Communication – ��ý-N

Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana Partners with Community to Restore Los Laureles Canyon

Ada Inman — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:35:32 +0000

The Problem

Stretching across the U.S.-Mexico border, Los Laureles Canyon, part of the Tijuana River watershed, is a rich ecosystem that supports biodiversity. But increasing pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss have created binational challenges for the watershed.

The Opportunity

In August 2025, the Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana project launched through a collaboration among Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, Costa Salvaje A.C and the Rancho Las Flores community. The project aimed to strengthen local resilience, reduce environmental vulnerability, and restore lost biodiversity in Los Laureles Canyon.

Since Fall 2025, seven academic programs at the university, including Architecture, Mechatronics Engineering, Psychology, Nursing, Law, Communication, and Bionanotechnology Engineering, have joined the effort as part of an interdisciplinary approach to environmental restoration and the implementation of the ��ý-Model.

Together, the seven departments focused on five primary goals: monitoring water quality and mitigating wastewater pollution through phytoremediation; controlling soil erosion; revegetating green spaces; promoting environmental education and community stewardship; and exploring legal pathways to secure the Right to a Healthy Environment. For the past two semesters, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, 127 students were involved in 15 courses supervised by 15 professors.

Through continued collaboration, the project incorporated key initiatives such as urban and risk mapping led by the psychology department, as well as environmental monitoring efforts.

Our Partnership

In April 2025, leaders within the Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana project began collaborating with ��ý-N to assist with project funding and the implementation of the ��ý Model, combining university- and community-led initiatives with municipal collaboration.

Teachers and students of the Bionanotechnology Engineering undergrad program collected samples of dirt and water along the Los Laureles Canyon for testing. Students, along with local laboratories, proposed a type of bioremediation, an environmental process that uses living organisms to remove hazardous pollutants from water. Other undergraduate students in Tadeo Franco’s architecture class, a professor at Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, and the ��ý-N/EbA project lead designed a community board to facilitate communication between project leaders and the local community. The innovative communication tool included feedback from neighbors in its final design.

Tadeo Franco said community members are heavily involved within the project, and continued collaboration has led to new innovations as the project progresses.

“They’re very much involved in deciding which design they like the most,” he said. “Students with professors had to change the objective of the design because of the petitions with the neighbors.”

Other project partners and collaborators include Costa Salvaje Conservation, a nonprofit that helped build infrastructure near the community board for collecting and processing trash.

Looking forward, project leaders say they hope members of the Rancho Las Flores community can continue to maintain community interventions created through the Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana project. In the architecture program at the Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, project leaders hope to officially integrate transdisciplinary courses within the department and across the university.

The Result

Through the Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana project and its ongoing work, organizers and collaborators have strengthened relationships among university departments, community members, and partners working in Los Laureles Canyon. The project has also strengthened socio-environmental resilience through several key interventions. By August 2026, organizers hope to secure acknowledgment from local authorities of the problems caused by biodiversity destruction and the vulnerability it generates in the community.

Georgina Muñoz Reyes, architecture professor at Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana and ��ý-N/EbA project organizer, said that although the project has overcome some challenges, it has achieved its goal of showcasing the possibilities of transdisciplinary approaches and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA).

“It’s been a learning process,” she said. “But overall, the goals of introducing this transdisciplinary approach of learning about nature-based solutions and how to implement them have been really wonderful, seeing how everything has been developing and growing.”

Juan Pablo Ramírez Flores, a student from Universidad Iberoamericana, campus León (central Mexico), as part of the collaboration within the network of Jesuit universities, recently earned 2nd place in the Scientific Poster Design Competition at the 3rd Engineering Congress of the Jesuit University System for his work on this project. This recognition reflects the impact of applied research and science-driven solutions for sustainable development.

This project is funded by the Global EbA Fund, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) of Germany, and co-managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its partners.

The project is also part of five projects under the program “Catalyzing Unconventional Collaborations in the Global South for Urban Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA).”

La Universidad Iberoamericana de Tijuana se asocia con la comunidad para restaurar el Cañón de Los Laureles

El problema

El Cañón de Los Laureles, que se extiende a ambos lados de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México y forma parte de la cuenca del río Tijuana, es un ecosistema rico en biodiversidad. Sin embargo, la creciente contaminación, el cambio climático y la pérdida de biodiversidad han generado desafíos binacionales para la cuenca.

La oportunidad

En agosto de 2025, se puso en marcha el proyecto de la Universidad Iberoamericana de Tijuana mediante una colaboración entre la Universidad Iberoamericana de Tijuana, Costa Salvaje A.C. y la comunidad de Rancho Las Flores. El proyecto busca fortalecer la resiliencia local, reducir la vulnerabilidad ambiental y restaurar la biodiversidad perdida en el Cañón de Los Laureles.

Desde el otoño de 2025, siete programas académicos de la universidad, entre ellos Arquitectura, Ingeniería Mecatrónica, Psicología, Enfermería, Derecho, Comunicación e Ingeniería en Bionanotecnología, se han sumado al esfuerzo como parte de un enfoque interdisciplinario para la restauración ambiental y la implementación del Modelo ��ý.

En conjunto, los siete departamentos se centraron en cinco objetivos principales: monitorear la calidad del agua y mitigar la contaminación por aguas residuales mediante fitorremediación; controlar la erosión del suelo; revegetar espacios verdes; promover la educación ambiental y la participación comunitaria; y explorar vías legales para garantizar el derecho a un medio ambiente saludable. Durante los dos últimos semestres, otoño de 2025 y primavera de 2026, 127 estudiantes participaron en 15 cursos supervisados por 15 profesores.

Mediante la colaboración continua, el proyecto incorporó iniciativas clave como el mapeo urbano y de riesgos, liderado por el departamento de psicología, así como esfuerzos de monitoreo ambiental.

Nuestra Alianza

En abril de 2025, los líderes del proyecto de la Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana comenzaron a colaborar con ��ý-N para apoyar la financiación del proyecto y la implementación del Modelo ��ý, combinando iniciativas universitarias y comunitarias con la colaboración municipal.

Docentes y estudiantes del programa de pregrado de Ingeniería en Bionanotecnología recolectaron muestras de tierra y agua a lo largo del Cañón de Los Laureles para su análisis. Estudiantes, junto con laboratorios locales, propusieron un tipo de biorremediación, un proceso ambiental que utiliza organismos vivos para eliminar contaminantes peligrosos del agua. Otros estudiantes de la clase de arquitectura de Tadeo Franco, un profesor de la Universidad Iberoamericana de Tijuana y el líder del proyecto ��ý-N/AbE diseñaron una pizarra comunitaria para facilitar la comunicación entre los líderes del proyecto y la comunidad local. Esta innovadora herramienta de comunicación incluyó la retroalimentación de los vecinos en su diseño final.

Tadeo Franco afirmó que los miembros de la comunidad participan activamente en el proyecto, y la colaboración continua ha dado lugar a nuevas innovaciones a medida que avanza el proyecto.

“Participan mucho en la decisión sobre qué diseño les gusta más”, dijo. “Los estudiantes, junto con los profesores, tuvieron que modificar el objetivo del diseño debido a las peticiones de los vecinos.”

Otros socios y colaboradores del proyecto incluyen a Costa Salvaje Conservation, una organización sin fines de lucro que ayudó a construir infraestructura cerca de la pizarra comunitaria para la recolección y el procesamiento de basura.

De cara al futuro, los líderes del proyecto esperan que los miembros de la comunidad de Rancho Las Flores puedan seguir manteniendo las intervenciones comunitarias creadas a través del proyecto de la Universidad Iberoamericana de Tijuana. En el programa de arquitectura de la Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, los líderes del proyecto esperan integrar oficialmente cursos transdisciplinarios tanto dentro del departamento como en toda la universidad.

Resultados

A través del proyecto de la Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana y de su trabajo continuo, los organizadores y colaboradores han fortalecido las relaciones entre los departamentos universitarios, los miembros de la comunidad y los socios que trabajan en el Cañón de Los Laureles. El proyecto también ha fortalecido la resiliencia socioambiental mediante diversas intervenciones clave. Para agosto de 2026, los organizadores esperan obtener el reconocimiento de las autoridades locales respecto de los problemas causados por la destrucción de la biodiversidad y la vulnerabilidad que esta genera en la comunidad.

Georgina Muñoz Reyes, profesora de arquitectura en la Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana y organizadora del proyecto ��ý-N/AbE, afirmó que, si bien el proyecto ha superado algunos desafíos, ha logrado su objetivo de mostrar las posibilidades de los enfoques transdisciplinarios y de la adaptación basada en ecosistemas (AbE).

“Ha sido un proceso de aprendizaje”, concluyó. “En general, los objetivos de introducir este enfoque transdisciplinario para aprender sobre soluciones basadas en la naturaleza y cómo implementarlas han sido realmente maravillosos, al ver cómo todo se ha ido desarrollando y creciendo”.

Juan Pablo Ramírez Flores, estudiante de la Universidad Iberoamericana, campus León (centro de México), obtuvo recientemente, como parte de la colaboración dentro de la red de universidades jesuitas, el segundo lugar en el Concurso de Diseño de Pósteres Científicos del III Congreso de Ingeniería del Sistema Universitario Jesuita por su trabajo.

Este proyecto está financiado por el Global EbA Fund, cuenta con el apoyo de la Iniciativa Climática Internacional (IKI) del Ministerio Federal de Medio Ambiente, Conservación de la Naturaleza, Seguridad Nuclear y Protección al Consumidor (BMUV) de Alemania, y es cogestionado por la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) y sus socios.

Asimismo, el proyecto forma parte de un conjunto de cinco iniciativas en el marco del programa «Catalizar colaboraciones no convencionales en el Sur Global para la adaptación basada en ecosistemas (AbE) urbana».

Placemaking and Homelessness in the City of Lemon Grove

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:38:56 +0000

In collaboration with the Sage Project at San Diego State University and the City of Lemon Grove, this report details the methods and findings of the Spring 2017 course, Communication 462. Qualitative data were collected using ethnographic techniques, including in-person interviews with Lemon Grove residents, to examine placemaking and homelessness in Lemon Grove. An ethnographic approach allowed for an in-depth and empathetic view of these subjects and development of creative solutions to the prob-lems faced by Lemon Grove. Communication, as both an area of concern and a source of potential solutions, emerged as a recurring theme in our interactions with Lemon Grove residents. Our recommendations include increased communication and community awareness, equitable access to key resources, and revitalization and implementation of community traditions, gatherings, and other events.

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact
Kurt Lindemann
Communication

Local Government / Community Contact

Minto-Brown Island Park Citizen Communications Strategy

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:37:16 +0000

The Geography Department at San Diego State University, in collaboration with the Sage Project and the City of Lemon Grove, produced an inventory of stop sign and street identification sign locations within the city limits of Lemon Grove. Two teams collected stop sign coordinates with ESRI’s Collector for ArcMap and street sign coordinates with Google’s My Maps. Maps were then created from these two information layers. The purpose of this geographic information system (GIS) was to aid the city in its efforts to develop infrastructure improvement in the area.From the two inventories, or layers, that we created, patterns emerged reflecting a discrepancy between retail and residential areas. There are more existing and improved signs in the north and central parts of the city, whereas the south-central areas and neighborhoods on the western and eastern borders are not yet as updated. The two methods of collection also remind us that an initial inventory should be made on a desktop, with imagery, before any fieldwork. Once the basis inventory is made, it can then be updated, changed, or appended in the field. This will allow for a planning phase that would guide future site visits and provide a checklist to eliminate previously visited areas. The Google platform allows for very accurate locational data to be captured based on satellite imagery, while the ArcMap platform is better when multiple users may be interacting on a single map. We suggest training employees to manipulate the attribute data or designating a team responsible for entering data collected in the field to maintain updated locational data.

Strategic Public Relations Plan: Springfield Public Library

Victor Manzanilla — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:26:17 +0000

Springfield Public Library has been a fixture in the community for 104 years and
was established in its current location in Springfield City Hall in 1981. The Library
is planning for a new library facility and has tasked this class to develop a
Strategic Public Relations Plan based on research surveys and interviews. Students performed a situation analysis that found communication techniques for
the library lacking. This report develops key opportunities for attracting primary
and secondary audiences to the library. The first section identifies the key
messages of the public relations plan, then the report details appropriate
strategies and tactics for reaching the goals and objectives. The plan concludes
with evaluation techniques, a budget, and a timeline for implementation.

Redmond Water Utilities Strategic Communication Plan: Creating Enviormentally Conscious K-12 Students

Victor Manzanilla — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:26:12 +0000

The Sage Project

The Sage Project is a program within the at San Diego State University with a simple goal: tackling sustainability goals through community-based projects. Thousands of university students are eager to use their knowledge, skills, and creativity outside of the classroom, and faculty need impactful projects to offer these students. The Sage Project establishes partnerships with local communities that give SDSU students access to dozens of projects each year developed in close collaboration with the community. The result is a sustainable relationship between the university and surrounding communities. University faculty are given the connections and resources to seamlessly incorporate community-based projects into their courses, university students learn through real-world projects, and partner communities get immediate access to dozens of instructors and researchers at the cutting edge of their fields plus students with the drive and fresh perspective to offer innovative solutions to the community’s pressing problems.

CRS aims to expand its programming and initiatives to continue to make an impact on students, faculty, staff and the greater community at large, and to set an example for institutions around the world. By design, Sage and its sister programs help to move SDSU toward the “Fifth Wave” institutional goal of a culture that is transdisciplinary, collaborative, and problem-driven, by addressing global challenges at a local level, through collaborations across campus and with partners from business, government, nonprofits, and education.

Fun Facts about Sage

Sage has gone international via a partnership with the City of Tijuana, Mexico, on a project focused on helping improve parks through community engagement and education. In addition, through partnership with Sage, the City of Lemon Grove, CA, was the first US city to apply the UN Habitat’s climate action planning toolkit. Sage has also partnered with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, a regional office of the California Water Boards, a State agency.

Year Program Established | 2013
Country | US
Federal Region of Program | 9

Public or Private Institution | Public
Number of students at institution | 35,000

Highlight Videos and Articles

by Erik Anderson
by Karen Pearlman
by Gary Warth
by Gary Warth
by Gary Warth
by the EPA’s Net Zero program
by Jonathan Goetz
by the San Diego Red
by Jeff Ristine
by Aaron Warnick
by Susanne Clara Bard
by Susanne Clara Bard
by Hannah Ramirez

Community Partners

Contact Info

Jessica Barlow
Program Director
(619) 594-3807
jbarlow@sdsu.edu

Communication – ����ý-N