Dr. Guillermo Damke, together with the famous astronomer and National Prize for Exact Sciences, José Masa, were responsible for providing educational talks to a large audience that came from all over Chile to enjoy the astronomical event.

“I think that no one, not even the best of poets, will have enough words to describe what I felt watching the eclipse.” Thus emphatically and with a deep feeling of emotion, the astronomer from the University of La Serena, Dr. Guillermo Damke, referred to his experience when observing this phenomenon that occurred on July 2 and which, minutes before, he had the opportunity to observe. exhibit before nearly 10 thousand people at the La Portada Stadium in La Serena, in an event broadcast throughout Chile by Channel 13 and organized by the Serena municipality, with which the university established an alliance to educate the community about the astronomical event.

Dr. Damke's massive talk was part of a series of actions that the University of La Serena promoted as a scientific educational partner of the community, with which he shared valuable knowledge to understand and enjoy the astronomical phenomenon.

Regarding this challenge, the astronomer noted: “it was a personal learning and a professional challenge. All of us who participated explained with different resources what this great event was going to be and many people have been behind it. Finally it was my turn to be in the stadium representing the University of La Serena, and it gave a very good result and the community was grateful for this dissemination, which was not only done on the day of the eclipse, but was hard work that continued months before this one.”

Regarding the opportunity to present in front of about 10 thousand people, he indicated that “it is a great experience, without a doubt. They were super respectful and when I went on stage there were obviously nerves, but I actually felt very comfortable. People want to know about science and if we are able to deliver information in a didactic way, we can reach many people, connect with them, and that is what I tried to do that day. And my colleagues tried to do it in many other instances. Obviously, I also took advantage of the opportunity to convey what the ULS does, because we are many scientists and researchers who work for science and the community in general, not only in the area of ​​astronomy, but in other sciences.”

Finally, the astronomer, as a summary, called on the entire community to continue informing themselves, to stay active with moments of science and to see the University of La Serena as an educational scientific partner.

“The University is prepared for many events, we are not only Astronomy, but I feel that we are in a privileged situation to be surrounded by observatories and we must take advantage of these ties that we have been forming. We have a seal in the region, we cannot lower our arms as astronomers. The learning was achieved and the experience is already there,” she said.

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom