Concepcion, 14 November 2025

Astronomers from MINGAL and the Department of Astronomy Meet with Students to Learn About Their Inclusive Science Project

Fifth-grade students Ailén Rauque and Miyalen Hueico, from school Purísimo Corazón in Fresia (Los Lagos Region), visited the Department of Astronomy at the University of Concepcion (UdeC) at the invitation of the Millennium Nucleus of Galaxies (MINGAL). The visit acknowledged their project, “Connecting NASA’s advances with the classroom and promoting inclusive learning,” which was recognized by the Ministry of Science’s Explora program for its innovative approach to inclusive astronomy.

The event included the participation of sign language interpreters from Lense Biobío, MINGAL director Rodrigo Herrera-Camus, and astronomer Linda Tacconi, a senior researcher at the Nucleus and at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. Tacconi, recently awarded the Royal Astronomical Society’s 2024 Caroline Herschel Medal, was visiting Chile to meet with the Millennium’s team.

The visit began with a campus tour led by the UdeC Open Doors program, after which the students presented their project to researchers from MINGAL and the Dedoscopio project, a UdeC initiative focused on inclusive science. They then toured the CePIA Laboratory, took part in a sensory activity on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram organized by the Astronomical Outreach Team (EDA in spanish), and concluded the morning by operating the radio astronomy antenna in the Wenulafken area.

“We invited this group of students because of their commitment to inclusive astronomy, the excellent project they presented, and their genuine enthusiasm for learning,” explained Francisca Contreras, MINGAL’s outreach coordinator. “It was truly beautiful to see Ailén teaching blind-deaf sign language to the visiting astronomer; it was a truly moving moment.”

Contreras also highlighted the group’s energy: “The girls’ enthusiasm was contagious. Teachers were very grateful that the activity was adapted to include deaf individuals, something unprecedented in the Department.” The interpreters also appreciated the experience, noting that it was the first time they had taken part in a scientific activity of this kind, setting an important precedent for accessibility in astronomical outreach.

Professor Rodrigo Herrera-Camus emphasized the importance of promoting these spaces: “When I see you, I feel that our country has a bright future. Our task as adults is to create a country where you can reach your fullest potential.”

For the students, the visit carried deep personal and academic meaning. “No one had ever learned in an inclusive way throughout their entire life. That also motivates our project,” said Ailén Rauque.

Millennium Nucleus of Galaxies (MINGAL)