Jesús Manuel Macías Medrano

Jesús Manuel Macías Medrano is a full Professor and researcher at the Center for Research and Higher Education in Social Anthropology (CIESAS) in Mexico City, where he has been actively contributing since 1979. Holding a PhD in Geography from UNAM, he maintains Level I recognition in Mexico's National System of Researchers (SNI) since 1988 and serves as a key figure in national disaster risk governance.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Geography from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Dr. Macías Medrano's research centers on the intersection of environmental hazards and societal vulnerability, with pioneering work in anthropological and historical analyses of disasters. His expertise spans governmental organization for disaster reduction, comprehensive early warning systems, and human relocation dynamics following catastrophic events. He has conducted extensive field studies across Mexico on flood, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, and volcanic hazard scenarios, establishing himself as a leading authority in Latin American disaster sociology. His current work integrates policy analysis with on-ground community response mechanisms to address emerging threats like nuclear contingency planning.

His distinguished contributions have earned significant recognition:

• UNAM Honorable mentions for academic theses
• Gabino Barreda University Merit Medal
• Continuous SNI Level I status since 1988
• Municipal and community government commendations for hazard research
• Official recognition from Mexico's Ministry of the Interior for disaster prevention
• Praeveni et Missionis Award from Mexico's premier civil protection professionals association

Dr. Macías Medrano has shaped national disaster policy through leadership roles including Founding President of the National Civil Protection System's Social Sciences Advisory Committee (1996-1997) and coordination of the Permanent Seminar on Social Vulnerability to Disasters since 1993. He currently directs the Interinstitutional Commission for Tornado Analysis (CIATTS) involving multiple federal agencies and co-founded both the Union of Progressive Geographers of Mexico and Latin America's Network for Disaster Prevention Research (La Red), maintaining active international collaboration through the International Sociological Association until 2019.