Three Students Awarded Research Grants for Summer 2025 in Chile

Following the success of last year’s program, Columbia Global Center Santiago is proud to announce the selection of three Columbia graduate students as recipients of the 2025 Student Travel Awards for Field Research in Chile. These grants provide master’s and PhD students from any Columbia University school or affiliate with the opportunity to conduct hands-on research at one of Universidad Católica’s (UC) field stations across Chile.

Through this program, the selected students receive funding that covers travel expenses, station fees, and living costs, allowing them to immerse themselves in Chile’s rich and diverse research environments while fostering cross-cultural academic collaboration.

Building on Success

In the program’s inaugural year, Vanessa Fiuza (M.A. in Human Rights, Columbia Institute for the Study of Human Rights) was awarded the grant to conduct fieldwork in Villarrica, in southern Chile. Over three months, she collaborated closely with the Julián Collinao Mapuche community, developing a comprehensive anthropological report on land loss and its socio-cultural implications. Her research aimed to support the community’s ongoing efforts to advocate for land rights and sustainable development.

Meet the 2025 Recipients

This year, three students have been selected to conduct research in Chile during the northern hemisphere’s summer, deepening their expertise in conservation, public health, and community development. Two will be based at the Local Development, Education, and Interculturality Center (CEDEL) in Villarrica, while one will carry out research at the Cape Horn International Center (CHIC) in Puerto Williams, in Chile’s extreme south.

Adrian Casanova (GSAS’26)

A student in the Master of Arts in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), Adrian is deeply committed to ecological research and sustainable development. With a personal and academic connection to Latin America given his Chilean and Cuban heritage, he sees this opportunity as a chance to expand his work on community-based conservation strategies in the region.

“I applied for this opportunity because it offers a meaningful way to connect my research with my Chilean heritage while expanding my work on conservation and land-use change across South America. As a multidisciplinary researcher focused on ecological science, ecotourism, and sustainable conservation in Madre de Dios, Peru, this grant provides a unique chance to explore similar themes in a vastly different yet equally important ecosystem.”

“I’m excited to immerse myself in the landscapes of Chile, collaborate with researchers at CHIC, and gain new insights that will enrich my approach to conservation science. Being selected for this grant is an incredible honor, as it allows me to broaden my research perspective and contribute to a global dialogue on innovative and collaborative conservation strategies,” he says.

Olivia Cull (BC’24, MPH’25)

Olivia is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies, Anthropology, and Spanish from Barnard College. Her passion for community health initiatives led her to apply for this grant, which will allow her to explore mental health interventions within school settings in Chile.

“I was drawn to apply for this grant because it offers a unique opportunity to learn from the experts at UC’s CEDEL. I’m interested in designing and evaluating creative mental health interventions in school settings, and the center provides an abundance of related resources and programs that I am excited to engage with,” Olivia explained. “This grant represents a milestone in my public health career, and I can’t wait to explore Villarrica and get to know the community there!”

Olivia’s research will focus on identifying effective mental health programs tailored to local school communities in southern Chile.

Mikayla Cheng (SIPA’25)

Mikayla is pursuing a Master of International Affairs specializing in Urban Social Policy and International Security Policy at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). She is particularly interested in studying the effects of tourism on local communities and contributing to channeling those benefits toward equitable economic prosperity.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to conduct field research in Chile in partnership with the Santiago Center and UC Chile this summer,” Mikayla says. “Having previously studied the effects of tourism on local communities in Cambodia, Vietnam, Uganda, and New York, I am excited to explore how the growing tourism industry in Chile can support the sustainable development of local communities.”

Her research in Villarrica will allow her to analyze the impact of tourism on community economic development and understand the personal experiences of individuals directly affected.

Expanding Research and Collaboration

By facilitating these research opportunities, the Santiago Center continues to strengthen academic ties between Columbia University and Chilean institutions while providing students with valuable field experience. This program not only enriches their research but also deepens their understanding of global challenges through on-the-ground engagement with local communities and ecosystems.