The thematic panels convene experts on the subject and those who can contribute to expanding the frontier of related knowledge. Its name refers to the understanding of disciplinary and interdisciplinary dialogues where local knowledge takes place with scientific and technical knowledge, from the exact sciences to the human and social sciences.

Panel 1 – Climate change, environmental sustainability and local processes:

The phenomena of climate change and variability have affected the different urban and rural spaces, with an impact on the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The affectation is manifested in various economic sectors and especially in those dedicated to agriculture and other activities related to rural sectors. Given its effects, the different social actors have had to generate adaptation strategies that in some cases have been successful, but in most cases they require academic and public policy support to adequately respond to the challenges generated; specifically to droughts, floods, landslides and in general the increase of the  temperature. In urban areas, the impacts are also manifested in increases in heat waves, floods, and the generation of areas of mass movement, issues that require a review to enrich the prevention and mitigation programs emanating from local authorities.

Panel 2 – Hydrogeomorphological risks and catastrophes:

Catastrophic floods are related to climate change and variability, however, they are also associated with anthropic intervention factors and the implementation of territorial occupation models that have historically unknown natural conditions. We are in a time of crisis related to the management and maintenance of water bodies, for this reason we make a specific thematic line.

Panel 3 – Urban processes, vulnerabilities and management strategies:

Differential urban growth in the world, with the well-known population concentration, has generated changes in urban morphologies and dynamics, pressures in its hinterland, and the appearance of marginal areas, where social vulnerabilities and threatening phenomena are concentrated. All of which raises a context that requires an interdisciplinary analysis, given the complexity of established relationships. Indeed, cities are a source of GHG emissions, environmental pollution, noise and insecurity, but also in most Latin American countries, they have generated latent risks zones due to the occupation of land not suitable for urbanization. It is important to understand the behavior of risk-generating phenomena, mainly in their genesis and their ability to influence public health and life in general.

Panel 4 – Appropriate geotechnologies for risk management:

Technological advances in the analysis of processes and vulnerabilities allow focusing the response strategies to the risks generated in urban and rural areas. It is necessary to open a space for debate on its applications, but also on the scope when making decisions and deepening the related knowledge.

Panel 5 – Resilience, cultural patterns and risk management:

Understood as the set of ecological and sociocultural factors that contribute to the recovery of a community from disastrous events, it must be subject to scrutiny, due to the potentiality of analysis, but also as an element of strategic public policy.