The young people had the opportunity to learn up close about the operation of both organizations in the field of water management in arid and semi-arid areas.

In the context of a strategic alliance between the PROMMRA Laboratory of the University of La Serena, the Quitai Anko Water Technology Center Consortium (CTQA) and the Polytechnic High School of Ovalle, fourth-year graduates were able to carry out their professional practices, in order to promote an exchange of knowledge between both institutions, and open a space for them to approach the world of work.

These are Electronics students, Constanza González (18), Phillip Barraza (19) and Juan Tapia (18), who decided to do their internship at ULS after completing their studies.

The three practitioners indicated that they learned about this opportunity through the contact that PROMMRA and Quitai Anko have maintained with the high school's governing body. “The idea of ​​doing my internship here arose after a talk given by members of the laboratory at the high school academy, from there my interest was sparked,” commented Phillip.

Work done

Regarding the tasks carried out, Constanza explained that "the three of us were looking at the issue of the boards, in my case, I dedicated myself to making codes to insert them into the Arduino board and control the sensors we have, which are conductivity, pH, turbidity and oxygen".

For his part, Phillip explained that his functions were related to the Rural Health Services (SSR): “My work consisted of soldering the boards that correspond to Quitai Anko, which are the ones that contain the arduino. “I also had the opportunity to see the programming for each panel that went into the field.”

Meanwhile, Juan indicated that one of the tasks performed was the creation of a website, "I worked with sensors and also on the creation of a web page, which served to record all the information that the installed sensors were going to transmit."

In addition to these tasks, the practitioners were also involved in the creation of plates, their programming for field installation and the printing of boxes with 3D designs, according to the coordinator of PROMMRA's Geomatics area and director of the Underground Reservoir line. by Quitai Anko, Aldo Tapia.

“We are happy with the performance that the interns obtained in the development of their tasks, this is already the second group of interns that we have with the high school, where, like the first, we had a fairly successful result and it is also part of the agreement that we are developing together with the Polytechnic High School,” said Tapia.

For their part, the three students expressed their satisfaction with the professional practice experience at CTQA, indicating that what they learned during these almost two months has helped them delve even further into their professional aspirations.

This project reflects the power of educational alliances and highlights the importance of preparing new generations to face environmental challenges through the innovative use of technology.

“We hope to continue working together with the Lyceum, such as giving talks, giving workshops, because this educational establishment is forming human capital with skills and knowledge that are useful in the development that we are carrying out here in the laboratory and Quitai Anko,” Aldo Tapia closed.

Written by Loreto Flores, PROMMRA