Santiago is both an anthropologist and environmental engineer, that decided focusing his attention to sustainable urban practices. His master thesis focused on the social structures developing behind the generation and management of eco-neighbourhoods in Germany and Scotland, and his PhD thesis on the industrial political ecology dynamics in France to develop circular economy strategies in industrial-port zones.

His research activities focus on the the conception and implementation of technologies for « sustainable urban managing » within alternative economic paradigms (circular economy, de/post-growth initiatives, sustainability). He develops multi, inter and (when possible) trans-disciplinary research aiming to inform and transform decisions and processes in urban « milieux ».

Since 2021 Santiago has been working with the ECT Lab+ on Erasmus+ KA220 projects and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions funding schemes. Representing UTT at the ECT Lab+,he has co-coordinated and contributed scientifically to projects in relation to ecological ethics, ethics and aesthetics of care, development of LowTech and epistemology of sustainability.

Santiago has contributed to academic and non-academic conferences and seminars around the world sharing the results of his research outcomes and co-creating research projects. He is an active member of the International Sustainable Development Society (ISDRS) and the International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE), and has been a member of the Hemispheric Institute, the Scottish Young Planners Network and the Instituto Colombian de Anthropologie e Historia.

He was the executive director of different artistic productions performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 2009 to 2013. Since 2014, Santiago does consulting work for VitalBriefing S.A. (Luxembourg) on issues related to circular economy and sustainability.