IPN Students Selected for ALACERO Contest in Argentina with Biofuel Project

Four students from the National Polytechnic Institute's (IPN) Higher School of Engineering and Architecture have been chosen to represent Mexico in the ALACERO Contest. The event, which takes place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from October 26 to 31, 2024, brings together young architects from across Latin America.

The Mexican students earned their place in the contest by winning the National Steel Award for architecture students. This award recognizes the most innovative architectural design projects in Mexico that utilize steel. Each student was awarded a 25,000 peso scholarship from the Secretary of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (SECTI) of the State of Mexico. The scholarship will cover the expenses for their trip and stay in Buenos Aires.

The students, Rogelio Bolaños Domínguez, Jailene Juliet Burgos Gómez, Diego Israel Carreto, and Víctor Manuel Pérez Maya, won the opportunity to compete with their project "Bioparque Kukulcán". This innovative solution addresses the issue of sargassum on the coasts of Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo. The project involves a treatment plant designed to collect the seaweed and convert it into biofuel and biofertilizer. The students hope to solve an environmental problem and generate economic benefits for local communities.

Miguel Ángel Hernández Espejel, head of the SECTI, commended the students for their dedication and effort. Their project stood out among entries from 47 Mexican universities for its focus on sustainability and potential to provide ecological and economical solutions to current problems.

The ALACERO Contest is an annual event organized by the Latin American Steel Association. It encourages the creative and functional use of steel in architectural projects and invites architecture students from across Latin America. The contest promotes international collaboration and the development of projects with environmental and social impact.

For the IPN team, participating in the ALACERO Contest offers a chance for learning and international exposure. In addition to showcasing their talent, they will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and collaborate with other architecture students from the region.