The Center

CIGIDEN

CIGIDEN is a FONDAP-CONICYT center of excellence. Since its inception in 2011, it involved four Chilean universities: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Universidad Andrés Bello and Universidad Católica del Norte. However, the center’s fields of action have been supplemented and expanded thanks to collaborations with researchers from other universities, research centers and public services in the country. Thus, in recent years, researchers from other institutions such as Universidad de Concepción, Sernageomin, Universidad de Valparaíso, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Universidad del Desarrollo and Universidad de Chile, have collaborated with us.

To create knowledge and prevent extreme natural events from becoming disasters, CIGIDEN has a team of researchers from different fields, such as earth sciences, engineering, social sciences, geography, economics, design, architecture, urbanism and communications. This interdisciplinary approach led to a deep academic transformation, going from the study of natural hazards and emergency response, towards a comprehensive approach focused on reducing exposure to hazards and building resilience.

Our scientific production is internationally recognized, and CIGIDEN’s public policy and technology transfer proposals or contributions are positively impacting people’s lives, as we believe that scientific research of excellence is only possible with knowledge, presence and anchorage in the territory, through the construction of collaborative relationships and permanent dialogue with people, communities and decision-makers.