Emilio Aqueveque is an Hydraulic Civil Engineer and works as a project engineer at the Laboratory on Mathematical Modeling in Mining and Metallurgy (LM4) at CMM, a research center at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematical Sciences at University of Chile.
Thanks to the “Equal Opportunity Scholarship” given by the Fulbright Commission, he wants to study a PhD in Renewable Energies in United States.
“I think the future of world’s energy is based on this type of energy. Now, with Obama in power, the research and development on renewable energy in United States will be encouraged, for that reason it is a good time to consider a postgraduate program related to this subject. In particular, I am interested in solar and geothermal resources that are abundant in Chile,” says Emilio.
He hopes to study at MIT, Stanford, Penn State University, Berkeley and GeorgiaTech. “United States has numerous first quality research centers,” he says.
This young professional was aware of this scholarship in 2007, when it was originated as a result of the agreement between Chile and United States, signed by the foreign ministers Alejandro Foxley and Condoleeza Rice. At that time, Emilio was finishing his last classes, so he delayed the application until 2008. During that year he was able to work and was attentive to the call for nomination for the fellowship.
A “fantastic” opportunity
Emilio attended high school in the traditional Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera. His family has received in good way the news of his selection for the Equal Opportunity Scholarship: “My mother is proud,” he says.
It is the first member of his family pursuing a Ph.D. To get ready, he studies English and keep up to date on the topics of his interest. The possibility of a postgraduate course in United States without having greater knowledge of the language is for him “in a simple word, fantastic. It’s great that they give you the opportunity to study in United States and study English for one year prior to departure.
He had the hope that the nomination would be in his favor. In March 2010 he would be able to start a course of English for four months in United States. In September of that year would start his doctoral degree.
“For me, the formation received at the University of Chile is essential,” Emilio confesses. Here I learned the rigor of studying a scientific career and the discipline to do so. It has been important seeing different realities: students of high socioeconomic status, students of middle class and lower class like me. Here, I got a large group of friends and contacts. ”
He particularly recalls the summer school he made in January of 1999 at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematical Sciences. There he fell in love with Physics, Mathematics and the Faculty and for that reason he decided to study Engineering at University of Chile.
On his admission to the University, he obtained the following scholarships: Universidad de Chile (BUCH), Juan Gómez Millas and Profesor Moisés Mellado.
