The National Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Innovation (Senacyt) of Panama awarded the 12 most outstanding projects of the Scientific Initiation Journey (JIC) 2025 during a formal event held at the Technological University of Panama (UTP) last Friday evening.
Dr. Eduardo Ortega Barría, Senacyt's Secretary, emphasized that «the scientific and technological training of university students is a strategic priority for Senacyt, as it represents the foundation of the human talent that Panama needs to drive its sustainable development, competitiveness, and innovation capacity».
He also added that «each project in this JIC demonstrates the talent, creativity, rigor, and commitment of the new generations of researchers in the country».
The gala was also the stage for the presentation of awards to the undergraduate thesis with the greatest scientific impact per faculty, as well as the most influential master's thesis in this field.
Additionally, the prestigious «Quasar Scientific Production Award» was given to Dr. Karin García.
This year's edition of the JIC evaluated a total of 83 research projects, carried out by 208 students from eight universities across the country. The projects were divided into four major research categories: Engineering, Natural and Exact Sciences, Research in Social and Humanities Sciences, and Health Sciences.
The JIC is a fundamental program that aims to promote a research culture at the undergraduate level in Panama. Its main objective is to provide undergraduate students with a comprehensive formative experience in the principles of scientific research and technological development, covering all phases of a project, including the necessary publication of results.
