Universidad de los Andes (Colombia)

Finding Dengui

finalist project

Alejandro Romero, Manuela Quintero, Manuela Gómez, Natalia Wolff

Finding Dengui is a community-driven biotech initiative addressing dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease causing severe flu-like symptoms and sometimes fatal complications. Developed through fieldwork in San Joaquín, Colombia, it offers early detection, prevention, and education using biodegradable BactiPods that release Lysinibacillus sphaericus, a larvicidal bacterium. These pods kill mosquito larvae and change color if dengue virus is present in standing water, alerting families before symptoms arise and sending geo-located warnings to health authorities. An illustrated storybook engages children as health guardians, making science accessible. Finding Dengui combines science, community, and hope to combat dengue’s spread and impact.

Giovanna Danies is a biologist and microbiologist with a Master's Degree in Biological Sciences from the Universidad de los Andes. In 2015, she received her PhD in Plant Pathology from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, USA. She was selected by the graduate school directors to receive the Barbara McClintock Award. In 2019, she received the L'Oreal Unesco award for Women in Science for her work on the Biodesign for High Schools project. Currently, Giovanna is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design at Universidad de los Andes. Giovanna directs the Atarraya Uniandes research group that seeks to strengthen basic and secondary education in STEM fields through design thinking.