UNPHU researcher, first Dominican PhD in Social Sciences, graduated from KU LEUVEN University, Belgium

Gregorio Rosario Michel, a researcher at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), became the first Dominican to obtain a PhD in Social Sciences from the Institute of Public Governance of the KU LEUVEN University in the Kingdom of Belgium, one of the world’s most important universities.

His presentation reflects on how to unleash the power of spatial data infrastructure to facilitate emergency mapping operations in the Caribbean region. This innovation focuses on the application of social science research methods in the appropriation of science and technology to enable the creation of a common operational image of communities affected by disasters and emergencies.

The work done by Dr. Rosario Michel represents a great contribution to the scientific community and decision makers in the Dominican Republic and other small island states of the Caribbean region. This is the second highest exposure zone in the world to disasters and the effects of climate change, including hurricanes, droughts, and earthquakes. 

Dr. Rosario has published his research in specialized journals with worldwide prestige, on the problems of data governance for disaster risk reduction and emergencies in our communities. He has also been principal researcher and manager of research projects in energy and governance of information and communication technology, financed by the National Fund for Innovation and Scientific and Technological Development (FONDOCYT) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT). He has served as director of planning and institutional development for the Dominican Civil Defense and as information and communication technology officer for the National Geological Survey.