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Having completed a bachelor's degree in physics at Lund University, Sweden, Santiago is currently coursing a master's degree in physics at LMU. Growing up in Cauca, in the southwest of Colombia, Santiago got involved with indigenous and social movements defending territorial, cultural, and food sovereignty, such as CRIC and SIMA. These experiences showed him that environmental and social issues come hand in hand and that models that put the people and the environment first are not only viable but also necessary. His proximity to these movements also taught him that the global north (and the economic system behind it) has a historical debt with the global south that goes beyond monetary compensation. Santiago believes that the first step towards solving the climate crisis is to "repay" the ecological debt of the global north.
His background in natural sciences has taught him the importance of science to address environmental issues. However, he also believes that to have a positive impact science must be participative and be at the service of the communities.
Taking part in the environmental studies certificate program, Santiago hopes to acquire the tools to connect his science background with the lessons he learnt from organizations in Colombia.