The Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) was held in La Serena, which included the Women and Astronomy Conversation, in which astronomers Amelia Ramírez and Rodolfo Barbá participated.

In the Coquimbo Region, the WEF/Ministerial (Women in the Economic Forum) agenda was developed as part of the APEC 2019 activities, which took place from Monday, September 30 to Friday, October 4 at the Hotel La Serena Club. For the first time, the issue related to Women and the Economy was incorporated as a priority of a host economy, since it is considered one of the key factors to reduce poverty and ensure that the population shares the benefits of growth.

One of the APEC activities in the area was the Women and Astronomy Conversation, which aimed to discuss the participation of women in astronomy, what their role has been in the history, present and future of astronomy, as well as issues related to its visibility, gaps and main challenges.

The University of La Serena and the Faculty of Sciences were represented in this activity by the Dean of the macrounit, academic and astronomer, Dr. Amelia Ramírez, and the Director of the Master's Program in Astronomy, academic and astronomer Dr. Rodolfo Barbá.

The activity was attended by world-renowned astronomers such as the National Prize for Exact Sciences, María Teresa Ruiz, and Mónica Rubio. The latter highlighted in her presentation the fundamental role that Dean Amelia Ramírez has had in the growth of the University of La Serena as an academic pole for Astronomy in Chile.

Dr. Rodolfo Barbá opened the day with a presentation about the long path that Chilean and international astronomers have had to travel to stand out in the area and the great gender gap that still exists.

Dean Amelia Ramírez was the moderator of the conversation panel, which was the central axis of this meeting.

Source: Faculty of Sciences and APEC Chile 2019