During a visit, the authorities highlighted the infrastructure, the high level of technology and the commitment of the state institution and its professionals to provide quality education to future dentists in the Coquimbo Region and the country.

A complete tour of the facilities of the Teaching Assistance Dental Clinic of the University of La Serena, was carried out by a group of Regional Counselors in order to get to know the campus and internalize the work carried out by professionals, academics and students of the Dentistry career .

This activity, framed in an invitation made by the ULS, brought together the authorities to learn about the dynamics, infrastructure and technology available to the Dentistry career, which has a strong scientific, humanist and technological background, based on solid principles ethical and socially responsible.

The tour, headed by the President of the Board of Directors, Ernesto Velasco, the Academic Vice Chancellor, Dr. Alejandra Torrejón, the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Dr. Amelia Ramírez, the Director of the career, Mg. Cristian Oyanadel, the Director of Strategic Development and Quality, Dr. César Espíndola, and the Director of the Protocol Department, Mg. Karina Damke, considered the surgery wards, care rooms and simulation rooms, where there were even students conducting their workshops, through which the counselors were able to see in situ how they manage to work with state-of-the-art instrumentation, real patients -with the teachers' guide- and in an environment suitable for the training of professionals.

“As a state university in the region, we want to open the doors so that our regional authorities know what is done in this cutting-edge clinic, and also show that we are capable of carrying out large projects. Why not think about being able to generate the Medicine career in the future, which would require significant government support, since the institution does not have the resources to carry out an initiative like this", said the Academic Vice Chancellor, Dr. Alejandra Torrejon.

The regional councilor and president of the Health and Sports Commission, Marco Antonio Sulantay, said he was grateful for the invitation and the coordination that existed between the ULS and the regional councilors, and expressed that "this building should be an example of what it is the preparation of health professionals in Chile, we are in a place of excellence, with first-rate laboratories and implementation. The University of La Serena has invested very important resources in this clinic and it shows that there is effort and commitment; this is the way in which other higher education units should face the training of health professionals”.

The president of the Board of Directors of the ULS, Ernesto Velasco, meanwhile, stressed that “it is notable that the university has an infrastructure of high quality standards and that it not only trains professionals, but also people with a high social sense, who They are linked to the environment through important projects that benefit the community. Frankly, it is a luxury for the Coquimbo Region, which is a public university to have this level of infrastructure and teaching commitment.”

During the visit, the regional councilors were able to talk with academics from the Dental Clinic, as well as with students and administrative officials, learn about the procedure and the social work they carry out through projects, where, for example, SENAME children are cared for.

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom

Two researchers from the University of La Serena have carried out studies on 17 wetlands in our region, ecosystems that today experience a series of threats.

Climate change is defined, according to organizations in the environmental world, as the difference between one climatic state balance and another, that is, changes due to adverse effects that impact a given system.

Among the associated impacts of climate change, the melting of ice stands out, which causes a rise in sea level, violent weather phenomena, such as droughts that destroy ecosystems and whose effects favor the development of fires, the death and/or displacement of species, and the appearance and disappearance of water bodies and the destruction of ecosystems.

The Coquimbo Region is not far from all these impacts, in fact, for 60 years there has not been a drought as great as the one it is facing today. Entire productive sectors have been declining, the death of animals is on the rise, and the uncertainty of farmers and peasants is increasing.

The question is, if the large river basins are affected, what happens to the wetlands that maintain a symbiosis of diverse lives and that also need water? Hence the importance of the study carried out by researchers from the University of La Serena on 17 coastal wetlands in the area, and which, from the perspective of the analyzes carried out, are highly threatened not only by the effects of climate change, but also by the anthropogenic actions, that is, the hand of man.

According to the wetlands expert and academic from the Department of Biology of the University of La Serena, Mg. Carlos Zuleta, the water bodies, especially those in the region, have two great threats regarding climate change: one, that precipitation is decreasing, with very prolonged periods of drought; and two, the anthropic use of wetlands, because people use them for different purposes, such as agricultural communities that use wetlands for planting and family gardens.

The researcher assured that the impact of climate change associated with the melting of ice increases sea level, which produces flooding in coastal wetlands, altering ecosystems.

"Coastal wetlands are highly vulnerable to increased storm surges, which means that with the frequency that seawater penetrates the wetlands, the salinity composition of the water is altered, causing changes in the biota, and the problem is that it does not "All species support high salinity in bodies of water," said the academic, one of the speakers at the international seminar "Coastal Wetlands in the Context of Contemporary Climate Change: experiences from Chile, Colombia and Mexico" on the COP25 citizen agenda, an event that It was held at the ULS and where prominent scientists presented.

In the Coquimbo Region, there would be around 200 wetlands, including ponds and other minor wetlands; However, those that are subject to studies by the ULS are 17, which are the main and largest in the area.

“Apart from containing biodiversity and generating various ecosystem services, some wetlands serve as a great cultural point, since many religious festivals and celebrations are associated with them. In addition, they provide nutrient regulation of the properties of different species, so they are not simply pools of water that are in a certain sector, since they fulfill vital functions for human beings and for the regulation of nature, hence lies the importance of everything, knowing how to take care of them and from the legislation, knowing how to protect them,” he expressed.

When asked about what measures can be taken to care for wetlands, both Carlos Zuleta and Víctor Bravo-Naranjo, two of the ULS experts who are investigating these ecosystems, assured that “climate change cannot be stopped, but it can be stopped.” It can be foreseen and appropriate measures taken. One of the appropriate measures would be not only to conserve part of the coastal wetland network, but also to safeguard the basin that feeds them, and develop rational management of it."

According to Carlos Zuleta, the political will is what has been lacking to be able to generate greater protection of the wetlands, "by simply declaring them as an ecological zone or of tourist interest, they could be regulated and, above all, avoid possible damage to these ecosystems," he said.

“The problem in many places and not only in Chile is that we are in mixed systems, where the natural and the citizen are mixed, which is why the anthropic function is generated, that is, the damages are products of man and his actions” , assured the academic.

Ramsar Sites

The ULS has had a leading role in the declaration of Ramsar sites in the Coquimbo Region, such as Las Salinas de Huentelauquén and the Coastal Wetlands of Tongoy Bay, both public, two of the three sites with this designation. , to which Laguna Conchalí is added.

A Ramsar site is a broad figure and has a connotation of the sustainable use of wetlands, and in that sense, the new guidelines of the Convention indicate that human activities must be integrated into the sustainable conservation of wetlands; That means, using it reasonably for human consumption, irrigation, multiple-use marine areas, that is, ecosystems provide services to man, but they must be used sustainably.

One of the most emblematic wetlands of the La Serena - Coquimbo conurbation is El Culebrón, and it has not been without problems, due to its high visitation and the poor management of care that the citizens themselves have had.

For Víctor Bravo, also an academic at the ULS and who together with Zuleta study wetlands, the big problem “apart from the lazy dogs that prey on birds in this place, is that there is a high visitation rate, and due to the lack of a zoning of the place, people enter from any place, generating loss and fragmentation of vegetation, in addition to soil compaction. In the past they entered with vehicles, which has been avoided for a couple of years, but it is to be considered that the traces left by these require at least 10 years of natural recovery of the soil, due to the pressure they exert, and despite the fact that “In this wetland, this threat factor has been eliminated, if it exists for the majority of the coastal wetlands that we analyzed.”

What happens to the birds? “In the Coquimbo wetland there is a clear example of the effects of climate change in synergy with anthropogenic threats. For example, records show that the Snowy Plover has not existed in this site since the 70s. This small bird that needs the dry sand of coastal wetlands to be able to nest and live, which has been lost both due to the advance of the urban border towards the coast, and due to the growing increase in the frequency of storm surges. Due to this, the bird has no place to breed, therefore, these birds are no longer seen in the Culebrón, but they are seen further north such as in the Mouth of the Elqui River and in the Punta Teatinos Wetland, at the northern exit of La Serena, where there are still areas of dunes with creeping vegetation, although not free from anthropogenic threats, especially in summer,” Bravo stated.

Although it is known that climate change is now, social awareness about it is young, and has yet to mature. Conservation figures have advanced, due to the declaration of Ramsar sites; However, much remains to be done.

For Zuleta, proposing conservation measures is very slow and entails high monetary value; resources are not always available for studies, especially for Andean wetlands, where the big problem is getting to them, due to transportation and logistics. that this entails.

Until 2015, at the Latin American level, there were 298 sites declared Ramsar. Bolivia takes the lead in this type of declaration, allocating greater resources to the preservation of wetlands. Chile is owed, it is in position number 12 out of a total of 17. Clearly, very far from the high standards of neighboring countries, and even further from Europe, which is leading the way with its water and ecosystem directive. , which have strict environmental care regulations.

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom

The “Governor Enrique Tomás Cresto” distinction will be conferred in the Senate of the Argentine Nation, in Buenos Aires.

An important recognition of the contribution made by the University of La Serena to Latin American integration, through the International Relations Office, and the career of the Director of RRII ULS, is what the Mg. will receive. José Mora, who will be awarded the “Governor Enrique Tomás Cresto” distinction, instituted by the Senate of the Nation; the Argentine Federation of Municipalities; the Latin American Federation of Cities, Municipalities and Local Government Associations; the Municipal Integration System of America South Area and the Shalom Club.

The “Leaders for Development: Governor Enrique Tomás Cresto” distinction is given to political leaders, legislators, government officials, representatives of intermediate institutions, academics, workers in the social and popular field, teachers, researchers and businessmen from different Latin American countries who stand out. for their work to benefit their communities and the well-being of society.

In a writing, Congresswoman Mayda Rosana Cresto and Senator Pedro Guillermo Guastavino highlight that this recognition is given for the contribution to regional integration in Latin America, “as a 'Leader for Development', highlighting his career and the innovative approach of his actions as contributions to the well-being of our communities.”

The recognition that bears the name of the former governor of Entre Ríos was instituted 18 years ago and is part of the Support Program for Local Government Initiatives, which seeks to put the definition of a development strategy that promotes development at the forefront of the international agenda. recognition of the Latin American continent, worrying about the destiny of our regions and countries.

The award ceremony will take place in the Hall of the Lost Steps of the Palace of the National Congress of the Argentine Republic (Buenos Aires).  

The activity seeks to select the delegation of students who will represent our region in the national competition.

Young people from all over the Coquimbo Region gathered at the XXVII version of the “Physics Olympics”, organized by the University of La Serena, through the Department of Physics and Astronomy, in conjunction with the Pedagogy Alumni Center in Mathematics and Physics.

With the aim of generating spaces for participation, promoting interest in physics, this day was developed in order to select the delegation of students who will represent our region in the National Olympics.

Alfredo Pizarro, in charge of the Physics Olympics Commission, explained that this version had spaces available in the different provinces, so that all interested students could undergo the evaluations. "In this edition we managed to receive schools from all corners of the region, for example Illapel and Salamanca, also in Ovalle we have a new headquarters at Colegio Santa María; and the University of La Serena brings together students from La Serena and Coquimbo" , he explained.

Likewise, he stated that during the National Olympics that have been held in the previous two years, the Coquimbo Region has shown very good results. "Gold, silver and bronze medals have been achieved. There is a good performance, it is quite difficult to decide between the first places and form the team that will represent the region."

For her part, Constanza Weishaubt, a student at the Seminario Conciliar School of La Serena, at the end of the day, valued the initiative that incorporates students from all corners of the region, and the level of complexity of the evaluations. “The test was very difficult, there was a lot of development. I have attended the Chemistry Olympics and it is another approach, because there are alternatives and not so much theory, it is more application, and here there was both. It is good that the space can be given to people who are intelligent and who do not matter where they come from, because any school can participate.”

Franco Palma is in second year at Colegio Santo Tomás. He highlighted that this day serves as preparation for his entry into the university world and to test his skills in the area of ​​physics. “The test seemed easy to me based on my knowledge. I found the activity to be very fun. More than anything one comes to mature in certain aspects.”

In this version, enthusiastic and talented young people in the area of ​​physics were invited from their respective schools, ideally from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades. It is expected that the first places will form the team that will represent the region in the National Olympics that will take place between November and December.

Written by Sergio Muñoz, Dissemination and Dissemination of Science and Technology ULS

The meeting entitled “Sky, Astronomy and Cultural Heritage”, organized by the Inter-American Society of Astronomy in Culture and the University of La Serena, is held for the first time in Chile and considers the realization of a School of Cultural Astronomy and presentations of the presentations of researchers in the area.

Thinking about the conceptions that men from various cultures have been forging about the sky, within the framework of all their ways of knowing and acting in the world, is what has currently been defined as Cultural Astronomy. It is a multidisciplinary work area, where different specialists such as astronomers, historians, sociologists, anthropologists, etc., develop research on the worldview of various cultures through astronomies.

With the aim of expanding this type of research, the Inter-American Society of Astronomy in Culture and the University of La Serena hold the meeting “Sky, Astronomy and Cultural Heritage”, which consists of 2 activities: the VIII School of Cultural Astronomy and the VII Inter-American Conference on Astronomy in Culture, which has been held since 2012.

The ULS astronomer, Dr. Rodolfo Angeloni, explained that “it is the first time that this meeting takes place in Chile and we have the opportunity to have it here at the University of La Serena. During the meeting, 2 activities will be carried out, one is a School from Monday, September 30 to Wednesday, October 02, divided into a basic level course and another at an advanced level, which seeks to provide the tools to students and people. who approach this discipline. And from Wednesday the 02nd to Friday the 04th there will be presentations of papers by researchers who work in the area and who will present their latest results.”

The Dean of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of La Serena, Dr. Amelia Ramírez, expressed that it is important that the University hosts this meeting where “Cultural Astronomy shows astronomy as a cultural heritage. Having this type of multidisciplinary activities, where experts from various areas meet, allows these global visions to finally begin to channel an idea of ​​how astronomy makes man grow, carrying out different types of manifestations."

For his part, the president of the Inter-American Society of Astronomy in Culture, Dr. Alejandro López, explained: “it seems to us that holding this meeting at the University of La Serena is important mainly because of the work that the university has done in astronomy, along with the quality of astronomical work done in the region. This made us think that it was very opportune to bring the event and generate an opportunity to train different experts in what Cultural Astronomy is.”

This activity has the participation of exhibitors and the public from Chile and abroad dedicated to different areas of knowledge, who see in this meeting a space for learning about cultural differences, through the exchange of different visions and thoughts.

Regarding this, Josefa Andrade, Design student at the Diego Portales University and attendee at the event, indicated: “I think it is very positive that a University generates this type of spaces where you can share with people from different places on the continent, diverse cultural visions through astronomy.”

The inter-American meeting takes place between September 30 and October 4 in the Pentagon Room of the Andrés Bello Campus of the University of La Serena.

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom

The Antakari team is preparing to compete in this important race that will take place from October 13 to 20.

The Antakari team and the Intikallpa V solar car from the University of La Serena, built by a team of students and academics from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, are already in Australia to compete and represent the ULS, the country in Latin America, in the World Challenge 2019, where you must cross three thousand kilometers of racing in the desert of the oceanic country.

This is the third participation of the ULS vehicle in this race, standing out on this occasion for being the only Latin American solar car present in the most important world competition of its kind, which will take place from October 13 to 20.

Unlike the predecessor vehicle (Intikallpa IV), in this new construction materials used in Formula 1 cars, fighter planes and sailboats were considered. It has a more aerodynamic design than the previous one, in its front part, which allows energy consumption to be reduced by 15%.

The academic of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the ULS and professional in charge of the execution of the Intikallpa project, Camilo Moreno, stated that “the biggest change we are making has to do with the shape of the car, so that it is more efficient in aerodynamics. and in weight. “This vehicle cuts the air much better by 40%, reducing energy consumption and maintaining efficiency.”

Regarding participation in the competition, the academic of this unit, Francisca Jure, indicated that “now we have much more experience, two years ago we made links with the teams from Belgium, Japan and Sweden, which have a better level. “We have collected a lot of information and we are going to apply it all now.”

For his part, the Rector of the ULS, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, along with highlighting this new participation of the University's prototype in the competition and wishing the team the greatest success, valued the capacity, effort and dedication of its members, “which has allowed them to be placed in the world's top ten in solar vehicle technology, which fills us with pride as a community.”

While the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of La Serena, Dr. Ing. Mauricio Godoy, pointed out that “it is a pride to have the best solar car in Chile, we appreciate the support of the Rector and the University. We are currently in the top ten worldwide and currently aim to be among the top three in Australia. Competing with the four best universities in the world and with countries like Japan and Holland, really positions the University of La Serena worldwide in these technologies.”

Outstanding participation in World Solar Challenge

In 2013, Intikallpa was the first Latin American vehicle to conclude the competition, reaching second place in the category. Already in 2017, it took tenth place in the main category of the race, after the solar car from Stanford University.

Written by María José Barraza, FIULS 2030 Project