Education Minister Nicolás Cataldo announced on Thursday that César Ross Orellana was chosen as the 2024 National History Prize winner.
The decision was made by a jury headed by Minister Cataldo and which also included the rector of the University of Chile, Rosa Devés; the rector of the Catholic University of Valparaíso, Nelson Vásquez; the vice-dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts of the Adolfo Ibáñez University and representative of the Chilean Academy of History, Rodrigo Moreno; and the 2022 National History Prize winner, Rafael Sagredo.
Following the decision, the Minister Nicolas Cataldo He said that with this decision they wanted to “distinguish a trajectory in economic history and international relations that particularly links Chile with the Asia Pacific world, something that today has tremendous relevance for the development of the country and its economic and political relations. And César Ross is a prominent promoter in this area, through research, publications and teaching.”
The minister contacted Cesar Ross, who attended the announcement He also said that his work has focused on “the economic history, the international history of Chile, which has basically linked the history of our country with the countries of East and Southeast Asia. It is a very long investigation and I have made the effort to be in the countries that I have researched, such as India, Korea and Japan, creating a network of collaboration with those colleagues. We in the humanities have to interact with our counterparts wherever they are.”
The Rector Rosa Devés He highlighted Ross’s “particular way of doing academic work, with the utmost seriousness possible, with the international standards of the best academic work in the world, with close international links, and very systematic and persistent. This way of doing research, closely linked to training, of course enriches his students.”
He Rector Nelson Vasquez He stated that this award is very significant, “at a time when the value of the humanities in Chilean society and in universities has been under discussion. With the work of the professor awarded this year, we can clearly say that the humanities are still valid and have tremendously positive consequences for contemporary society. Without the humanities, there would be no universities and, of course, society would not be up to par.”
He Representative of the Chilean Academy of History, Rodrigo Morenostated that César Ross has “a validity of research, of teaching, of university life, but projected in the educational field, not only in the university classroom, but also in a broader framework that is school education.”
Y Rafael Sagredo, National History Prize 2022, He pointed out that the work of the new Asia Pacific laureate “has in some way expanded what we understand as the history of Chile, normally limited only to this territory between the sea and the mountain range. Research like this has helped us think that, in order to understand ourselves well, to know what we are and where we are going, it is necessary to take into consideration all our historical contacts, even those naturally present, that allow us to orient ourselves.”
Biography of the award winner
César Ross Orellana was born in Santiago on April 4, 1962. He is a professor of History and Geography at the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences (UMCE), has a master’s degree in History from the University of Santiago and a PhD in American Studies with a mention in International Relations, from the same university.
He is a professor at the University of Santiago, in the Doctorate in History and in the Master’s in International Studies, and a professor at the Doctorate Research Seminar in International Studies at FLACSO Ecuador.
He began his professional career as a teacher in 1989 at UMCE, a job that he continued over the next 30 years at different universities in the country and abroad, such as the Universidad Arturo Prat, the Universidad Santo Tomás, the University Study Abroad Consortium (USAC), the American University, and Georgetown University. In the field of research, he has obtained funding for more than 30 Fondecyt, Conicyt and other projects from foreign agencies.
Initially, he specialized in economic history, in relation to finance and banking during the nineteenth century. He then continued with the area of international studies, always in connection with his previous economic research, which he now reoriented towards the field of international trade. In this line, he has specialized in the relations between Chile and East Asia.
The history of the National History Prize
The National Prize is the highest recognition awarded by the State to Chileans who distinguish themselves by their excellence, creativity, significant contribution to national culture and the development of their respective fields and areas of knowledge. The award is regulated by Law 19.169 of 1992 of the Ministry of Education.
The awards were first presented in 1942, with the creation of the National Prizes for Literature and Art. Since then, various legal regulations have modified and introduced new disciplines of art and knowledge, and currently awards are given in 11 different disciplines, every two years.
The National History Prize was created in 1974 to recognize those who have made major contributions to national historiography.
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