Welcome to the School of Biological Sciences (previously known as Department of Biology) from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE)! Our mission is to form professionals with the highest degree of academic excelence and ethical values, to conduct research and give advise on topics related to the biological sciences and conservation issues in Ecuador, and to give service to other academic units at PUCE as deemed necessary.
Our research labs produce an average of 40 publications a year (see latest publications) both in indexed scientific journals and in communication media aimed to the general public. Our focus research areas include Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Developmental Biology, Human Genetics, Evolutionary Genetics, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (see Faculty and research interests). These areas are not mutually exclusive; indeed, a given project may include studies at the cellular, molecular, genetic and ecological levels. For a list of the projects currently underway, see the Current research projects section.
The School manages the Yasuní Research Station that the Government of Ecuador gave to the university in custody for a 100 years. It has modern buildings and facilities such as Internet, telephone, laboratories, reference herbarium, among others. The projects at the Station are directed by professors from PUCE and from foreign universities. The Station hosts around 500 visitors annually.
Finally, the School has the Yasuni Foundation which helps to obtain research funds to work in Yasuni National Park. At the moment, the Foundation handles some basic research projects and applied (economically productive) projects with the Waorani indigenous people settled nearby the Station.
Scientific collections
The scientific collections of the School include: (1) the Vertebrates section of the QCAZ Museum of Zoology with around 55000 specimens, 70% of which are amphibians; (2) the Invertebrates section of the QCAZ Museum of Zoology with an estimate of two million invertebrates, mostly insects; (3) the QCA Herbarium with around 250000 botanical specimens; (4) the QCA(M) Fungi Collection with near 3500 specimens; and (5) the CLQCA Yeast Collection which at present maintains more than 400 strains.
Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado postal 17-01-2184, Quito - Ecuador, América del Sur Tel.: (593) (2) 2991685 Fax: (593) (2) 2991687
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