With an outstanding research career, Dr Milko Jorquera Tapia, academic at the Department of Natural Sciences and Resources at the Universidad de La Frontera, has led research linked to natural resources, with results and advances widely recognised both in Chile and internationally. In recognition of this contribution, he was recently honoured during the 118th National Shellfisheries Association Meeting, held in Portland.
Dr Jorquera received the “Outstanding ONE HEALTH Research in Aquaculture and Fisheries Award”, presented by the Foundation for Conservation of Biodiversity and the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group.
Regarding this international distinction, the UFRO researcher stated that “it represents important recognition of the research carried out by the EMALAB team, while also opening new opportunities for collaboration with researchers from the United States and other Latin American countries”.
His participation in this international event — funded as part of the award received — included the presentation of three oral papers, through which he shared progress made by UFRO’s Applied Microbial Ecology Laboratory (EMALAB) in studies focused on aquatic ecosystems in southern Chile.
In particular, Dr Jorquera presented findings on the analysis of microbial communities associated with harmful algal blooms, nutrient recycling in lake sediments in the La Araucanía Region, and bacteria present in mussel tissues from aquaculture centres located both in this region and in the Los Lagos Region.
Postgraduate recognition
At this significant international event, nine students from different countries were also honoured with the “Jimmy Alcivar Arteaga Travel Award”, including UFRO doctoral student Tamara Valenzuela, from the Doctorate in Natural Resources Sciences, who is currently undertaking her doctoral thesis under Dr Jorquera’s supervision.
In this context, Dr Jorquera was invited to the next meeting of the National Shellfisheries Association, scheduled for March 2027 in Baltimore. He was also invited to join the Scientific Committee of the international seminar “2nd International Symposium on ONE HEALTH Epigenomes and Microbiomes: From Soil to People” (OneHealthEpi2027), which will take place in Quito from Thursday 2 to Monday 6 September 2027 and will focus on biodiversity conservation in globally unique environments such as the Galápagos Islands.
In both activities, Dr Jorquera aims to encourage the participation of academics and students from Chile, particularly from UFRO. “These are important forums to disseminate and give visibility to research conducted in the country, while promoting the need to protect and develop sustainable activities in southern environments, including the exploitation of marine resources and the conservation of biodiversity in lakes, rivers and coastal wetlands,” added the researcher.
This recognition underscores UFRO’s contribution to the internationalisation of knowledge and the creation and expansion of global scientific networks, while also highlighting the importance of scientific development from the regions and its relevance to addressing global challenges.
International Office
