Universidad de Chile

Luisa Pinto Lincoñir is a geologist and professor in the Department of Geology at the University of Chile, where she has worked since 2003. She earned her Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France. Her research focuses on syntectonic sedimentation, tectonic geomorphology, and the regional geology of the Andes. In recent years, she has concentrated on understanding the tectonic evolution of the western edge of the Chilean Main Cordillera between 32° and 34°S, aiming to shed light on mountain building processes at the transition between the Pampean flat-slab segment and the normal subduction zone to the south. She has a strong interest in tectonic geomorphology and the interplay between active deformation, landscape evolution, and mountain growth.

Professor Pinto combines field-based research with experimental studies using analog modeling. She enjoys working collaboratively and fosters a lab culture based on trust, autonomy, and mutual respect. She encourages her students and collaborators to take initiative and develop their own ideas, while providing support and guidance when needed. Her lab has recently acquired new equipment to enhance analog modeling capabilities, offering students hands-on experience in both fieldwork and laboratory-based tectonic experiments.

Beyond her research, Professor Pinto is dedicated to educational innovation. She played a leading role in the design and implementation of the iGea Program for first-year students at the University of Chile, inspired by MIT’s Terrascope and D-Lab initiatives. The program promotes active learning and student engagement in real-world scientific and engineering challenges relevant to Chilean society. As former Director of the School of Engineering and Sciences, she also launched the Delta Teaching Innovation Initiative, aimed at enhancing curricular flexibility and connecting students’ academic journeys with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

She also coordinates the Chilean section of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG), contributing to global discussions on ethical practices in geosciences.