David Bernal Invited to Second Connections to Sustain Science in Latin America Symposium

David Bernal, assistant professor of chemical engineering and co-director 
of the Center for Operations and Optimization in Process Systems (COOPS), 
has been invited to participate in the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, 
Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Second Connections to Sustain Science 
in Latin America symposium taking place March 11–13, 2025, in Lima, Peru. 
This symposium brings together researchers to collaborate on innovative 
solutions to critical challenges in Latin America. This is the third international 
NASEM event that Bernal has been invited to, as he was a speaker at the 9th 
Arab-American Frontier Symposium in Doha, Qatar, and an observer at the 
1st Connections to Sustain Science in Latin America Symposium in 
Barranquilla, Colombia. This invitation highlights Bernal’s contributions 
to advancing science and his dedication to fostering research with regional 
and global impact. 

The symposium will focus on interdisciplinary collaboration across fields 
such as Water Resilience, Infectious Diseases, Artificial Intelligence, 
Sustainable Energy Infrastructure, and Biodiversity. Bernal will be presenting his 
work in Quantum Computing for Engineering applications in Engineering and 
Artificial Intelligence as part of his SECQUOIA research group and will join a select 
group of participants engaging in discussions that explore the boundaries of these 
disciplines, fostering new ideas and potential partnerships. 

"Attending international events organized by the academies has allowed me to 
connect and collaborate with researchers worldwide, while sharing the impactful 
work happening at Purdue and through SECQUOIA,” commented Bernal. 

Bernal’s participation reflects his ongoing commitment to advancing scientific 
understanding and addressing critical challenges in Latin America and beyond. 

For more details about the symposium, visit 
https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/43355_03-2025_
connections-to-sustain-science-in-latin-america-symposium-2025