Damián Copena is a lecturer member in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela. The researcher is attached to the Faculty of Business Administration and Management of the Campus Terra de Lugo, and is a member of the Research Group in Studies of Business and Sectoral History. Fishing, Industry and Commerce (GESPIC).

His main lines of research are related to the rural world and agrarian history. Among the areas of research, the historical analysis of rural industrial enterprises, especially those linked to the beekeeping sector, agricultural training, community properties and collective action in the management of natural resources and the analysis of the impacts derived from renewable energies and energy transition processes in the rural world stand out.

His most outstanding bibliographic contributions include:

• Copena, Damian; Gomez Martin, Maria. (2024). Spanish-French leech trade and its consequences: From the increase in medical demand to resource depletion and technical innovation. Medical History . 68(1), pp. 42-59. https://doi.org/10.1017/mdh.2024.5
• Copena, D. (2023). From fixed beekeeping to mobile beekeeping: Public policies and dynamics of the modernization of the Spanish beekeeping sector (1867-1980). Agrarian History . 90, pp. 103-129. https://doi.org/10.26882/histagrar.090e01c
• Gómez Martín, M.; Copena Rodríguez, D. (2023). De auxiliares amables a campesinas consciente. Origen y trayectoria de la primera Granja-Escuela femenina en España. Ayer. Revista de Historia Contemporánea. 131 - 3, pp. 193-217. https://doi.org/10.55509/ayer/1276
• Copena, D.; Pérez-Neira, D.; Macías Vázquez, A.; Simon, X. (2022). Community forest and mushrooms: Collective action initiatives in rural areas of Galicia. Forest Policy and Economics . 135-102660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102660
• Simón, X.; Copena, D.; Montero, M. (2019). Strong wind development with no community participation. The case of Galicia (1995-2009). Energy Policy . 133, 110930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110930
• Copena, D. (2018). The wax bee industry in rural Galicia (1750-1950). Journal of Industrial History . 74, pp. 13-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1344/rhi.v27i74.19203
• Copena, D; Simón, X. (2018). Wind farms and payments to landowners: opportunities for rural development for the case of Galicia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews . 95, pp. 38-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.043