As 2024 draws close, TecScience is looking back at some of the most exciting innovations, scientific breakthroughs, and remarkable achievements we covered this year. Missed anything? Here’s your chance to catch up:
1. Harnessing IoT to Improve Water Quality
Determining how polluted a country’s water is often requires significant resources and time-consuming sample collection and analysis. But this innovation is simplifying the process.
Alfredo Figarola, a professor in the Department of Sustainable and Civil Technologies at Tec de Monterrey School of Engineering and Sciences (EIC), and his team have developed a water quality monitoring station using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to measure pollutants in real-time.
Equipped with sensors for dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, and heavy metals like lead and cadmium, the station allows customization based on the most common pollutants in specific water bodies.
Want to learn more?
2. A Company Creating Realistic 3D Human Organs
The concept of crafting ultra-precise, lifelike models of human organs originated years ago at the Tec de Monterrey’s School of Engineering and Sciences (EIC) and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (EMCS).
Thanks to a multidisciplinary team of biomedical engineers, materials experts, imaging specialists, and physicians, that idea became a reality through Maedditiva, a company specializing in additive manufacturing to create 3D anatomical models.
Their method involves layering material to produce final models with a soft yet firm texture—almost indistinguishable from real organs. These models allow surgeons and medical students to practice procedures, reducing errors during surgeries.
Want to learn more?
3. A Collaboration in Immunology Poised to Transform Latin America’s Health
The Ragon Institute —backed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and Massachusetts General Hospital— focuses on studying significant diseases like HIV and COVID-19 at the epidemiological level.
Tec de Monterrey signed an agreement with the Ragon Institute to establish joint Ph.D. programs, collaborative research projects, and academic exchanges. This partnership aims to bring cutting-edge immunology research to Latin America.
With this alliance, there’s new hope that Latin American populations will one day benefit from the latest advances in immunology.
Want to learn more?
4. Designing for the Most Vulnerable
Four years ago, a team of experts at the School of Architecture, Art, and Design (EAAD) began exploring how architecture and design could help mitigate vulnerabilities, leading to the creation of the Design for Vulnerables project.
Since then, they’ve partnered with communities in Chihuahua, including Paso del Norte, Nuevas Delicias, La Regina, and Basaseachi, to introduce technology-based solutions.
Their experience highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches and engaging communities to understand how they perceive their vulnerabilities, the impact on their lives, and potential pathways to improve their situations.
Want to learn more?
5. EXPEDITION FEMSA: A Hub for Interdisciplinary Research
Tec de Monterrey now boasts a cutting-edge facility to unite researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and creatives in tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.
EXPEDITION FEMSA is a seven-story building equipped with collaborative spaces, advanced technology labs, and centers for research and innovation.
Located within Monterrey’s Innovation District (DIM), its goal is to bridge society, industry, and academia to drive impactful solutions.
Want to learn more?
