Personal information
Biography
Erick Zagal-Venegas - University of Concepción
Prof. Erick Zagal-Venegas is an agronomist graduated from the University of Concepción (Chile), with a master’s degree and PhD in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala). At the beginning of his career, he was an Associate Expert for FAO in Mozambique (1980-1983), and then a Research Associate and a Senior Associate in the Department of Soils at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. In 1996, he joined the University of Concepción, and he has been doing research and teaching (undergraduate and graduate students) since then. He was Vice-Director of the Doctoral Program in Agricultural Sciences and Head of the Department of Soils and Natural Resources of the Faculty of Agronomy (2003–2019). At present, he is a member of the Steering Committee of the Doctoral Program in Agricultural Sciences of the Faculty of Agronomy, University de Concepción.
He has been a supervising professor for undergraduate students (31 thesis projects), and also as thesis advisor (40 thesis projects), For graduate students, Master’s Program, as a supervising professor, 12 thesis projects (completed); and as a thesis advisor, 2 thesis projects. In the Doctoral Program, he has been a supervising professor in 13 thesis projects (completed) and a thesis advisor in 4 thesis projects.
As a Principal Researcher, he has been involved in several projects supported by international organizations such as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency); the Rothamsted Experiment Station, UK; the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Montepellier, France; the European Community; the AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation; University of Córdoba (Ibero-American Project), Spain; and the British Council, UK. As a co-researcher, he has participated in the EU REVOLSO Project (Germany, Spain, Mexico and Chile); and he is currently involved in the EU UNDERTREES Project (UK, Spain, Italy, Chile, Ghana, Tanzania, and Ecuador). In Chile, he has led 5 Fondecyt (National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development) Research Projects and participated in several projects with local organizations (PBCT, FONDEF, INNOVA CHILE, INNOVA REGIONAL; CONAF, CIEP, and Empresas ARAUCO), including the creation of a Regional Center for Ecosystem Studies in Patagonia (CONICYT Funding, National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research).
Author or co-author of around 100 scientific articles on research areas such as biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, S), soil quality, GHG from agriculture and agroforestry, emissions and mitigation, dynamics of soil C, and soil organic C stabilization mechanisms. H-index=22 (Scopus). More information at https://investigadores.conicyt.cl/es/public_search/researcher?id=1841. Participation (author and co-author) in national and international conferences (around 80).
He was President of the Chilean Society of Soil Sciences (2005–2018); member of the FONDECYT/CONICYT Agronomy Group (2009-2011); and member of the CNA (National Accreditation Commission) of Chile, at the Agricultural and Forestry Sciences Graduate Committee, (2012-2022). Last years as Responsible for this Committee. At present, he is a representative of Chile to the FAO’s 5 Pillars of Action of the Global Soil Partnership; member of the Glosolan Technical Committee (Global Soil Laboratory Network, APS-FAO initiative); member of the Editorial Committee, Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (WoS; ex-ISI). ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3900-9769
Email address: ezagal@udec.cl