Aware that the reconversion of El Salvador is not a simple task, Codelco required the support of aninterdisciplinary group of researchers at the Universidad de Chile to achievethe optimal operation of the camp, in social aspects related to infrastructure,education and health.
To carry out this chore, the generalmanager of the Division Salvador, Julio Cifuentes and the dean of the Facultyof Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University, Brieva Francisco,signed an agreement which to supplement the efforts of research andtechnological innovation to ensure the productive and social future of ElSalvador.
With regard to the participation of theUniversity in this initiative, the associate researcher of CMM and director ofthis project, Jorge Amaya, said that it is a privilege which Codelco, throughits Division Salvador, asked them to study the problem of transition and theconversion of El Salvador. “Weat the University of Chile took this very seriously, not only by the interest ofthis investigation and the contribution we can do, but also because of theimportance this has for Codelco and for the community” he said.
About the work of CMM in this project, the researchersaid: “Although the most significant contribution of our center is themodeling, in this particular case we are facing a complex reality which involvesaspects, variables and relationships that are not easily quantifiable. That iswhy we work in a multidisciplinary manner to provide a comprehensive responseto the requirements of the Division. “
For his part, the director of CMM, JaimeSt. Maarten, along with qualifying this initiative as a “greatchallenge” also stressed the importance of participating in a project withresearchers from other faculties. “Apart from being a very complicatedproblem and where there is very little literature on the subject, is for us atest to see how we work with our partners of the University. Working with importantfaculties such as those that are involved in this project, is not common forthe University and that is very important,” he concluded.
The anthropologist from the Faculty ofSocial Sciences, Prof. Patricia Vargas also stressed the importance ofcollaborating with researchers from other disciplines. “For us as facultyis a unique experience and within the university is notable for having beenable to gather people in the area of engineering with doctors andanthropologists.”
On the contribution of her faculty in thisproject, Prof.. Vargas added: “The idea is to contribute to a global looknot only about the social and cultural problem, but also the impact that thisconversion means.”
This study also involved researchers fromthe School of Public Health. For its director, Dr. Giorgio Solimano, the Inter-Faculty job shouldbe more in the Universitye. “This project comes to realize the dream of auniversity that is more integrated and serve the country in partnership with amajor company such as Codelco,” he said.
During the signing of the agreement thegeneral manager of the Division Salvador, Julio Cifuentes, shared another ofthe edges of the project. “We want to be an example of how a stateenterprise into the term of an activity. I believe that together we will moveforward, we have great confidence in you, “he concluded.
