Francisco Calderon is an Expert Researcher at the LlactaLAB–Sustainable Cities research group at the University of Cuenca. He holds a PhD in Transportation Modelling and Planning from the University of Toronto, a Master of Engineering in Cities Engineering and Management (CEM)—Transportation Specialisation from the University of Toronto, and a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Cuenca. Prof. Calderon has taught sustainable mobility, transport, and logistics at Bachelor's and Master’s programmes in Ecuadorian universities. He has experience in agent-based modelling, simulation, statistical analyses, and data science, while his research focuses on sustainable mobility, urban sustainability, emissions modelling, and mobility services. Calderon has also worked in international consultancy on sustainable mobility, transport, and logistics as an associated expert for CITIES FORUM.
Daniel Orellana is a Principal Professor at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador. He holds a PhD in Geoinformation from Wageningen University, an MSc in Geographic Information Systems from the Technical University of Catalunya, and a BSc in Environmental Biology from the University of Azuay. He is a researcher in Geographic Information Sciences interested in understanding the interactions among human societies and the environment from a multidisciplinary approach. He has experience in the theory and methods of GIS and spatial analysis applied to people–environment interactions. His research focuses on urban sustainability analysis, mobility, and public spaces. Prof. Orellana is the co-founder of LlactaLAB—Sustainable Cities and is currently the Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Cuenca. Formerly, he was head of the Interdisciplinary Department of Space and Population at the University of Cuenca and coordinator of Human Systems Research at the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands.
Maria Isabel Carrasco is a Professor and Researcher at the Architecture School at the University of Azuay. She holds an MSc in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University and a BSc in Architecture from the University of Cuenca. Her research focuses on cities, sustainability, urban livability, housing, and architecture. She is the co-founder and co-director of Obra Arquitectura, an urbanism and architecture firm.
María Augusta Hermida is the Rector of the University of Cuenca and is president of the Ecuadorian Network of Research and Graduate Studies (REDU, in Spanish). She holds a PhD in Architecture from the Technical University of Catalunya and is a principal professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of Cuenca. Throughout her academic career, she has acted as Director of the Interdisciplinary Department of Place and Population (DIEP, in Spanish); she founded and directed LlactaLAB—Sustainable Cities research group; and she has created and directed the Master’s programme in Architectural Projects. Her research focuses on urban architectural design and sustainability in Latin American cities. Prof. Hermida has taught several Master's and doctoral programmes, coordinated local and international networks of architecture and cities, directed several research projects, and received awards for her architectural work on her founded company Duran&Hermida associated architects.
