Strengthening knowledge about Climate Change, antarctic biodiversity, together with promoting its visibility through public advocacy, were part of the reflections addressed by the researcher from the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic Ecosystems and Subantarctic (BASE), PhD. César Cárdenas, in Congreso Futuro 2023 in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas, January 17, 2023-. With the themes “City in motion” and “Climate justice”, a new version of the Congreso Futuro 2023 began in the Magallanes region, a meeting led by the Senate of the Republic of Chile, and the Encuentros del Futuro foundation.
Under the motto #SinLimiteReal, exhibitors and attendees met at the Claudio Paredes Chamorro Cultural Center in Punta Arenas, after an inauguration led by the Undersecretary of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (CTCI), PhD. Carolina Gainza Cortés, the Regional Governor of Magallanes, Jorge Flies, the National Director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), PhD. Marcelo Leppe, the Rector of the University of Magallanes (UMAG), José Maripani, and the Research Director of UMAG, Marcelo Navarrete.
Together with PhD. Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman, a researcher, educator, and leader in applied anthropology from Philadelphia (United States), and PhD. Catriona Mckinnon, a professor of Political Theory at the University of Exeter (United Kingdom), the principal investigator from the Millennium Institute BASE, also the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), PHD. César Cárdenas joined the reflection on Climate Change, Antarctica and public advocacy: “It is super important that people have live access, since the Future Congress is the most important instance that we have in the dissemination of Science, with the possibility of listening to speakers from all over the world, and sharing different types of presentations from different areas of knowledge”, he pointed out.
Cárdenas, PhD in Marine Biology and scientific diver, addressed the impact of Climate Change in Antarctica, and the importance of transmitting scientific knowledge to people and decision makers: “It is time to act: to strengthen the link between science, public policies, which require conversations between all parties such as scientists, politicians, industry and civil society”, he highlighted.
Finally, the researcher from the Millennium Institute BASE underlined the role of international institutions such as the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Resources (CCRVMA- CCAMLR): “There are a series of changes that are taking place, and where the projections say that they will have greater consequences in the polar environment. Therefore, it is not only necessary to stay in the generation of knowledge, it is important to reach decision makers, authorities, the world of politics. That they are capable of absorbing this information and that it becomes decisions”.
The Congreso Futuro is an instance organized by the Senate of the Republic of Chile and Encuentros del Futuro Foundation. In its version in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region, it had the support of the Ciencia Pública program of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Regional Government, the Illustrious Municipality of Punta Arenas, the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), the University of Magallanes (UMAG) and the Prisma Austral Foundation.
[VIDEO] Check the presentation of PhD. César Cárdenas here:
By: Direction of Communications BASE Millennium Institute
Main picture: PhD. César Cárdenas in Congreso Futuro. Picture of: Millennium I. BASE/ C. Barrientos