Biography
Dr. Muniz Solari is originally from the Atacama Desert in northern Chile where he obtained a bachelor from the Catholic University of the North, Antofagasta. Two initial areas of research interest attracted him to pursue studies on sustainability related to population survival (i.e., mining operations, agricultural development). Nevertheless, Geography Education was the center of his research focus.
His continuous field work to study population and farming in the Andes paved the way to pursue a master degree in Geography at Michigan State University, East Lansing, where he completed his program with a thesis on Highland Rural Migration in Northern Chile. Afterwards, he had the special opportunity to be engaged with the CEMIG-Brazil project for energy expansion funded by the World Bank. As part of his doctoral program in geography at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, he had a full-year field work in the State of Minas Gerais to investigate the development of electrical grids from several dams to provide energy to farmers. This special international work allowed him to complete his doctoral dissertation on Diffusion Innovation of Agricultural Equipment in the Triângulo Mineiro.
He has worked as an international consultant to study mining operations in Peru and electrical expansion in Argentina; all of them related to environmental impacts. Finally, his academic work as full professor at the University of La Serena in Chile was concentrated in Geography Education before joining the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.
His continuous field work to study population and farming in the Andes paved the way to pursue a master degree in Geography at Michigan State University, East Lansing, where he completed his program with a thesis on Highland Rural Migration in Northern Chile. Afterwards, he had the special opportunity to be engaged with the CEMIG-Brazil project for energy expansion funded by the World Bank. As part of his doctoral program in geography at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, he had a full-year field work in the State of Minas Gerais to investigate the development of electrical grids from several dams to provide energy to farmers. This special international work allowed him to complete his doctoral dissertation on Diffusion Innovation of Agricultural Equipment in the Triângulo Mineiro.
He has worked as an international consultant to study mining operations in Peru and electrical expansion in Argentina; all of them related to environmental impacts. Finally, his academic work as full professor at the University of La Serena in Chile was concentrated in Geography Education before joining the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.
Research Interests
International Flows (migration and labor, FDI), Geographical Analysis for Sustainability (mining operation, agricultural exploitation, water distribution), Geography Education (international collaboration in teaching and learning).
Teaching Interests
World Population, World Geography, Transportation Models, Theories and Methods in Geographic Education, and Geographical Analysis.