The NENRE EfD-Chile team, together with 100 other researchers from Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and Italy, met at the 14th Annual Meeting of the Chilean Society for Regional Studies (SOCHER). The event, held at the University of Concepción campus in Chillán, focused on Innovation and Partnerships for Local Development.
The meeting was organized by the School of Administration and Business (EAN) of the University of Concepción and sought to generate a space to disseminate knowledge with a focus on spatial analysis as the main dimension. It took place on December 12 and 13, 2024.
Mauricio Oyarzo, EfD research fellow and president of SOCHER, academic at EAN, and organizer of the event, highlighted the importance of the congress:
“This meeting marks a milestone in the SOCHER network since, in addition to a large turnout, the first SOCHER Summer School was held,” he said.
“This summer school is a pioneering activity, with outstanding professors from various areas and topics who are at the forefront of knowledge and the level of international regional science schools".
Focused on regional analysis
The congress featured two keynote lectures and multiple parallel sessions that addressed a wide range of topics, including Productive Chains and Specialization, Business Dynamics, Socio-Spatial Dynamics, Environmental and Natural Resources Economics, Economics of Education, Economics of Health, Regional and Urban Economics, Regional Studies, Local and Institutional Governments, Labor Market, Regional Analysis Methods and Energy Transition.
In addition, special sessions were held on local and regional governance for development, public policies, characterization of territories and development, regulatory framework for subnational institutions and associations and sustainable territorial development.
Mauricio Oyarzo added: "The network presents work with a local/territorial focus, that is, works that present scientific evidence with solutions and tailored policy recommendations that consider the specificities of the localities, where special planning was one of the main topics.”
The regional secretary of the environment of Ñuble, Mario Rivas, participated in some sessions.
Nearly 30 participated in SOCHER Summer School
A distinctive element of this meeting was the holding of the 1st SOCHER Summer School, held between December 10 and 11. With the support of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), the Vice-Rectorate of the University of Concepción and in cooperation with the Latin American Regional Science Association (LARSA), the school offered modules on spatial data analysis, qualitative and quantitative data management, academic writing and publication strategies. Nearly 30 people from Chile and other countries participated.
The Andrew “Andy” Isserman Award
As is tradition at SOCHER, the Andrew “Andy” Isserman Award was given for the best postgraduate research. The winner was Cristian Concha Faúndez for his research Wood-Burning Restrictions and Indoor Air Pollution: The Case of Air Quality Warnings in Southern Chile.
By Belén Pulgar.