Concepcion, 24 November 2025

School Science in Action: This Was the Experience of the 13th School Astronomy Congress at UdeC

The initiative brought together high school students from different regions of the country on November 21 at the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, for a day dedicated to research, scientific curiosity, and astronomical outreach.

Organized by the Millennium Nucleus TITANS in collaboration with the Department of Astronomy from the University of Concepcion (UdeC), the congress brought together 10 teams from Santiago, Concepcion, San Nicolas, Villarrica, San Carlos, Constitucion, Valdivia, Valparaiso, Tome, and Arica. Over several months, these groups developed projects guided by a teacher and supported by young researchers from the Nucleus, culminating in the presentation of their results before a specialized jury.

The goal of this congress is to bring scientific research closer to the community and to promote the sharing of astronomical knowledge among new generations. The presentations covered a wide range of topics, from the Andean worldview of the southern skies to the development of optical systems designed to mitigate light pollution in astronomical observations.

Pamela Henríquez, coordinator of the School Astronomy Congress, highlighted the motivation of the participating groups. “It is exciting to see the teams present today, knowing all the effort behind their work. Many hours of preparation with their supervising teacher—most of the time outside school hours, traveling from other regions to get here. Each team shows a sense of responsibility and commitment in putting together a solid project following the scientific method and working collaboratively. Today, the students had the opportunity to show their peers and the jury all that effort. From their presentations, you can tell they truly enjoyed the entire process,” Pamela noted.

For the participants, the day was as challenging as it was inspiring. Montserrat Pardo, from Kent School in Santiago and a member of the team “Echoes of the Universe: Listening to the Infinite from the Big Bang to the Stars,” expressed her enthusiasm for the event. “We’ve had an amazing time. It has been an experience in which we’ve truly learned so much, not only through our own project, but also through the work of others. I think everything they are doing is very interesting, and learning from our peers is something I find incredibly valuable and meaningful,” the student commented.

The winners on this occasion were:

1st place:

“Learning Through Play: Creating an RPG Video Game to Enhance Understanding of Supermassive Black Holes,” Mauro García Rojas and Mariano Jofré Parra, teacher Andrés Freire Contreras, Constitución, Maule Region.

2nd place:

“Echoes of the Universe: Listening to the Infinite from the Big Bang to the Stars,” Montserrat Pardo Figueroa and Francisca Barrera Berrios, teacher Miriam Reyes Bustamante, Metropolitana Region.

3rd place:

“Southern Skies: Andean Worldview for the World,” Javiera Delfín Álvarez and Priscila Sabando Sanhueza, teacher Eduardo Roco Avilez, Arica and Parinacota Region.

It is worth noting that the team that won first place received, as their prize, a trip to the Las Campanas Observatory, one of the most important astronomical research centers in the world. There, they will be able to see firsthand how astronomers work and gain a deeper understanding of the global significance of this observatory located in the Atacama Region.

Carol Rojas, astronomer and Head of Communications and Outreach at the Las Campanas Observatory, served as a member of the jury for the congress. “The Observatory has been part of this activity for many years because we believe it is very important to support education in the country, and especially everything related to science. It is also important for us to encourage scientific vocations. We believe that for students, the opportunity to visit a scientific observatory and see how top-level scientific research is actually conducted is extremely valuable.”

With more than a decade of history, the School Astronomy Congress has established itself as a unique space for new generations to discover scientific vocations and develop key skills for their academic and professional futures.

Bárbara Iraira
Journalist
Department of Astronomy UdeC