Abstract: Tropical dry forests are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. In Colombia, currently only 8% of its initial territory exists, and less than 5% of it is protected. The latter is partly due to the insufficiency of scientific knowledge to generate strong conservation policies and to promote citizen actions in favour of the preservation of that ecosystem. This dissertation develops and evaluates a prototype of an illustrated book aimed to contribute to public engagement with the conservation of dry forests in Colombia. The development of the prototype of the book is based on a literature review, and its evaluation is carried out through surveys answered by participants in Colombia, who also had the opportunity to give feedback for the improvement of the resource. The results of the evaluation show that illustrated books can generate emotional engagement in readers, and that it nurtures a positive attitude towards the preservation of dry forests. Also, there is discussed the complexity of developing non-fiction illustrated books, by highlighting the challenges of entertaining readers while presenting accurate scientific information. It is suggested that the impact of this type of resource could be increased by carrying engagement sessions in which participants are the creators of the book, based on the results of informative and participatory sessions. Resources like this can serve as a bridge between scientists, decision-makers and communities to speak the same language in order to undertake collective actions for the preservation of an ecosystem that is about to disappear. Resumen: Los bosques secos tropicales son uno de los ecosistemas más amenazados en el mundo. Para el caso de Colombia, actualmente sólo existe el 8% de su territorio inicial, del cual menos del 5% se encuentra protegido. Esto se debe en parte a que el conocimiento científico que se tiene es insuficiente para generar políticas de conservación fuertes, y para motivar acciones ciudadanas que apunten a la conservación de estos ecosistemas. En esta disertación se desarrolla y evalúa el prototipo de un libro ilustrado con el cual se pretende generar actitudes positivas para la conservación de los bosques secos. El desarrollo del prototipo del libro se basa en una revisión bibliográfica, y su evaluación se lleva a cabo mediante encuestas a participantes en Colombia, quienes además tuvieron la oportunidad de dar retroalimentación. Los resultados de la evaluación muestran que los libros ilustrados pueden generar un vínculo emocional en los lectores, y que esto motiva a una actitud positiva para el cuidado de los bosques secos. También se resalta la complejidad que conlleva desarrollar libros ilustrados de no-ficción que logren entretener a los lectores al tiempo que se presenta información científica veraz. Se sugiere que el impacto de este tipo de recursos puede magnificarse al llevar a cabo sesiones de participación ciudadana en las que las personas sean los creadores del libro, a partir de los aprendizajes de sesiones informativas y participativas. Materiales como este pueden servir como un puente entre científicos, tomadores de decisiones y las comunidades para que hablen un mismo lenguaje y logren emprender acciones colectivas para proteger un ecosistema que está a punto de desaparecer.

Abstract: This study explores the visibility of ethnic identity features of the San Andreans in the history curriculum of its state schools. It uses a comparative approach through a content analysis of the Social Science curriculum, and the Afro Colombian Studies lecture plan of study. The findings of the research shed light on the theoretical perspectives of ethnic and social identity, and the implications these have on history education. In the findings, I highlight in particular the presence of global and national identifications and their correlation with national curricular guidelines. Finally, I argue that there is an urgent need for the inclusion of distinctive traits of the San Andreans within the history subject. By adopting this approach, students of the island will be able to develop a critical understanding of their histories and reflect on their presence and identity socially and politically. Resumen: Este estudio explora la visibilidad de las características identitarias étnicas propias de los San Andresanos en el curriculo de historia o Ciencias Sociales en colegios públicos. En la investigación se usa un enfoque comparativo por medio del cual se examina, a través de herramientas como el análisis de contenido textual, el currículo de la materia Ciencias Sociales y el plan de estudio de la Cátedra de Estudios Afrocolombianos. Los resultados muestran la correlación entre las perspectivas teóricas de la identidad social y étnicas y las implicaciones que estas tienen en la educación y enseñanza de la historia como materia. En lo encontrado resalto particularmente la presencia de identidades globales y nacionales y su relación con las políticas curriculares nacionales. Finalmente, presento la necesidad de incluir las distintas características de los San Andresanos en la materia de Historia o Ciencias Sociales ya que al tomar este enfoque, los estudiantes de las islas estarán en la capacidad de desarrollar el entendimiento y tener una perspectiva crítica acerca de su propia historia y el cómo se refleja en ella las identidades sociales y políticas a las que se encuentran expuestos.

"The dissertation is an analytical review of the available literature on marine protected areas (MPAs) to propose some governance, and spatial management mechanisms in the Colombian CaribbeanAbstract: The family Culicidae contains approximately 3,500 species of mosquitoes distributed over a diverse range of habitats around the world. Mosquito identification has been traditionally conducted with morphological features; however, the development of molecular techniques, such as DNA-barcoding, provides opportunities for gaining higher resolution in species determination. Colombia, one of the world's megadiverse countries, has a highly diverse mosquito fauna and a high prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases. In order to provide relevant information about the diversity and taxonomy of mosquito species in Colombia, this research tests the usefulness of combining adult morphology and barcode sequences to identify and describe mosquito species collected over different gradients in the Departments of Antioquia and Caldas. A total of 22 different mosquito species from eight genera were identified. One of the species, Wyeomyia luteoventralis, is the first record for Colombia. A total of 77 barcode sequences were generated with 16 species submitted as new records for public databases. These sequences were compared with the identification systems of existing DNA barcode databases (BOLD and GenBank through BLAST), to evaluate performance to discriminate mosquito specimens. We also validated the usefulness of DNA barcodes across a greater geographical area by compiling 1,292 sequences of mosquito species listed for the Neotropics and using two tree-based methods (neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood). Both methodologies provided similar results by showing 105 of 133 total species of mosquitoes separated into distinct clusters. Additionally, to provide the most up-to-date list of mosquito species for Colombia, a systematic review was complied which includes 329 species from 28 genera. This work shows the importance of combining and integrating methodologies to accurately identify diversity of mosquitoes. Resumen: La familia Culicidae contiene aproximadamente 3.500 especies de mosquitos distribuidas en una amplia gama de hábitats en todo el mundo. Tradicionalmente, la identificación de mosquitos se ha llevado a cabo con características morfológicas; sin embargo, el desarrollo de técnicas moleculares, como los códigos de barras de ADN, brinda la oportunidad de obtener una mayor resolución en la determinación de especies. Colombia, uno de los países megadiversos del mundo, tiene una diversa fauna de mosquitos y una alta prevalencia de enfermedades transmitidas por mosquitos. Con el fin de proporcionar información relevante sobre la diversidad y taxonomía de las especies de mosquitos en Colombia, esta investigación prueba la utilidad de combinar la morfología adulta y las secuencias de códigos de barras para identificar y describir las especies de mosquitos recolectados en diferentes gradientes en los departamentos de Antioquia y Caldas. En total, se identificaron 22 especies diferentes de mosquitos de ocho géneros. Una de las especies, Wyeomyia luteoventralis, es el primer registro para Colombia. Se generaron un total de 77 secuencias de códigos de barras con 16 especies presentadas como nuevos registros para bases de datos públicas. Estas secuencias se compararon con los sistemas de identificación de las bases de datos de códigos de barras de ADN existentes (BOLD y GenBank a través de BLAST), para evaluar el rendimiento para discriminar especímenes de mosquitos. También validamos la utilidad de los códigos de barras de ADN en un área geográfica mayor al compilar 1.292 secuencias de especies de mosquitos reportadas para el neotrópico y el uso de dos métodos basados en árboles (NJ y ML). Ambas metodologías proporcionaron resultados similares al mostrar 105 de 133 especies de mosquitos separadas en grupos distintos. Además, para proporcionar la lista más actualizada de especies de mosquitos para Colombia, se cumplió una revisión sistemática que incluye 329 especies de 28 géneros. Este trabajo muestra la importancia de combinar e integrar metodologías para identificar con precisión la diversidad de mosquitos. Sea, particularly in the Seaflower MPA. The Seaflower MPA is facing several challenges regarding political issues of boundary disputes and also adverse impacts on the marine environment from the increase in shipping activities. This is largely due to the expansion of the Panama Canal and the possible Nicaragua Canal, which is increasing the maritime traffic of international shipping to almost double that of today. In addition, the increase in seabed activities is also a threat to the ecosystems within it. This research describes the Colombian framework of MPAs, and it also shows the issues that face the Seaflower MPA today. The aim is to propose and to recommend some governance and management measures based on the ecosystem-based approach to establish a transboundary agreement keeping the integrity of the MPA and giving regional relevance for the protection of the unique ecosystems. Furthermore, to address the issues of negative impacts from shipping, some protective measures have to be taken to protect the ecosystems and safe navigation guaranteeing long-term sustainable development. "

Abstract: This project, based on a study of television producers in Colombia, is an ethnographic exploration of the working conditions of cultural production within a highly contextualized environment such as public service television under state control, using Señal Colombia TV channel as case study. I examine how cultural production is affected by governmental structures and dynamics, whilst exploring the conditions and processes of public service television production, and how television producers experience these processes at an individual level. My primary question is to determine how the production of public service television under state control impacts producers’ practices and perceptions regarding the value and outcomes of their work. In this context, precariousness, autonomy, good work, power and public value have emerged as central areas of constant tension. I link issues regarding cultural work and public value in a media production analysis, obtaining direct empirical data that provides an in-depth description of the current public media production context under state control in Colombia. To explore these intersections, the project brings together interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. The findings exposed that the internal dynamics of both the nation and the organisation significantly affect the concept of public value, making it an ambivalent, uncertain and ill-defined notion. Where governance is state-driven, workers, regardless of their role, subscribe to dominant narratives and discourses that justify their work, and thus contribute to keeping themselves under prescribed creativity. In general, the present study provides a holistic account of cultural work study, focusing on what occurs to cultural work in various contexts of control, and the individual reactions to these contexts. The analysis of cultural work in this context, also broadens current knowledge on the concepts of network sociality and good work under clientelism, and in a non-free-market. Resumen: Este proyecto, basado en un estudio de productores de televisión en Colombia, es una exploración etnográfica de las condiciones laborales de la producción cultural en un entorno altamente contextualizado como la televisión de servicio público bajo control estatal, utilizando el canal de televisión Señal Colombia como caso de estudio. Examino cómo la producción cultural se ve afectada por las estructuras y las dinámicas gubernamentales, mientras se exploran las condiciones y los procesos de producción de televisión de servicio público, y cómo los productores de televisión experimentan estos procesos a nivel individual. Mi pregunta principal es determinar cómo la producción de televisión de servicio público bajo el control del estado impacta las prácticas y las percepciones de los productores con respecto al valor y los resultados de su trabajo. En este contexto, la precariedad, la autonomía, el buen trabajo, el poder y el valor público han surgido como áreas centrales de tensión constante. Enumero temas relacionados con el trabajo cultural y el valor público en un análisis de producción de medios, obteniendo datos empíricos directos que proporcionan una descripción en profundidad del contexto actual de producción de medios públicos bajo control estatal en Colombia. Para explorar estas intersecciones, el proyecto reúne entrevistas, grupos focales y observación participante. Los hallazgos revelaron que las dinámicas internas de la nación y la organización afectan significativamente el concepto de valor público, convirtiéndolo en una noción ambivalente, incierta y mal definida. Donde la gobernanza es impulsada por el estado, los trabajadores, independientemente de su rol, se suscriben a las narrativas y discursos dominantes que justifican su trabajo y, por lo tanto, contribuyen a mantenerse bajo un estado de creatividad prescrita. En general, el presente estudio proporciona una explicación holística del estudio del trabajo cultural, centrándose en lo que ocurre con el trabajo cultural en diversos contextos de control, y las reacciones individuales a estos contextos. El análisis del trabajo cultural en este contexto, también amplía el conocimiento actual sobre los conceptos de socialidad de red y buen trabajo bajo prácticas clientelares, y en un contexto de mecado no-libre.

This clinical report discusses how Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) can be used to support the psychological recovery of adults who suffer from mild depression. The first part offers a critical review of the literature related to depression, psychodynamic theory and its links with DMP. The second part shows a case study that unfolded whilst working one-to-one with a female client in the context of a mental health day centre. Except for holiday breaks and scheduled absences, client and therapist met once a week over a period of six months for a total of eight DMP sessions, with five more left until the end of the treatment. This academic paper is informed by the thought process that developed during this time, in which a therapeutic relationship was gradually built around the themes of loss, self-identity and the hope of moving forward. By approaching the body as a living metaphor, teeming with imagery and symbols, both therapist and client found useful tools on the journey of working through depression and integrating its difficult emotions through Dance Movement Psychotherapy.

Under the current 2030 agenda, Urban Waste Management (WM) systems are facing the challenge to become more sustainable. However, the increases in the already overwhelming quantities of waste generation, the difficulties implementing efficient recycling programs, and the large social, economic and environmental impacts resulting from the unfitting management are in the order of the day. Additionally, recycling has been for years an informal and profitable activity of vulnerable and marginalized communities. Notably, "informal" recyclers from many developing countries are engaging in bottom-up pressures to reach social, environmental and economic recognition of their activity. This thesis outlines how current challenges for SDG's implementation are reflected in a concrete problem at the country level in where poverty reduction and resource management global objectives need to be deescalated. Therefore the thesis presents the results of a systemic analysis that by using transition studies/frameworks focus on the dynamics of change and actors’ interactions in Bogotá WM system, placing country reality, actors, institutions, and system vision as essential elements of a transition towards a more sustainable end. The analysis concludes that it is necessary to achieve flexibility to adapt local conditions and stability to attain objectives while hypothesizing that to facilitate the transition are needed processes of participative learning and knowledge creation, inducing the coordination of institutions and actors.

This exploratory study about the experiences of 5 former high school exchange students in Colombia, analyses their relationships with others, the challenges they faced and their general reflections and insights about the overall experience, in light of theory about Intercultural Competence (IC). The data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews and was analysed using Thematic Content Analysis. Results were categorised in 5 relevant themes that emerged from participants’ responses: relevance of other people; problems faced with other people; talking as a relevant skill; attitudes gained during and after the exchange; and general cultural knowledge about Colombia. In conclusion, elements of IC were salient during participants’ recollections of interactions with others, which somehow were mediated by the others’ IC and different external, contextual and subjective factors.

In the Caribbean coast of Colombia, within a triangle-shaped mountainous massif covered by a dense jungle of endemic flora (known as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), lies the archaeological park Teyuna-Lost City. A series of terraces, roads, stairs, spillways and sewerage systems form the largest and most impressive archaeological settlement in Colombia. Given the complexity of its geographical location, the place remained unnoticed, hidden and well protected for over 400 years. However, since its discovery, in 1975, the site has been subjected to different political, social and cultural dynamics that have affected its management and conservation. In the context of Colombian post-conflict, Teyuna has been perceived by many as an alternative to enhance their living condition. However, tensions promoted by stakeholders, communities and illegal armed groups are affecting the appropriate dissemination of its cultural values. After all, some communities conceive Teyuna as a business rather than as a National Heritage. In this project, I present an analysis of the bodies that are behind the tourism market, the limitations of the community-based tourism in the post-conflict scenario, the power imbalances on Teyuna´s management, and the dissemination problems of the archaeological site.

Abstract: In 2003, Colombia reformed the structure of oil exploration and production activity in the country. The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) assumed regulatory duties and adopted a new exploration and production (E&P) contract. Flexibility is one of the main features of this E&P contract, which gives the contractors the right, not the obligation, to expand, defer or abandon the project under certain conditions throughout the contractual phases. This paper reviews the real options approach as an analytical tool to value the managerial flexibility offered by the Colombian E&P contract. For this purpose a binomial model was used to value optionality in a hypothetical oil exploration and production project under the Colombian E&P rules. Using Monte Caro simulation and binomial lattices to value a sequential compound option, the model estimates how flexibility adds value to the project when it is adjusted to the investment’s probability of success. In this particular project, the optionality value was estimated in USD 9,45 mill (35% of the project’s expected monetary value, USD 26,90 mill). This result is sensible to changes on probability of success rates and initial oil price and reserves volume estimations. Further research could be done to model other possible real options in the production phase. Lastly, this binomial lattices approach could be used to introduce real options concepts to decision making process in oil industry and regulatory entities. Resumen: En el año 2003, Colombia reformó la estructura de la actividad de exploración y producción de petróleo en el país. La Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH) asumió las competencias regulatorias y adoptó un nuevo contrato de exploración y producción (E&P). La flexibilidad es una de las principales características de este contrato E&P, que otorga a los contratistas el derecho, no la obligación, de ampliar, diferir o abandonar el proyecto bajo ciertas condiciones, a lo largo de las fases contractuales. Este documento revisa el enfoque de opciones reales como una herramienta analítica para valorar la flexibilidad gerencial que ofrece el contrato E&P colombiano. Para este propósito, se utilizó un modelo binomial para valorar la opción en un proyecto hipotético de exploración y producción de petróleo, bajo las reglas del contrato E&P colombiano. Usando simulaciones de Monte Caro y árboles binomiales para valorar una opción secuencial compuesta, el modelo estima cómo la flexibilidad agrega valor al proyecto cuando éste es ajustado a la probabilidad de éxito de la inversión. En este proyecto en particular, el valor de la opción se estimó en USD 9,45 mill (35% del valor monetario esperado del proyecto, USD 26,90 mill). Este resultado es sensible a los cambios en las tasas de probabilidad de éxito, al precio inicial del petróleo y a las estimaciones del volumen de reservas. Podría realizarse mayor investigación para modelar otras posibles opciones reales en la fase de producción. Por último, este enfoque de árboles binomiales podría utilizarse para introducir conceptos de opciones reales para el proceso de toma de decisiones en la industria petrolera y las entidades reguladoras.

Singular Riemannian foliations in spheres provide local models for an extensive kind of singular Riemannian foliations, whose theory contributes in the understanding of Riemannian manifolds. Hence the importance of studying and classifying them, a research subject that still remains open. In 2014, Marco Radeschi constructed indecomposable singular Riemannian foliations of arbitrary codimension, most of them inhomogeneous, which generalized all known examples of that type so far. The present dissertation is a detailed study of his work, along with observations about the progress made on this dynamic field since that paper was published. Besides introducing preliminary notions and examples on singular Riemannian foliations, isometric actions and Clifford theory, it is explained a construction of inhomogeneous isoparametric hypersurfaces, due to Ferus, Karcher and Mu?nzner, that was a fundamental framework for the results of Radeschi. After that, it is described exhaustively the construction of Clifford and composed foliations in spheres, which are the examples that Radeschi created using Clifford systems. In the sequel it is established an extraordinary bijective correspondence between Clifford foliations (merely geometric objects) and Clifford systems (purely algebraic objects). This text finishes examining the relations of homogeneity properties among FKM, Clifford and composed foliations.