Graduate Student Forum 2023 | Chile
This year’s Graduate Student Forum will take place in Puerto Montt, Chile from December 13-15, 2023. The forum will allow graduate students from IIES member universities to meet and discuss environmental research from various perspectives. Students will give short 5-minute presentations with two slides maximum to present an overview of their research accessible to people from different research backgrounds. Greater emphasis will be placed on the discussion groups and talks from faculty and industry representatives, rather than the research results of an individual’s projects.
The forum will be held in conjunction with the 8th Annual IIES Science & Policy Workshop taking place in Santiago, Chile from December 11-12, 2023. Participants interested in attending both events must register for the workshop separately. Registration fees for both events will be covered for all IIES participants.
IIES travel grants will be available to students from participating IIES institutions. Preference will be given to students who have not participated in past IIES activities. To provide the optimum networking experience for participants, the number of registrations for the Graduate Forum will be limited. Recipients of IIES travel grants must attend both the Graduate Student Forum and the Annual Science & Policy Workshop. Please register separately for these events.
Annual Workshop
Venue: Universidad del Desarrollo
Location: Santiago, Chile
Date: December 11-12, 2023
Graduate Student Forum
Venue: Universidad San Sebastián
Location: Puerto Montt, Chile
Date: December 13-15, 2023
Field Study – GPS Session
Dr. Neil Stuart
Professor | Doctor of Philosophy
The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Dr. Neil Stuart, who regularly visits universities in Chile, will run a hands-on training session on Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for environmental studies, to explore and discuss the following:
- Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are actually Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) – so what?
- How does my GPS know where I am?
- How can we use GPS for positioning things and navigation?
- How accurate is my GPS and how can I influence that?
- How can I record and use waypoints and tracks?
- How can I export GPS data into other software?
- What are the common mistakes made with GPS and how can I avoid them?
The session will comprise of an accessible introduction to GPS for field studies that will be followed by group data collection (using handheld GPS devices) outside and then a final data analysis session (you will need your laptop but no special software).
Important Information for Participants
PRESENTATION: 5-minute oral presentation (max 2 slides)
REGISTRATION: As with all IIES events, the cost for IIES members is FREE. To provide the optimum networking experience for participants, the number of registrations for the Graduate Forum will be limited.
TRAVEL SUPPORT: IIES travel grants will be available to some students from participating IIES institutions. Preference will be given to students who have not participated in past IIES activities. Opportunities are limited, register early. Grants will be issued on a first-come-first-serve basis to students from IIES member institutions. Recipients of IIES travel grants must attend both the Graduate Student Forum and the Annual Science & Policy Workshop. Please register separately for these events.
ACCOMMODATIONS & TRAVEL TO PUERTO MONTT: Hotel rooms will be covered for IIES supported students and faculty during their attendance at the Annual Workshop and Graduate Student Forum in both Santiago (DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago – Vitacura) and Puerto Montt (Hotel Bellavista in Puerto Varas). The flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt will be covered for IIES members. You are responsible for arranging your flight back to Santiago or elsewhere following the event.
The health and safety of our participants are important to us. Currently, there are no Covid-19 restrictions for travel to Chile. Visas are required for citizens of some countries. Be sure to check the requirements for entry to the country before booking.
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Chile - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the details to the hotel we will be staying at for both the Workshop and Graduate Student Forum:
Science & Policy Workshop: Santiago
DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago – Vitacura
Av Vitacura 2727, Las Condes
Santiago, Chile
Graduate Student Forum – Puerto Montt
Hotel Bellavista
Avda. Vicente Perez Rosales #060
Puerto Varas, Chile
Yes, Chile is among the safest countries to visit in South America. However, it’s worth noting that in the capital, Santiago, crime rates are increasing, with muggings, violent crime, and carjackings on the up. In May 2023, the US State Department moved Chile to “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution”.
To avoid issues, stay in the safest neighbourhood – Vitacura and the eastern end of Providencia – and take taxis at night. Uber, My Ride Chile, or a pre-booked taxi organized by your hotel is recommended; flagging a taxi off the street should be avoided. Even tourist destinations such as Lastarria and Bellavista are now increasingly unsafe.
A few years ago in 2019, political protests and civil unrest erupted intending to address inequality, bringing constitutional reform, and forcing the resignation of the government under the unpopular President, Sebastián Piñera. The immediate spark was a hike in the price of metro tickets.
There is a history of heavy-handed policing, which was another reason for the unrest and locals often refer derogatorily to police as pacos.
Since the pandemic and the election of progressive candidate Gabriel Boric, things in Chile have calmed down, and constitutional reform is ongoing. Street protest has largely died down, but past demonstrations were rarely violent, and foreigners are not targeted.
For more information, visit this website »
Sited: Steph Dyson | worldyadventurer.com
In Santiago, we are booked in from December 10th–13th, 2023 (check out on the 13th).
In Puerto Varas, we are booked in from December 13th–16th (check out on the 16th).
Note: If you plan on arriving early or leaving later than those dates, and you require additional days at the hotel, please contact for a group booking code so that you can pay for the rooms at our group rate.
Unfortunately, we will not have any group excursions planned due to lack of time. We will be sharing the workshop and graduate forum schedule with everyone as soon as possible so that you can coordinate and plan your own excursions.
You are responsible for booking the following flights:
- Return flight from home to Santiago (Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport – SCL)
- One-way flight to Santiago from Puerto Montt (El Tepual International Airport – PMC)
The IIES will cover the cost and book your flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt. You are responsible for booking your flight back to Santiago after the Graduate Forum, as your flight date/time will be determined by your flight back home.
Breakfast will be provided at the hotels in the morning. Coffee/tea, snacks, lunches, and a gala dinner will be provided at the Workshop and Graduate Student Forum.
Feel free to explore the city and discover local restaurants for any other meals. Be sure to check the Safety in Chile link.
For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
If you have any questions or require any further information please contact:
Raquel Scott, Operations Coordinator, International Institute for Environmental Studies
Email:
