About us

Centro IDEAL

The Center for Dynamic Research of High Latitude Marine Ecosystems (IDEAL) is financed by the National Research and Development Agency (ANID), through its Financing Fund for Research Centers in Priority Areas (FONDAP) program.

It is led by the Austral University of Chile (UACh), and its associated institution is the University of Concepción (UdeC). Logistical financing for Antarctic research is provided by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACh).

Our main national collaborators are researchers from the Ecosystem Research Center of Patagonia (CIEP) in Coyhaique and the University of Magallanes (UMAG) in Punta Arenas.

Internationally, the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), in Bremerhaven, Germany, is our partner institution. We also collaborate with researchers from other world-renowned oceanographic institutions, such as the Scripps Oceanographic Institute and the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO), both in the United States, the Austral Center for Scientific Research (CADIC-Ushuaia) in Argentina, and the Instituto of Korea Polar Research (KOPRI), among others.

Headquarters

Researchers

Pre and Postgraduate students

Scientific Publications

Goals

We are a multidisciplinary center that was born to respond to the challenges of global change in the southern seas.

Our main objective is to measure and understand the impacts of environmental stress factors, caused by global change, on the productivity of marine ecosystems in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions, and their implications for the societies that depend on them. We hope that this knowledge provides relevant information to solve environmental, social and economic problems in the country.

Goal

Develop research of excellence in the marine socio-ecological systems of two strategic areas for Chile: southern Patagonia (or subantarctic zone) and the Antarctic Peninsula.

GOAL

Promote associative research programs with national and international institutions.

GOAL

Strengthen the capacity for Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research through the education and training of undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral students.

GOAL

Inform decision makers and the general public about the importance of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic marine ecosystems, their vulnerability, threats and needs for environmental protection.

Our mission

Consolidate ourselves as a research center in marine ecosystems and high-latitude coastlines with international recognition, to position Punta Arenas and Chile as a leading region in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research.

Research Axes

A changing ocean

International scientific panels and recent information strongly suggest that temperatures above 1.5°C will negatively impact environmental and biological resources and ecosystem services.
This axis focuses on the impacts of climate change on biological and physical processes and human responses. Its results will be a main input for the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies, and advance knowledge of regional oceans.

Connectivity, bioinvasions and mobilities

International scientific panels and recent information strongly suggest that temperatures above 1.5°C will negatively impact environmental and biological resources and ecosystem services.
This axis focuses on the impacts of climate change on biological and physical processes and human responses. Its results will be a main input for the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies, and advance knowledge of regional oceans.

Socioecological vulnerabilities and adaptation to global change

International scientific panels and recent information strongly suggest that temperatures above 1.5°C will negatively impact environmental and biological resources and ecosystem services.
This axis focuses on the impacts of climate change on biological and physical processes and human responses. Its results will be a main input for the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies, and advance knowledge of regional oceans.

Institutional teams

Advisory Board

The results of the research carried out by the IDEAL Center only gain value when they are put at the service of society and provide knowledge for decision-making.

With this objective in mind, we have the advice of an Advisory Council made up of social actors, both from the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, as well as from the rest of the country.

This council, which meets twice a year, recommends strategies to connect the work of the center with public policies, private work and society in general.

The advisory council is made up of:

Daniela Droguett, Seremi of Environment of Magallanes.
Verónica Vallejos, Seremi of Science, Knowledge, Technology and Innovation of the Austral Macrozone.
Dr. Marcelo Leppe, Director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute.
Jennifer Rojas, Presidential Delegate of the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica.
María Eugenia Camelio, DIFE Director of the National Research and Development Agency.
Jorge Flies, Governor of the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica.
Dr. Leyla Cárdenas, dean of the Faculty of Sciences of the Austral University of Chile.
Dr. Hans Richter, Rector of the Austral University of Chile
Coastal Ship Captain Horacio San Martín, Maritime Governor of Punta Arenas.
Humberto González, Director of the IDEAL Center.

International Scientific Committee

Global change is, by definition, an international phenomenon, as well as the effects and consequences that it can generate in the marine ecosystems of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic zone. For this reason, we have the permanent advice of an International Scientific Committee, which meets once a year to give us recommendations on the general and strategic guidelines of the center, suggest research activities and assess our scientific advances, among other aspects.

The International Scientific Committee is composed of:

Academic Council

The Academic Council is made up of the five main researchers of the IDEAL Center and is chaired by its director.

It meets regularly every week and its function is to issue guidelines on the progress and operation of the center.

The academic council is composed of: