In this event, theoretical-practical activities were developed on advanced topics in microbiology.

Between July 15 and 19, the Department of Biology of the ULS carried out the course “Microbiology for the XNUMXst Century”, sponsored by the Faculty of Sciences and the Allende-Connelli Foundation, and aimed at high school Biology teachers of various backgrounds. municipal establishments.

The course was inaugurated by the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Dr. Amelia Ramírez, and the Director of the Department of Biology, Dr. Rodomiro Osorio, who highlighted the importance of the connection and permanent monitoring of the institution's graduates as a positive feedback mechanism for both the institution and the community.

The course was coordinated by the academic of the Department of Biology, Dr. Lorgio Aguilera, and had the participation of the academics, Mg. Claudia Barraza, Professor Alex Cea, Dr. Luis Castillo, Mg. Verónica Plaza, Mg Karen Godoy, Dr. Héctor Bugueño (from the Department of Education), Dr. Marcela Gatica and Dr. Karina Stuken.

Dr. Lorgio Aguilera indicated that the objective of this course was to contribute to the improvement of the teaching-learning of Microbiology, through the theoretical and practical training of high school Biology teachers from municipal establishments in four fundamental concepts: the genomic plasticity of Microorganisms have generated their biodiversity and have allowed them to colonize different environments. The processes that cause the genetic variability of microorganisms are mainly mutations and horizontal gene transfer. Microorganisms communicate and coordinate the expression of genes depending on their population density. and microorganisms are main actors in the field of health and biotechnology.

He also pointed out that the course was conceived as an instance of professional training for biology teachers in public schools. In this event, theoretical-practical activities were developed on advanced topics in microbiology. In addition, teaching materials were presented so that educators can transmit to their students the learning of fundamental concepts with approaches to science teaching based on inquiry.

Finally, the assistant professors were grateful for the opportunity that their institution offers them to participate in refresher courses, which enhance their ongoing training and that at the same time allow them to meet again with their career colleagues and share teaching experiences. .

The activity was developed in two modules, made up of workshops, both aimed at the impact of science in the classroom.

In a joint connection with the environment between the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso and the University of La Serena, the workshops "Thinking scientifically in the classroom: From observation to modeling" were carried out by Dr. Dirk Krüger, academic at the Institute of Biology Education at the Freie Universität Berlin, and “How to teach Biology using Scientific Thinking?”, taught by PUCV academic, Dr. Hernán Cofré.

In-service biology teachers, students of the ULS Biology and Natural Sciences Pedagogy program and academics from the institution participated in the activity.

The first workshop had the objective of establishing the characteristics of observation, experimentation and working with models, through the implementation of three scientific activities that can be developed in school classrooms and that highlight the importance of the modeling activity, and the characteristics of models in science. 

In the second workshop, in which the content of biological evolution was used as a case study, the objectives were to recognize the different approaches in teaching biology, recognize the different obstacles that must be overcome to understand evolution and execute and analyze different activities that include working on scientific thinking skills along with developing an understanding of evolution.

For the PUCV academic, Hernán Cofré, these instances are enriching “because we are lucky to be able to interact with teachers who are in the classroom and who connect us with reality, in addition to being able to transfer knowledge to other regions, through the collaborative work that "We have through different projects, in this case the MEC of FONDECYT 1181801, which allowed us to bring Dr. Krüger."

MEC is the National Competition to Attract Advanced Human Capital from Abroad, Short Stay Modality, which seeks to promote the exchange and dissemination of knowledge between researchers from abroad and Chilean students and researchers, the formation of international networks and strengthen the formation of human capital advanced, especially at the graduate level.

“These instances are of vital importance, since they allow multi-experiential work, with a direct impact on teaching, since it allows work between teachers and students, as well as in research in education, since it opens spaces to reflect and communicate the results of recent research in areas of biology teaching,” said the Director of LIITEC-ULS, academic Francisco López.

Instances were also generated to socialize the experiences of using educational technological resources for science teaching, in particular, mobile applications of the cell cycle and atomic model, an activity that was led by academic Francisco López.

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom

The activity was led by Dr. Johanna Camacho, academic from the University of Chile.

Presenting elements from research in Chemistry didactics that help reflect on the practice and teaching exercises of Chemistry teachers, forming practical elements for teachers to work with their students, was the main objective of the Experimental Sciences Didactics Workshop. by the academic from the University of Chile, Dr. Johanna Camacho, and organized by the Pedagogy in Chemistry and Natural Sciences degree program at the University of La Serena.

The activity intended for graduates of the undergraduate program is part of the initial training of teachers, specifically with graduated students, with the aim of updating the didactic strategies that are being carried out in the teaching and learning of sciences.

The Coordinator of Pedagogy in Chemistry and Natural Sciences, Dr. Patricia Pizarro, indicated that for the degree it is important to create spaces aimed at its graduates in order to train them in subjects that involve their academic function. “Currently, the Ministry of Education has a new paradigm in training, leaving aside the behaviorist form and reinforcing constructivism, and the teaching strategies of these workshops are framed in that paradigm. The idea is to be able to continue with activities of this type, with the participation of different specialists on educational practices, which complement the training of our graduates,” she emphasized.

For her part, the deputy director of the Department of Pedagogy in Chemistry and Biology and academic of Pedagogical Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities of the University of Chile, Dr. Johanna Camacho, indicated that it is positive that the University of La Serena generates instances of training for its graduates. “It is important that the University makes the commitment to continue training its graduates, since from their professional space they contribute, in turn, to the initial training of future pedagogy students, forming learning communities, generating instances that I personally consider very valuable”, highlighted the speaker.

“It is a very good contribution from the University, since when you graduate you dedicate yourself to developing your work autonomously, but when you do activities of this type, we can share work experiences and work on the problems we have in the classroom, such as , how to teach Chemistry in a didactic way in the face of today's demands," said Raúl Ceballos, State Professor in Chemistry and graduate of the ULS, regarding the carrying out of these activities organized by the study house.

The Pedagogy degree in Chemistry and Natural Sciences will continue with the holding of workshops focused on reinforcing the professional training of its graduates.

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom

The Mg. Reinalina Chavarri, Director of the Sustainability Observatory of the University of Chile, will present: “Sustainable Development for the XNUMXst Century.”

The Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences of the University of La Serena will launch the “Public Policies and Sustainable Development Chair”, a cycle of presentations that will begin with the presentation of the academic Mg. Reinalina Chavarri, Director of the Sustainability Observatory of the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Chile.

The academic will give the talk: “Sustainable Development for the 26st Century” this Friday, July 15, at 30:18 p.m., in Room XNUMX of the Enrique Molina Garmendia Campus.

The presentation is free of charge and open to the entire community, and will be broadcast via streaming on Reuna.cl and the Official Userena YouTube channel. It will also be broadcast later on Radio Universitaria FM.

In this third meeting of the 2019 cycle, organized by the Research Commission of the Faculty of Humanities, an in-depth analysis was carried out on the treatment of the theme of death in Chilean children's music.

The cycle called: “Research Tuesday in Humanities” is defined as a space for research, learning and feedback, a space organized by the Research Commission of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of La Serena, intended for academics and students of careers in humanities. this macro-unit and which is being held for the third time this year.

On this occasion, the exhibition was led by the academic from the ULS Department of Music, Daniela Banderas, who presented the research: “Three little birds go up from his grave. The fragile survival of death in the Chilean children's repertoire. The professional carried out a deep analysis of the treatment of the theme of death in Chilean children's music and the function that these songs have in the psychological development of children.

Regarding the carrying out of this activity, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Dr. Cristián Noemi, pointed out that it is “a space focused on the research generated in the Faculty, it is to discuss and present the aspects that are already being investigated. We have powerful research. “We are starting this initiative and we hope that, over time, we can link with research carried out in other faculties.”

For her part, for academic Daniela Bandera, instances like these are important for providing new knowledge about different research carried out at the University. “Being able to show this work, which was published in a magazine, allows for generating dialogue regarding the topic addressed, generating reflection and new knowledge,” said the teacher.

Along with these 3 sessions, 4 additional sessions will be held in the months of August, September, October and November of this year, in which new research generated by the Faculty will be addressed, along with workshops on writing and publishing research articles open to the ULS university community.

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom

This course is aimed at academics who are beginning to prepare academic publications, with a topic focused on teaching in higher education.

Supporting the academics of the university in the process that academic publication entails, both in a relevant educational experience or in research on teaching, is the main objective of the course “The path to academic publication on teaching in higher education” organized by the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies of the University of La Serena.

This course is aimed at academics who are beginning to prepare academic publications, with a topic focused on teaching in higher education.

“The fundamental purpose of this course is not only to provide the tools and new skills in scientific writing, but to generate more instances like this one, which will seek to strengthen the skills of the University's academics in terms of the preparation of academic publications.” indicated the Director of Postgraduate and Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Cristian Ibáñez, regarding the start of this new course.

The course, whose presenter is Dr. Haylen Perines, from the ULS Multidisciplinary Research Institute in Science and Technology, consists of 4 sessions between Monday, July 22 and Thursday, August 8, with a total of 14 hours of work, and The goals are the presentation of a contribution at the next Higher Education Teaching Congress organized by the University of La Serena and the subsequent publication of a research article on teaching in higher education.

One of its participants, the academic and Director of the Kinesiology degree, Dr. Alfredo Gary, indicated that "the development of research at the University is the cornerstone in the development of knowledge. Considering that the ULS Educational Model has the student As the center of the learning-teaching process, the possibility of having spaces for development in research in teaching is essential and of great relevance. This allows academics and researchers to qualitatively and quantitatively highlight the importance of teaching in the learning process of the student, and in the same way it allows us to recognize the strengths and weaknesses in the teaching process, generating a self-critical and empowering vision of the activities we develop as academics and researchers.

Written by Tomás Rodríguez, DirCom