On June 1, the University of Antofagasta (UA) and the Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) publicly recognized Professor Carlos Espinosa, one of the pioneers of solar energy research in Chile.
As part of the regional launch of the book “Revolución energética en Chile”, compiled by former Energy Minister Máximo Pacheco, the work of Carlos Espinosa, Doctor Honoris Causa of the UCN, was honored.
SERC Chile Director Rodrigo Palma presented him with a copy of the book “La fuerza del sol” and a photograph in which Espinosa appears with another northern solar energy pioneer, Orlayer Alcayaga.
Palma highlighted the relevance of Espinosa's work and described him as a precursor, notably for creating a water collection system from the coastal fog (camanchaca), known as the “fog catcher,” and for his prolific academic career.
Espinosa was the director of the Applied Solar Energy Research Center (Ciesa) at the Universidad del Norte, a UNESCO advisor for the Chile-Peru Fog Collection Project, and the founder of the UCN's first Master's in Solar Energy, which was established in the country in 1973.