surrounding La Piedad Lagoon to encourage the cultivation of local and organic food by the communities, with the ejidos being in charge of training and managing these spaces, offering employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. In recognition of this work's significant social and scientific impact, Project UAM-EPIC Rescuing La Piedad Lagoon received First Place in this event. For more information, please visit the following page:

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