Abstract: Bill, around 30, is an African American lower middle class living in Los Angeles. Bill is deeply in love with his girlfriend Claudia,30, a Mexican immigrant who has illegal visa status in the United States. Bill really wants to know her family and her hometown Guanajuato but that is difficult because she sacrificed a lot of things to get into the United States and she can’t simply go back for a while. After she suddenly dies, Bill experiences a reflexive and introspective moment, he feels deep loneliness and is totally breaking down and empty. One night his friend Kevin comes to visit and Bill shares all the difficulties he went through after she died. Because he was the only responsible, he had to manage all the cremation process and his inability to speak Spanish complicated giving the tragic news to her family. After finally getting a random translator in the street that can explain all to her family. His melancholia is giving him a very bad time trying to sleep and he decides to take with small urns to Mexico for her family.

Abstract: This thesis explores how interventions based on changing social norms can transform the behaviour of people and contribute to tackle social and policy challenges in real-world contexts. Specifically, it focuses on how a policy experience that had important and enduring effects in a large city (the civic culture interventions of Antanas Mockus in Bogotá, Colombia), could inform the application of more effective and sustainable than those that are typically applied in the academic literature. To do this, three studies were conducted to explore: (i) the intervention strategies and mechanisms that social norm interventions apply to achieve behavioural change (through a systematic review of over 90 field studies), (ii) the narratives through which different policy actors interpret and disseminate intervention messages (through narratives from citizens, the press and designers about Mockus’ most iconic intervention), and (iii) the way in which interventions that leverage social norms can reconfigure the physical, psychological and social layers of local installations (through two long-term experimental interventions to change driving behaviours among truck drivers). While typical social norm interventions in the academic literature tend to use easy-toimplement one-size-fits-all mechanisms (based mostly on giving group summary information to students remotely), our results illustrate the need and the potential of applying social norm interventions that: - Use strategically a wider range of intervention mechanisms that are closer to where behaviour actually happens and leverage social interactions. - Reconfigure the local physical, psychological, and social determinants of behaviour in a way that is tailored to the target contexts and behaviours, creating collective selfreflections on participants and giving them tools for social regulation and change. - Create engaging narratives around the behaviours and social expectations that must change, reframing social challenges and the agency of different actors around them. Our findings offer indications of a valuable and cost-effective approach to behavioural and social norm change that promotes collective reflection, engagement and action (rather than boring instructions, prohibitions, punishments or automatic nudging), and that thus has a higher potential of achieving enduring large-scale transformations in complex challenges than other approaches that are common in policy and organizational settings. By offering insights into the orientation and practical techniques of these interventions, as well as discussing implications for both researchers and practitioners, we hope to inform more effective and sustainable interventions to tackle social challenges in the real world. Resumen: Esta tesis explora cómo las intervenciones basadas en el cambio de normas sociales pueden transformar el comportamiento de las personas y contribuir a enfrentar retos sociales y de política en contextos reales. En concreto, se centra en cómo una experiencia de política que tuvo efectos importantes y duraderos en una ciudad grande (las intervenciones de cultura ciudadana de Antanas Mockus en Bogotá, Colombia), pueden informar la aplicación de intervenciones más efectivas y sostenibles que las que se suelen aplicar en la literatura académica. Para ello, se llevaron a cabo tres estudios para explorar: (i) las estrategias y mecanismos de intervención que se aplican en las intervenciones de normas sociales para transformar comportamientos (a través de una revisión sistemática de más de 90 estudios de campo), (ii) las narrativas a través de las cuales los diferentes actores de política interpretan y difunden mensajes sobre la intervención (a través de las narrativas de los ciudadanos, la prensa y los diseñadores de la intervención más emblemática de Mockus), y (iii) el modo en que las intervenciones de normas sociales pueden reconfigurar las capas físicas, psicológicas y sociales de las instalaciones locales (a través de dos intervenciones experimentales para cambiar comportamientos de conducción entre conductores de carga). Mientras que las intervenciones típicas de normas sociales en la literatura académica tienden a utilizar mecanismos simples y estandarizados (basados sobre todo en dar información a distancia con un resumen de las opiniones de un grupo de estudiantes), nuestros resultados ilustran la necesidad y el potencial de aplicar intervenciones sobre normas sociales que: - Utilicen estratégicamente un conjunto más amplio de mecanismos de intervención que de acerquen mas a donde se producen realmente los comportamientos y que aprovechen las interacciones sociales. - Reconfiguren los determinantes físicos, psicológicos y sociales de los comportamientos de una manera que se adapte a los contextos y comportamientos objetivo, creando autorreflexiones colectivas en los participantes y dándoles herramientas para la regulación y el cambio social. - Creen narrativas atractivas en torno a los comportamientos y las expectativas sociales que deben cambiar. Nuestros hallazgos ofrecen indicios de un enfoque valioso y costo-efectivo para el cambio de comportamientos y normas sociales que promueve la reflexión, el compromiso y la acción colectiva (en lugar de instrucciones aburridas, prohibiciones, castigos o "nudges" automáticos), y que, por tanto, tiene un mayor potencial de lograr transformaciones duraderas a gran escala para retos complejos comparado con otros enfoques que ordinariamente se utilizan en los entornos política y en las organizaciones. Al ofrecer información sobre el enfoque y las técnicas prácticas de estas intervenciones, así como debatir las implicaciones para investigadores y profesionales, esperamos informar intervenciones más eficaces y sostenibles para enfrentar los retos sociales en contextos reales.

Resumen: Un acercamiento y comparación de los métodos usados para la evaluación y participación de comunidades afectadas por la ejecución de obras de infraestructura de interés nacional respecto de los métodos o reglamentos alemanes vigentes a la fecha en los dos países. Como producto de esta tesis se generó un borrador de reglamento que integra los métodos colombianos con los alemanes en los casos de éxito.

Abstract: The rapid and ongoing process of urbanisation in Bogota has brought about significant socio-spatial segregation between city-dwellers. Such segregation is becoming increasingly complex as patterns of fragmentation are evolving towards a more ‘cellular’ differentiation between rich and poor –urban segregation which changes in terms of scale: from macro (neighbourhoods) to micro scales (blocks, streets). Urban segregation has been associated as a barrier for disadvantaged communities, especially when it becomes an intensifier of inequalities. Unequal access to services, availability of local employment, urban facilities, opportunities and supportive social relationships are examples of how segregation affects the distribution of quality of life, undermines attempts for social inclusion and, ultimately, creates unjust geographies. Alongside this context, public policy and measurements of quality of life have frequently overlooked spatial contexts of inequalities since a utility-based definition of well-being is often taken for granted. With the city of Bogota as a testing ground, this thesis analyses how and to what extent new patterns of urban segregation affect the distribution of capabilities and quality of life among young adults. Based on a capability place-based approach to wellbeing, this research will attempt to conceptualise urban quality of life, look at how patterns of urban segregation affect urban functionings, and quantify to what extent microsegregation explains differentials in capability achievement of quality of life among young adults in Bogota.

Abstract: In order to re-envision the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Parkville Medical Precinct, it is begun by drawing key points of interest from the research conducted on hospitals and the healthcare system. The chapter will synthesize the learnings from research conducted on: the ageing population, new medical technologies, hospital logistics, campus types, and healthcare delivery models. From each area of research, it is established the key points of interest and how they may be applied in the field of design medical infrastructure. These points allowed consider the possible design opportunities within the Parkville medical precinct. From this research method, it is able to gain a further understanding of the logistics of a hospital, and what elements can be incorporated into the design of the precinct. Most importantly, by undertaking this exercise, we were able to uncover relationships that were not evident from a top-down site simplified site analysis perspective. Design as a research tool opens a wide range of opportunities for urban design that reaches across many different disciplines and cross them, providing unexpected creative outcomes.

Abstract: The prediction of polypharmacy side effects is crucial to reduce the mortality and morbidity of patients suffering from complex diseases. However, its experimental prediction is unfeasible due to the many possible drug combinations, leaving in silico tools as the most promising way of addressing this problem. This thesis improves the performance and robustness of a state-of-the-art graph convolutional network designed to predict polypharmacy side effects, by feeding it with complexity properties of the drug-protein network. The modifications also involve the creation of a direct pipeline to reproduce the results and test it with different datasets. Resumen: La predicción de los efectos secundarios en tratamientos con múltiples medicamentos es fundamental para reducir la mortalidad y la morbilidad de los pacientes que padecen enfermedades complejas. Sin embargo, su predicción experimental es inviable debido a las múltiples combinaciones posibles de fármacos, dejando las herramientas computacionales como la forma más prometedora de abordar este problema. Esta tesis mejora el rendimiento y la solidez de una red convolucional en grafos de última generación diseñada para predecir los efectos secundarios estos tratamientos, al alimentarla con propiedades de complejidad de la red fármaco-proteína. Las modificaciones también implican la creación de una canalización directa para reproducir los resultados y probarlos con diferentes conjuntos de datos.

Abstract: The VARX(1) model expressed in Vector Error Correction terms (VEC) is implemented to predict the corn futures price. To test its accuracy and performance, the results are compared to the real price and the projections obtained using an Autoregressive model (AR). The comparison contributes to the debate if multi-variate, multi-equations models outperformed simple Autoregressive models. Since immediate or contemporaneous relationships were found between the explanatory variables and the corn price, a contemporaneous model was developed as a second benchmark to test the VARX(1) model accuracy. As the third benchmark, a similar model found in the literature was used to test the results. One month-ahead, out-of-sample forecasting, is used to project the corn futures price. The results suggest that the VARX (1) outperformed the Autoregressive model, but the lagged effects of the own corn price still presented high explanatory power. The model present similar results when compared to other similar models found in the literature but underperform when compared to the contemporaneous model. Finally, the contemporaneous model developed here present important predictability and practical use for decision making in the agri-food industry.

Abstract: This project presents three-dimensional conceptual and numerical flow models of a gascondensate field in the foothills region of the Eastern Llanos Basin in Colombia. The Eastern Llanos Basin has been the subject of diverse studies for hydrocarbon exploitation. Over the past decade, this region has been assessed for its geothermal potential in currently exploited oil & gas fields. A gas-condensate field located in the foothills of the basin represents a promising opportunity to produce geothermal energy. The conceptual and numerical models integrate geological, geophysical, geochemical and well data to enhance the understanding of the geothermal system in a sedimentary environment. The Leapfrog Geothermal model shows that the gas-condensate field presents a structurally complex architecture, where hydrocarbons and water accumulate in an relatively permeable reservoir. Well data exhibit a constant geothermal gradient, indicating conductive heat transfer. Based on geochemical data and hydrological analyses, it is identified that meteoric recharge occurs in the Andean orogenic belt and fluid flows from NW to SE. TOUGH2 numerical simulations are developed to generate a natural state model and geothermal production scenarios, which give an estimation of water extraction in the field. The thermal and hydraulic parameters were extracted from published experimental and well data. In order to simplify this first geotermal model, and reduce the number of parameters, it is assumed that the field is completely saturated with water. The natural state model temperature field is concordant with measured well data and simulated mass flow direction confirm expected patterns. Production scenarios demonstrate that it is possible to extract water at more than 90 °C without termal breakthrough during the 30 years simulation. Thermal power calculations yield two optimistic scenarios with more than 30 MWth of heat production, and a conservative scenario with approximately 6 MWth. The conservative scenario provides a better approach to reality with current water production. Thus, this project presents the basis for further studies on geothermal development in actively exploited hydrocarbon fields.

Abstract: This thesis addresses the numerical optimization of the design and scheduling of a biomethane plant integrated with a reversible solid oxide cell, amongst other technologies, that allow the processing of biogas coming from OFMSW anaerobic digestion as to maximize profitability on a yearly basis under different circumstances. The optimization model is carried out through a mixed integer linear program as to obtain the adequate sizes of the different technologies that compose the integrated energy plant whilst taking advantage of the energy and material stream interactions to reach optimal financial feasibility. The inclusion of a reversible oxide fuel cell allows the system to work in different modes as in Power-to-gas and Gas-to-power, generating interest on to the different services that the system can provide to the gas and electricity grids and most importantly to a future decarbonized energy scenario. Furthermore, inclusion of linear models for an amine scrubbing section for biomethane upgrading, a photovoltaic solar field, gas and heat storage units, a battery energy storage system and a biogas boiler into the MILP is carried out as they are part of the technologies in study for the integrated energy plant. The seasonal variability for gas and electricity prices, part load performances, size effects, weather related data, and technological modelling of components are all part of the challenges to be tackled as to obtain a MILP able to compute accurate, adequate and optimal solutions for the design and scheduling problem whilst subjected to technological, environmental and operational constraints. Resumen: Esta tesis se centra en la optimización numérica del diseño y operación de una planta de biometano integrada con una celda de hidrogeno reversible, entre otras tecnologías, que permiten el procesamiento de biogás proveniente de la digestión anaeróbica de material orgánico con el objetivo de maximizar las ganancias en temporalidad anual ante diferentes circunstancias. El modelo de optimización se lleva a cabo con un algoritmo de programación lineal de entornos mixtos para obtener los tamaños de diseño adecuados de las diferentes tecnologías que componen a la planta integrada de energía mientras se toma ventaja de las interacciones entre cada flujo de energía y/o materia para obtener la mas óptima viabilidad económica. La inclusión de una celda reversible de hidrógeno permite al sistema trabajar en diferentes modos como electricidad a gas o gas a electricidad, generando interés en los distintos servicios que el sistema puede proveer a las redes de gas y electricidad y aun más importante a un futuro escenario mundial de energético descarbonizado. Mas aún, la inclusión de modelos lineales como un sistema de mejora de la calidad del biometano mediante absorción con aminas, un campo de energía solar fotovoltaica, unidades de almacenamiento de gas y calor, un sistema de almacenamiento de energías mediante baterías y una caldera de biogás en el modelo de programación lineal es llevado a cabo pues son parte de las tecnologías en estudio para la planta energética integrada. La variación estacional por los precios de gas y electricidad, desempeño a cargas parciales, efectos de tamaños, data ambiental, y el modelado tecnológico de los componentes son parte de los retos a ser resueltos para poder obtener un MILP capaz de computar precisas, adecuadas y optimas soluciones para el problema de diseño y operación mientras se encuentra sujeto a restricciones tecnológicas, ambientales y operacionales.

Abstract: This research paper describes and analyses the defining moments in the journey of healing from sexual violence in the context of armed conflict in Colombia. Following the experience of three women of Tamboreras del Cauca, it identifies the external and internal re- sources that facilitated their journey. Taking reconciliation as the approach and some models as reference, was possible to place this experience as an example of what it takes to restore people's story and relation- ships after trauma and how this could be a work in progress towards reconciliation in times of post-agreement in Colombia. Through in-depth interviewing, I could get close to their stories, and unfold from their narratives, what and how each element has contributed to their transformation, from the individual to the collective space. In particular, the role of the arts and metaphors to reach new levels to understand how to address traumatic experiences. From there, bring attention to the creative act and imagination behind reconciliation as a condition, in the log-term, to stable peace.