Proyectos

The nation-state is an organization defined by two principles: its interests (e.g., political, economic, cultural) and its security. Therefore, states constantly seek survival, in which security plays a prominent role, surpassing all other issues (Waltz, 1979). The extent to which the movement of people across international borders has become a security issue is evident in how the migration-security nexus is prevalent in the current public and media debate around the globe, including Chile. This proposal stands on the premise that in a democratic society, mainstream media press is a highly significant actor in influencing levels of public concern and shaping people's attitudes towards social developments and phenomena, including migration and its securitization (Scherman et al., 2022; Ekman & Krzyzanowski, 2021). The representation of immigrants in mainstream media press creates opportunities for immigrants to either become part of society or be excluded from the public sphere. The main objective of this proposal is to analyze the media framing of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in the Chilean mainstream media press during 2014-2026. Further on, this main objective is broken down into three specific objectives (SO), namely: SO1: To identify the media news frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chilean mainstream press during 2014-2026. SO2: To analyze the consolidation of media news frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chilean mainstream press during 2014-2026. SO3: To compare the media news frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" between the Northern, the Southern, and the Metropolitan Regions' mainstream press during 2014-2026. The empirical part includes the analysis of all informative pieces concerning the issues of security and immigration collected from the national editions of seven leading Chilean newspapers published in the Northern, Metropolitan, and Southern regions throughout a decade timespan (2014-2026). Such an elaborate dataset will reveal systematic longitudinal analysis across time, regions, and media outlets, providing a profound understanding of Chile's securitization of the "migration crisis." The proposed methodological paths for each SO are: SO1 will employ news framing analysis (de Vreese, 2005; Muñiz, 2011) to identify the media coverage frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis," applying a manual qualitative content analysis using Atlas. Ti 23 software for better coding manageability (Kovar, 2023; Vázquez-Herrero et al., 2022; Sarah-Liu, 2021). We will follow an inductive approach in which frames emerge from the collected corpus in situ (Semetko & Valkenburg, 2000) since it broadens the possibility of discovering a more amplified list of frames, thus contributing to a deeper analysis of the issue. SO2 will use a frequency analysis in Atlas.ti 23 and in Microsoft Excel (v2023) to identify and examine the most prominent media frames over the selected period. SO3 will follow a comparative analysis (Collier, 1993) to define similarities and/or differences between a) different media conglomerates (El Mercurio S.A.P and COPESA S.A) and independent outlets (Publimetro) and b) the Northern, the Metropolitan, and the Southern regions over the selected period. In addition, our longitudinal data (2014-2026) allows us to study possible changes in media framing covering the migration-security nexus over a decade, providing a comprehensive study on the issue currently under development across the national mainstream press. The main expected result is the generation of empirical evidence that advances understanding of the dominant frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chile. Given that most of the previous and current research on media securitization of migration has been EU or US-centered, our project calls for de-Westernizing this issue by contributing to a Latin American perspective to expand the geographical reach of research beyond European and US borders. As such, it offers new insights into the complexities of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chilean media and will contribute to the area of ​​Communication and Social Studies and anyone interested in migration and security issues. Likewise, since the securitization of migration reinforces a politics of fear and racism (Wodak, 2015), our findings may also concern the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, which is responsible for public policies and laws regarding immigration. The association of migration with security can be reflected in laws and policies that the country may adopt toward migrants through limiting access to certain nationalities, changes in visa procedures, higher security controls, and, most importantly, deterioration of the rights of migrants (Planas Gifra, 2024). Finally, as this project will empirically identify migration-security patterns in the mainstream press and track their evolution, identifying potential shifts over a decade's time span, it will help us raise public and service awareness in Chile by generating policy papers, infographics, and seminars for the lay public and opinion columns in local and national media, among others.

Slope-based Variational Analysis and Optimization

Estudio de propiedades métricas y estructurales de los espacios de Wasserstein (provenientes de la teoría de transporte óptimo), y búsqueda de aplicaciones en optimización bajo incertidumbre.

The nation-state is an organization defined by two principles: its interests (e.g., political, economic, cultural) and its security. Therefore, states constantly seek survival, in which security plays a prominent role, surpassing all other issues (Waltz, 1979). The extent to which the movement of people across international borders has become a security issue is evident in how the migration-security nexus is prevalent in the current public and media debate around the globe, including Chile. This proposal stands on the premise that in a democratic society, mainstream media press is a highly significant actor in influencing levels of public concern and shaping people's attitudes towards social developments and phenomena, including migration and its securitization (Scherman et al., 2022; Ekman & Krzyzanowski, 2021). The representation of immigrants in mainstream media press creates opportunities for immigrants to either become part of society or be excluded from the public sphere. The main objective of this proposal is to analyze the media framing of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in the Chilean mainstream media press during 2014-2026. Further on, this main objective is broken down into three specific objectives (SO), namely: SO1: To identify the media news frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chilean mainstream press during 2014-2026. SO2: To analyze the consolidation of media news frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chilean mainstream press during 2014-2026. SO3: To compare the media news frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" between the Northern, the Southern, and the Metropolitan Regions' mainstream press during 2014-2026. The empirical part includes the analysis of all informative pieces concerning the issues of security and immigration collected from the national editions of seven leading Chilean newspapers published in the Northern, Metropolitan, and Southern regions throughout a decade timespan (2014-2026). Such an elaborate dataset will reveal systematic longitudinal analysis across time, regions, and media outlets, providing a profound understanding of Chile's securitization of the "migration crisis." The proposed methodological paths for each SO are: SO1 will employ news framing analysis (de Vreese, 2005; Muñiz, 2011) to identify the media coverage frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis," applying a manual qualitative content analysis using Atlas. Ti 23 software for better coding manageability (Kovar, 2023; Vázquez-Herrero et al., 2022; Sarah-Liu, 2021). We will follow an inductive approach in which frames emerge from the collected corpus in situ (Semetko & Valkenburg, 2000) since it broadens the possibility of discovering a more amplified list of frames, thus contributing to a deeper analysis of the issue. SO2 will use a frequency analysis in Atlas.ti 23 and in Microsoft Excel (v2023) to identify and examine the most prominent media frames over the selected period. SO3 will follow a comparative analysis (Collier, 1993) to define similarities and/or differences between a) different media conglomerates (El Mercurio S.A.P and COPESA S.A) and independent outlets (Publimetro) and b) the Northern, the Metropolitan, and the Southern regions over the selected period. In addition, our longitudinal data (2014-2026) allows us to study possible changes in media framing covering the migration-security nexus over a decade, providing a comprehensive study on the issue currently under development across the national mainstream press. The main expected result is the generation of empirical evidence that advances understanding of the dominant frames of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chile. Given that most of the previous and current research on media securitization of migration has been EU or US-centered, our project calls for de-Westernizing this issue by contributing to a Latin American perspective to expand the geographical reach of research beyond European and US borders. As such, it offers new insights into the complexities of the securitization of the "migration crisis" in Chilean media and will contribute to the area of ​​Communication and Social Studies and anyone interested in migration and security issues. Likewise, since the securitization of migration reinforces a politics of fear and racism (Wodak, 2015), our findings may also concern the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, which is responsible for public policies and laws regarding immigration. The association of migration with security can be reflected in laws and policies that the country may adopt toward migrants through limiting access to certain nationalities, changes in visa procedures, higher security controls, and, most importantly, deterioration of the rights of migrants (Planas Gifra, 2024). Finally, as this project will empirically identify migration-security patterns in the mainstream press and track their evolution, identifying potential shifts over a decade's time span, it will help us raise public and service awareness in Chile by generating policy papers, infographics, and seminars for the lay public and opinion columns in local and national media, among others.

In democratic countries, the effectiveness of police work relies on having public support. When the public believes in the police's legitimate authority, they are likelier to follow their orders and cooperate with law enforcement. Conversely, perceptions of unjust behavior, such as not allowing citizens to explain themselves during interactions (procedural injustice), can lead to defiance of police orders (defiant motivational postures). In fact, over recent decades, we have witnessed numerous violent protests, police brutality, and human rights violations by police forces worldwide, including in Chile. The Carabineros, Chile's primary police force, were once highly trusted by the Chilean population. However, incidents of corruption and excessive use of force during the October 2019 social outbreak severely damaged public trust in the police (Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos [INDH], 2021). Therefore, it is crucial to understand the extent to which individuals perceive the police as acting fairly and correctly (i.e., procedural justice) and how they interact with and view the police in Chile (i.e., motivational postures). Additionally, it is well documented in the international literature that people who belong to minority groups (such as migrants, indigenous people, black Americans, among others) may have more tense interactions with the police and suffer higher levels of discrimination when interacting with police officers. Particularly, in Chile, there is evidence that police forces have used, both historically and in the present day, excessive use of force in particular against minority groups, namely among Mapuche people, immigrants living in Chile, as well as youths from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Therefore, we argue that these interactions between citizens and police are not only theoretically significant but also have societal implications, potentially influencing levels of conflict or cohesion within a community. Furthermore, international studies have also shown that disproportionate use of force by law enforcement often targets marginalized communities, particularly minority groups. Members of these groups also experience higher levels of discrimination compared to more privileged social groups within specific contexts (Feldman et al., 2019; Gee & Ford, 2011). Such experiences erode trust in law enforcement and may provoke protests against the police or demands for police reforms, as well as the avoidance of the police, even their work may be necessary (Woods et al., 2015). Therefore, understanding the interplay between perceptions of procedural justice (Lind & Tyler, 1988; Tyler & Lind, 1992) and motivational postures (Braithwaite, 2003) is crucial for understanding police-minority interactions. In this light, the current project aims to understand how police-minority interactions in Chile are experienced and perceived in terms of procedural justice and motivational postures by considering the perspectives of three minority groups (namely, Mapuche people, immigrants living in Chile, and youths from low socioeconomic backgrounds) and police officers. To our knowledge, there is a scarcity of studies focusing on police-minority interactions in Chile. Thus, by developing three interconnected studies with minority group members (Studies 1 and 3) and police officers (Study 2), this project’s expected results aim to, firstly, contribute to the state-of-the-art from a theoretical perspective, with the aim of advancing our understanding of police-minority interactions, through a combination of different frameworks combining procedural justice and motivational postures. Second, from a practical standpoint, we aim to generate empirical evidence that enables our understanding of police- minority interactions and provide practical guidelines and public policy recommendations about ways in which minority-police interactions can improve and lead to higher levels of procedural justice and more compliance with law enforcement. To achieve our main objective, we will conduct three interconnected studies. First, we will implement a longitudinal qualitative analysis through focus groups with minority group members (Study 1). Secondly, we will conduct semi-structured interviews with police officers (Study 2) and, finally, we will conduct an experimental study to test the causal relationship between procedural justice and motivational postures from the perspective of minority group members (Study 3). Data will be collected in the North (Antofagasta), Center (Santiago) and South (Temuco) of Chile). We expect to publish four articles in peer-reviewed journals, organize three academic seminars with national and international scholars, and present our findings in different national and international conferences. We will also organize four dissemination activities with policy makers and Human Rights Organizations concerned with police violence and how this phenomenon particularly affects minority groups, as a means to contribute to and potentially influence the development of public policies in the area of police- minority interactions. Finally, we also aim to disseminate our results among Carabineros and other relevant actors within Chilean society, as well as civil society in general.

Evaluación del Subsidio Ecológico de Cóndores y Águilas Chilenas en el Relleno Sanitario La Yesca, Región de O'Higgins" Objetivo General Evaluar el uso del relleno sanitario La Yesca por cóndores y águilas chilenas como un subsidio ecológico y caracterizar los patrones de actividad de estas especies en relación con los residuos disponibles (aún la chica no sabe con cual especie trabajará porque no hemos visitado el lugar, pero algo asi estamos diseñando). Objetivos Específicos Determinar la frecuencia y duración de las visitas de cóndores y águilas chilenas al relleno sanitario La Yesca mediante el uso de cámaras trampa. Identificar los patrones estacionales de actividad de cóndores y águilas chilenas en el relleno sanitario a lo largo del año. Comparar el uso del relleno sanitario por ambas especies y analizar si existen diferencias en el comportamiento de aprovechamiento de recursos antropogénicos.

Monogenetic volcanoes are the most common expression of magmatism on the Earth’s surface, and they are found in every tectonic setting, yet key aspects of the behavior and evolution of monogenetic volcanic systems remain poorly understood. Understanding the processes that govern the evolution of monogenetic volcanoes, and the timescales over which these processes operate, is critical for hazard assessment in active distributed volcanic fields. The Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ), one of the three volcanic regions of The Andes, displays a diverse landscape characterized by historically and potentially active volcanic structures, including ~60 large stratovolcanoes, three giant silicic caldera systems, and hundreds of small eruptive centers. Even these monogenetic volcanoes are considerably smaller in size and volume, they tend to be grouped in space and time, forming distributed volcanic fields, and provide information from source to surface processes that are usually obscured by the commonly dominant more evolved compositions in the Andean arc. Among the Holocene clustered small eruptive centers within the SVZ, this project focuses on the youngest distributed volcanic field in Chile, Carrán-Los Venados, which includes not only the most recent monogenetic eruption in Chile, which occurred in 1979, but it also hosts two other historical eruptions in 1907 and 1955. The Carrán-Los Venados distributed volcanic field (CLV) has received limited attention, despite its placement at position No. 9 in the specific risk ranking of active volcanoes in Chile compiled by SERNAGEOMIN in 2020. Past research on the CLV has mostly focused on chronicling and observing the impacts of the historic eruptions. While some studies have touched upon the geochemical and tectonic aspects of the region, there remains a distinct absence of a comprehensive and cohesive examination of the entire volcanic field. Therefore, building upon previous research conducted in CLV, this project aims to tackle this knowledge gap, and we propose to carry out a detailed multi-disciplinary study (physical volcanology, petrology/geochemistry, and volcanic hazards). Primary research questions include: When did the volcanism start in CLV? What processes contribute to the formation of this volcanism, and what are the magmatic factors that influence its evolution? Where does the volcanic activity take place, and how does it manifest on the surface? What should we expect in the next eruption? To answer these questions, we propose a methodology based on deposit characterization and mapping, geochronology, morphometry, rheology, petrography, mineral chemistry, geothermobarometry and hygrometry, and geochemical characterization and modelling. The integration of these diverse datasets will provide key constraints on the sources, processes, and timescales of magma ascent and storage leading to eruption of the CLV clustered small eruptive centers and small stratovolcanoes, providing an important framework for better understanding the behavior of distributed volcanic fields globally. Furthermore, this project aims to provide valuable support to undergraduate and graduate students, who will have the unique opportunity to engage in all aspects of this research project, making it a significant component of their dissertation studies. Additionally, the study will foster ongoing international collaboration, creating avenues for future student and faculty exchanges. Moreover, it will facilitate outreach educational initiatives for the local community, including specialized seminars, thereby promoting knowledge dissemination and interactive learning experiences.

Producción Escalable de Inmunoestimulantes Nanoestructurados para el Control de Piscirickettsiosis en Salmón del Atlántico

Chile es uno de los países de América Latina y el Caribe con mayor población femenina privada de libertad recluida en centros penitenciarios. Del total de la población que se encuentra en estas condiciones, el 11,2% corresponde a mujeres. Situación que pone de manifiesto una serie de adversidades que deben sortear las mujeres privadas de libertad, producto del actual sistema penitenciario en Chile. En ese sentido, alerta de sobremanera la vulneración de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos de las mujeres privadas de libertad, así lo hizo saber el Informe del Subcomité para la Prevención de la Tortura y Otros Tratos o Penas Crueles, Inhumanos o Degradantes, respecto al impacto psicológico que genera en las mujeres la separación con sus hijos/as durante la prisión preventiva. Así mismo, el informe añade las condiciones adversas en las cuales se encuentran los recintos penitenciarios afectando el bienestar psicológico, emocional, físico y sexual de las mujeres, destaca la falta de acceso a los servicios de salud, la ausencia de recursos en materia de salud menstrual, la discriminación por género y orientación sexual. La realidad de las mujeres en el contexto penitenciario, ha sido un ámbito incipientemente abordado por la academia y precariamente problematizado en materia legislativa en Chile. Es por ello, que el presente proyecto busca indagar en esta materia desde la realidad de mujeres condenadas privadas de libertad en el complejo penitenciario de Rancagua, buscando conocer y analizar la discriminación genérica, el estigma asociado a la identidad de género y orientación sexual, y las vicisitudes respecto a sus procesos de salud sexual, reproductiva, no reproductiva y afectiva; así como proponer lineamientos en la intervención de las mismas a partir de su propia experiencia a indagar. El presente estudio utilizará un diseño cualitativo, con elementos del paradigma fenomenológico feminista y de los conocimientos situados de las epistemologías feministas. Para co-construir la información, se realizarán entrevistas semiestructuradas, mapeos corporales y grupos de discusión. Para el análisis de la información obtenida se utilizará el análisis temático cualitativo. Como resultados de este proyecto se prevé una aproximación situada a la realidad en materia de derechos sexuales y reproductivos de las mujeres privadas de libertad de la región de O’Higgins. A su vez, se espera establecer lineamientos de carácter interventivo que permitan otorgar un abordaje situado en las necesidades de las participantes, en materia de derechos humanos, sexuales y reproductivos, y en temas afines. Por último, se prevé mantener el vínculo para instancias colaborativas futuras que permitan un trabajo conjunto en estas temáticas.

El proyecto tiene como objetivo desarrollar e implementar modelos de aprendizaje automático (Machine Learning, ML) para analizar datos ómicos generados a partir de plantas agronómicas, con el fin de identificar patrones moleculares clave asociados a su productividad, resistencia a estreses abióticos (como sequía y salinidad) y bióticos (como plagas y enfermedades), y su adaptación a condiciones climáticas cambiantes.