- Culture and Extension
Workshops, talks, scientific panel and visits to the different observatories contemplate "Journey to the Universe 2014"
The inauguration will be in front of the Central House of the University of La Serena.
From October 20 to 24, a new version of “Journey to the Universe 2014” will be held, an activity organized by the Gemini Observatory and which has the collaboration and commitment of the University of La Serena, through its Extension Directorate. and the Department of Physics, with its research astronomers from the Astronomy Group (GAULS).
The activities that make up the program for this year are varied, where, as in previous versions, schoolchildren in the region will be able to receive astronomers, engineers and professionals related to astronomy in their schools, to participate in entertaining, educational talks. workshops, scientific discussion panels and, as a novelty for this year, they will also have the opportunity to visit the observatories and their facilities and participate in various activities there.
In this regard, María Antonieta García, in charge of communications and extension of Gemini Sur, indicated that the initiative started 5 years ago, “is an offer to the community in order to bring science closer to everyone, not only astronomical science, But we want people to lose the fear that science is difficult, that we are not going to understand everything that astronomers talk about, and also, if we are the star region and we have this privileged sky, let us take advantage in some way and Let's see what it offers," he emphasized.
The activities are aimed at schools in the region, however, some of them are open to the community for all those interested in participating. More information can be obtained by email
The program of activities
The university institution will participate in the inauguration of this version of Journey to the Universe, which will take place this Monday, October 20, at 11:30 a.m., in the front of the Central House (Andrés Bello Campus), where various authorities will participate, including the director of Gemini, Dr. Nancy Levenson, the Rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, the mayor of La Serena, Roberto Jacob, among other personalities.
Activities begin July 20 and they include a workshop and three talks at the Germán Riesco School, where the ULS astronomer, Amelia Ramírez, will give the conference: How different is our Milky Way from the other galaxies? Subsequently, there will be an activity with kindergartens at the Biblioteca Viva in La Serena, and a Galileoscope assembly workshop.
El July 21, the activities are transferred to the San Joaquín School, where one of the talks will be given by the ULS astronomer, Dr. Julia Arias, which is entitled: “A star is born”. Continuing with the program, the Technical Scientific Panel will be held: "Importance of the quality of the sky in astronomical science", the same Tuesday at 18:30 p.m. in the ULS Exhibition Hall, with free entry. The panelists are Pedro Sanhueza (OPCC), Nidia Morrell (LCO), Juan Madrid, Rodolfo Angeloni and René Rutten (Gemini), Rodolfo Barba and Sergio Torres (ULS), and Malcolm Smith (CTIO). At the same time, the Alaxpacha Jayri photography exhibition “Our Night Sky” will be on display.
El miércoles 22 There will be a visit by students from some educational establishments to the Las Campanas Observatory and its facilities, in addition to talks by the observatory's professionals. During the afternoon the activities will be transferred to the Form-Arte school.
El 23 ThursdayIn the morning, the astronomers will visit the Los Carrera School in Coquimbo, and in the afternoon, there will be a visit to Alfa Aldea, in Vicuña, where, in addition to other activities, the painting contest at the Leonardo Da Vinci school in that city will be awarded. commune and a talk by ULS astronomer, Héctor Cuevas, titled “The Universe beyond the galaxies” will be given.
Finally, the viernes 24 Visits will be carried out to the facilities of the CTIO (Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory) and SOAR and Gemini Sur observatories, culminating with this a varied range of activities related to astronomy.
This programming is sponsored by the Municipality of La Serena, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO), Las Campanas Observatory (LCO), Northern Chile Sky Quality Protection Office (OPCC), Sernatur Region of Coquimbo, Alfa Village, Cerro Mayu Observatory and San Joaquín School.
Source: Press Extension Direction