Laura Franco, Senior Researcher

Name: Dr. Laura Franco Garcia, Env.Eng., MSc

E-mail: m.l.francogarcia@utwente.nl

Telephone: +31 53 489 4234

Fax: +31 53 489 4850

Room: Raverlijn 3212

Laura Franco joined CSTM in 2007. She holds an Environmental Engineer’s degree (Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City) a Master’s degree on “Management and Treatment of Solid Wastes” (Institut Nationale des Sciences Appliquées in Lyon, France) a Ph.D. on “Environmental Chemistry” (Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, France) and a Pos-doctorate study related to “Catalytic and Nano Sciences” in Hokkaido University, Japan.

As an environmental engineer (since 1990) she focused on the environmental-social impact of a product by each life-cycle stage. For her auditing activities she received the distinction of “Environmental Auditor” given by the “Mexican Association of Environmental Engineers”. She also worked for the Mexican Environmental Ministry in the “National Center of Environmental Research and Training” where she designed and contributed to the implementation of some soil protection and hazardous waste regulations in the National scale. The legal, economic, social and technique aspects were discussed with the stakeholders on the inter-sector governance frame.

Between 1996 and 2001, her research was connected to the evaluation of innovative technologies for solid wastes and wastewater. She was lecturer on those matters and researcher at “National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)” and “Metropolitan Autonomous University”. She conducted several bachelor’s and master’s theses and presented papers on conferences.

Since 2000, she worked for “Tecnologico de Monterrey” as lecturer on Sustainable Development topics. Furthermore in 2003 she became director of the first National Master’s programme on “Sustainable Development Sciences”. This programme is certified and granted by the Mexican Research Council since 2006. Only few postgraduate programmes have this certification in the National framework.

In 2005, she contributed on the design of the “Environmental Systems” specialty in the Ph.D. programme of “Science and Enginery” and afterwards she coordinated it.

Meantime, she conducted an academic group untitled “Sustainable Development Department” in the same institution. As part of her management activities, she interacted proactively with industrial chambers in order to develop join projects and training courses.

Laura Franco’s research enlarged to public and private management of natural resources and products development from her participation with the “Environmental Quality Research Center” in Mexican State Campus of “Tecnologico de Monterrey”. Master’s theses and conference papers were outputs of this experience. She co-managed a relevant project due to the environmental impact in the north of Mexico City whose goals included the sanitation locally of the Guadalupe’s basin and control of the upper geographical sources. A multi governmental level and multi-sector strategy has been suggested in order to mitigate the environmental pollution which mainly considered: construction and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants; sanitation of natural water sources; reorganization of economical activities and the soil use; enhancement of waste management; environmental education and training; the promotion of green tourism, among other aspects. The financial issues were also handed in order to cover such important investment.

Additionally, she founded a NGO with bachelor’s and master’s students whose aim connects the need of social organizations with educational justice towards sustainable management of natural resources. One of the local cases studied (Zongolica with nahuas groups) awarded a National Press prize in 2003. These activities were also supported by researchers of Harvard University (USA), National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico, Metropolitan Autonomous University and “New Earth” (international NGO).

She has been member of different environmental associations in Mexico and abroad. Currently she is Board Member of the Female Faculty Network in Twente (FFNT) and Council Member in Twente University. She also participates in the Greening of Industry Network (GIN).

Her research at CSTM is addressed, in one hand to GIN’s purpose (public and private interaction to support sustainable development policies) by using management tools as “Negotiated Agreements”, research conducted in collaboration with Profr. Hans Bressers. In another hand, she is also focused in the international governance level on forestry resources because she manages since July 2007, the 4^th phase of “Kyoto: Think Global Act Local”, project leaded for Dr. Margaret Skutsch at CSTM.

Expertise

Research Interests

Selected Publications

Franco Garcia, Maria Laura and Hans Bressers (2008). “Towards sustainable negotiated agreements between industrial and government sectors: Mexican case”. “GIN Conference Facilitating Sustainable Innovations”. Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.

Laura Franco Garcia, Maria Laura (2007). “Kyoto: Think Global Act Local project”. “GIN Symposium of “Water and Climate Change”. “Tecnologico de Monterrey”, Mexico City. Organizers: CICA and CSTM.

Franco Garcia, Maria Laura (2007). “Design and implementation of environmental policies, case study: sustainable waste management”. 7th Event of the National Prevention Pollution Table”. Mexicali, Mexico. Organizers: Mexican, American and Canadian governments.

Franco Garcia, Maria Laura (2005). “Sustainability in the Mexican Industry” GIN2005 Conference, University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Franco Garcia, Maria Laura (2005). “2005-2015 The decade of the environmental education toward the sustainable development”. 4th Engineering Congress, “Universidad Iberoamericana”, Mexico City.

Franco Garcia, Maria Laura (2005). “The Sustainable Development and the Letter of the Earth”. “Regional Forum of Environmentalist Women”. Ecology Ministry of the Mexican State. Mexico City.

Franco Garcia, Maria Laura (2004). “Prevention of the contamination and Environmental Management in Institutions of higher Education». “Metropolitan Autonomous University”. Azcapotzalco, Mexico City.

Franco Garcia, Maria Laura (2004). “Encounter of Environmentalist Women”. “Tecnológico de Monterrey”, Mexico City.

Suppen, Nydia, Maria Laura Franco Garcia and Glicina Merino (2004). “A new masters science in sustainable development program in Mexico”. Congress “Environmental Management for Sustainable Universities”. “Tecnológico de Monterrey” Campus Monterrey, Mexico.

Norris, Greg, Nydia Suppen, Maria Laura Franco, Patty Knowles and Bonnie DÁbale (2004). “And the last shall be first, Partnering with the world´s children to advance sustainable development”. Congress “Environmental Management for Sustainable Universities”. “Tecnológico de Monterrey” Campus Monterrey, Mexico.