02 Dec UC academic and director of SECOS Stefan Gelcich is recognized among the top 1% most cited scientists in the world

The “Highly Cited Researchers 2024” list by Clarivate conducted a comprehensive analysis of the most frequently cited researchers worldwide over the past decade, across around twenty fields of study. The scientist has gained international recognition for his interdisciplinary focus that brings together marine sciences, ecology, social sciences, and economics.

The international information analytics agency Clarivate released its 2024 list of Highly Cited Researchers—a group of the most influential scientists in universities, research centers, and companies around the world. According to the list, these researchers have demonstrated significant and recognized influence in their respective fields.

Stefan Gelcich, professor at the UC Faculty of Biological Sciences, researcher at the Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), and director of the Millennium Institute for Coastal Socio-Ecology (SECOS), was one of only three Chileans included in the top 1% of the world’s most highly cited scientists. His inclusion highlights his scientific productivity and international recognition over the last decade (2013–2023).

The list also features other internationally renowned environmental scientists such as Carl Folke, Roz Naylor, and Carlos Duarte. According to its website, Clarivate conducts a rigorous evaluation and selection process based on data from the Web of Science citation index, combined with a qualitative analysis carried out by experts from its scientific information study group.

“This recognition reflects the global importance of the interdisciplinary research we are doing in Chile. The integration of social and natural sciences to move toward more sustainable and equitable systems is, at its core, collaborative research. It has proven capable of pushing the boundaries of knowledge by integrating theoretical innovation with empirical work in real-world settings,” says Gelcich.

Gelcich, a marine biologist from the Universidad Católica del Norte, holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a PhD in Renewable Natural Resource Management from the University of Wales (UK). He has published over two hundred articles in high-impact international journals, covering cross-cutting topics across the social, natural, and socioeconomic sciences.

Currently a full professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile—recognized as one of the top professors in Marine Biology at UC and the first Chilean to receive the Rosenstiel Award from the University of Miami—his research focuses on the interaction between ecological and social systems in coastal areas, the conservation and sustainable management of marine resources, and the analysis of public policies aimed at natural resource management.