The theme of the SOCHER 2023 meeting in the city of Valdivia in southern Chile was Territorial Challenges and Sustainability. Several EfD Chile fellow researchers, academics, and alumni from various Chilean universities participated.
"SOCHER is a diverse, inclusive, and multidisciplinary research network where space and territory are the main dimensions analyzed," explained Mauricio Oyarzo, the current President of SOCHER and EfD Chile Deputy Director.
EfD researchers presented their ongoing research
Six members of EfD-Chile participated by presenting various research projects:
- How the distribution of mining windfall mechanisms shapes the spatial economy of extractive countries? by Mauricio Oyarzo and his colleague Dusan Paredes.
- Does school environmental certification level impact childrens’ pro-environmental behavior? Evidence from Chile by César Salazar Espinoza, Mauricio Leiva, Marcela Jaime, Nuria Gonzalez.
- ¿Dónde están los pobres? Un análisis espacio-temporal de la pobreza multidimensional en Chile by Juan Carlos Rosas and Marjorie Baquedano.
- Spatial analysis of the location and generation of industrial waste in Chile from the perspective of Intersectionality and Environmental Justice by Cristóbal Vásquez, César Salazar Espinoza, and Marcela Jaime.
Marcela Jaime, the Director of EfD Chile, noted that this event is a great opportunity to disseminate research results to a scientific audience in a fraternal atmosphere.
“I have had the opportunity to participate since its first edition, and it is a great academic and personal experience," she said.
Recognition to the formation of advanced human capital in Regional Science
Cristóbal Vásquez, an EfD Chile Project Coordinator and alumnus of the School of Administration and Business (EAN), noted that being a member of SOCHER is an important opportunity to strengthen the regional component of research work and generate links with researchers throughout the country (and even abroad).
“I have participated twice in recent years and have received feedback that has strengthened both my undergraduate thesis at EAN (University of Concepción) and the results of my Master's thesis at the University of the Bío-Bío. It demonstrates the Society's concern for the training of advanced human capital. In addition, SOCHER has awarded me the Andrew "Andy" Isserman Recognition for the Master's category, which is a recognition of my work and preparation over the years, during which I deeply thank the academics of EAN for the training they provided."
Steps forward
Mauricio Oyarzo commented that the meeting marked a big step forward in terms of audience, quality of the papers presented, keynote speeches, and social activities.
“We observed significant participation from the international scientific community, so we hope to increase the impact of the society in terms of public policy, enrichment of the research presented through the constructive comments from the attendees, as well as in the formation of collaboration networks among the attendees of our meetings."