11th i-Rec conference
(in)formalities: Understanding different forms of agency in disaster risk reduction, climate action, and reconstruction
May 27, 28 and 29, 2025, Santiago and Valparaiso, Chile.
Conference, workshops, student competition and site visits in Santiago de Chile and Valparaiso.
Details, submission and registration here.
Objective
The 11th i-Rec conference (workshop, student competition and fieldwork) explores processes, actors, initiatives, and decisions in three main areas: disaster risk reduction, climate action, and post-disaster reconstruction. The event, titled (in)formalities, recognizes that multiple forms of agency with different levels of legitimacy, influence, and recognition coexist and must be understood and coordinated to produce positive, sustainable change. The 2025 edition of the i-Rec conference seeks to understand relationships between top-down and bottom-up actions, and different forms of “formality” and “informality” in decision-making processes, governance structures, and institutions. We will reveal the actions of regular citizens, civil society groups, and communities in the face of risk and examine the relationships between them and the decisions, projects, policies, and plans made by governments, international institutions, and humanitarian and development agencies.
The context and research questions
For the first time, the bi-annual i-Rec conference will be held in Latin America. Throughout its history, Chile has been hit by frequent disasters triggered by earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions, which have contributed to shaping both its natural and built environment.
In recent years, climate change has exacerbated several hazards such as wildfires and floods which, coupled with rapid urbanization and an accumulation of vulnerability factors, are amplifying risk. These factors are particularly affecting informal neighborhoods and urban settlements of informal origin, where thousands of low-income families live.
While the Chilean state is known for comprehensive—but often slow—reconstruction plans, residents of informal areas and informal builders often mobilize their resources and capacities to reconstruct their neighborhoods and homes. In this process, they rarely wait for government funds or technical assistance, resorting instead to local networks, skills, labor, materials, and resources. However, while rapid, informal, self-built reconstruction allows a prompt return to domestic activities and livelihoods, it often reproduces risk conditions that initially contributed to the disaster. Is the informal sector part of the problem or part of its solution? What are its strengths and weaknesses? How can it be better integrated within formal projects, programs, and policy? How does bottom-up actions operate? What is the role of citizens, civil society groups, and local leaders in disaster risk reduction, climate action, and reconstruction?
In this conference, we will seek to answer these questions and explore the scope, advantages, limitations, and challenges associated with self-construction, bottom-up initiatives, and other forms of citizen’s agency in the face of risk.
Venue
The conference is organized by Chile’s Research Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (CIGIDEN) in collaboration with Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC-Chile) and Universidad Diego Portales. The event will take place in different campuses during the three days. A detailed program will be available soon.
Dates for article publication
Official announcement: September 2024
Early call for abstracts: November 30, 2024 Abstract submission here
Acceptance of abstracts: December 17, 2024
Full paper submission: March 7, 2025
Reviews to full papers: April 30, 2025
For more information, click here.
Dates for the i-Rec student competition
Expressions of interest: Before February 1st, 2025
Online registrations: From December 2024 to May, 10 2025
Project submissions: From April 10 to May 10, 2025
Selection of the winners: During the 11th i-Rec conference
For more information, click here.
Organizing Committee
Jorge León, Conference Chair. Escuela de Arquitectura. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
Magdalena Gil, Conference organizer. Escuela de Gobierno. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magdalena Vicuña, Conference organizer. Instituto de Estudios Urbanos. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Scientific Committee
Jorge León, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María - Chile
Magdalena Gil, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile - Chile
Magdalena Vicuña, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile - Chile
Elizabeth Wagemann, Universidad Diego Portales - Chile
Gonzalo Lizarralde, Université de Montréal - Canada
Roberto Burdiles, Universidad del Bío-Bío - Chile
Claudio Araneda, Universidad del Bío-Bío - Chile
Cassidy Johnson, University College London - UK
Camillo Bouano, University College London - UK
Ali Asgary, York University - Canada
Lee Bosher, University of Leicester - UK
Rohit Jigyasu, Ritsumeikan University and ICOMOS - Japan
Ksenia Chmutina, Loughborough University - UK
Jason von Mending, University of Florida - USA
JC Gaillard, the University of Auckland - New Zealand
Benjamín Herazo, Université de Montréal - Canada
Alejandra Herrera, Université de Montréal - Canada
Lisa Bornstein, McGill University - Canada
Kevin Gould, Concordia University - Canada
Mahmood Fayazi, Royal Roads University - Canada
Arturo Valladares, Université de Montréal - Canada
Andrés Olivera, Universidad Central de las Villas - Cuba
Adriana López-Valencia, Universidad del Valle - Colombia
Oswaldo López-Bernal, Universidad del Valle- Colombia
Liz Maly, Tohoku University - Japan
Wesley Cheek, Massachusetts Maritime Academy -USA
Sandra Carrasco, Deakin University, Australia
Tapan Dhar, Trent University, Canada
Mauro Cossu, Université de Montréal, Canada
Nuno Martins, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
Iftekhar Ahmed, The University of Newcastle, Australia
Registration
Regular registration fees (before 30 April 2025): 200 USD$
Student registration fees (before 30 April 2025): 100 USD$
Details, submission and registration here.
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