This first meeting with a representative of the Czech university strengthens the important alliance with Learn Chile, which the UFRO is part of since several years.

Dr. Michal Kuraz of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague came together with Dr. Adison Altamirano, the Vice-dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Science, and Dr. Pamela Leal, who is in charge of Outreach and International Contacts at the Universidad de La Frontera.

It was a first approach that started with the interest shown by the Czech university in getting to know the work of the Universidad de La Frontera in order to find new possibilities for cooperation, student exchange and research projects with Chile.

Dr. Pamela Leal explained that Dr. Kuraz was interested in the work of the undergraduate and graduate programs and in the field of research at the Universidad de La Frontera, as well as in the possibility of an exchange of students and academics through the Erasmus Plus program of the European Union. “Our mutual fields of interest are engineering and agrobiology. In this context, it will be key to keep in touch with the Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus BIOREN and the Faculty of Engineering,” she said.

One of the main issues they addressed was the irrigation and optimization of water use in agricultural production. In this regard, Dr. Adison Altamirano stated: “This Czech university is quite advanced in mathematical modeling applied to the optimization of water resources, especially in regions where water is limited. In this context, the Araucania Region seems very interesting, since our water resources are also limited and new plantations, for example of fruit trees, have been established.”

Dr. Kuraz also showed great interest in the UFRO Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Science, especially because of the doctoral programs that favor research in the fields of natural resources, agri-food sciences and the environment. In the future, it would also be possible to do joint projects, to obtain financial support and to start short-term or middle-term visits and student exchange.

Written by: UFRO Communications Office
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