McMaster Strengthens Academic and Research Collaboration Across Latin America

McMaster University continues to deepen its engagement across Latin America (Colombia, Chile and Mexico), advancing partnerships that foster research collaboration, academic mobility, and innovation.  This fall, McMaster participated in a series of high-level visits across the region, reinforcing the University’s longstanding commitment to building meaningful, sustainable relationships with Latin American partners.  

In Colombia, Dr. Matheus Grasselli joined institutional leaders in Manizales to meet with the Vice-Presidents of Research of the Colombian Universities Association (ASCUN), where he delivered a keynote address on “AI and the Management of Science, Technology, and Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education Institutions.” The event promoted scientific cooperation among universities, industries, and society, and explored new opportunities for collaborative research. 

In Chile, Dr. Grasselli accompanied two other McMaster delegates, Dr. Rodrigo Narro Pérez and Dr. Keena Trowell, who took part in a series of discussions focused on sustainable mining, energy transitions, and carbon capture technologies.  

McMaster’s delegation joined government, academic, and industry leaders—including Chile’s Ministry of Mining—to explore innovative solutions for decarbonization and to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing environmental sustainability. During the Decarbonization of Mining event hosted by Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Energy Center (UC Energy Center), Dr. Trowell presented her work using metal fuels as low-carbon energy carriers, as a viable pathway for low–carbon energy delivery in mining and other remote or off–grid industrial applications.  

The delegation also met with several leading Chilean universities where discussions focused on strengthening existing collaborations and identifying new pathways for joint research, faculty exchange, and promoting increased student mobility. Of a highlight were discussions on the climate change science and potential collaboration with the Center for Climate and Resilience Research of Chile. 

In Mexico, McMaster’s delegate, Dr. Maureen Lagos, during CALDO’s visit in October 2025, had a chance to present academic and research opportunities offered by our university and attend meetings with representatives from several leading Mexican universities where discussions focused on identifying new pathways for joint research, faculty exchange, and promoting increased student mobility.  Lagos also joined discussions with government and academic leaders – including SECHITi and The Secretary of Education of Monterrey to explore potential academic opportunities. Mexico leads McMaster’s Latin America engagement in terms of source for highest number of graduate students, predominantly in Engineering, and following the Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025-2028 commits to enhanced research cooperation in interdisciplinary areas by March 2026.   

McMaster’s engagement across Latin America reflects its commitment to diverse partnerships and knowledge exchange. These activities were part of broader set of international missions organized through the CALDO Consortium—a network of leading Canadian research universities working together to advance educational collaboration and student mobility in the region.