The Ministry of Science celebrates Astronomy Day with activities for the whole community

The day remembers the autumnal equinox, the season that will begin on March 20, when the sun is above the Ecuadorian line, and both day and night last. In addition, it highlights the importance of the sky as a natural laboratory and the key role that Chile occupies around global astronomy. Activities across the country can be found at https://diadelaastronomia.cl/

Santiago, March 19, 2023. With five giant solar telescopes showing the film eclipseTools for knowing body weight on Mars and Jupiter and launching a new talk for the National Prize for Exact Sciences (2015) Mario Hamoy entitled James Webb Space TelescopeMinister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation Aysene Echeverri; Together with Undersecretary of the Portfolio, Carolina Ginza; Maybe’s mayor, Tomas Vodanovic; Celebrate Astronomy Day with dozens of children and young people who attended the Plaza de Armas in the municipality as a family.

“Astronomy Day is one of the opportunities we have to appreciate the potential of those who live in our country and stimulate both curiosity and critical thinking in new generations, so that through knowledge and critical thinking we discover that subjects such as physics and mathematics are a way of understanding where we come from and where we are going, not Only the numbers in their books. Chile is a country of astronomers and scientists and this is something to be proud of. From Chile, together with Chilean researchers, we have been able to see the past, learn about history and plan for the future. They have given us an opportunity to grow and scientifically develop as a country,” said Science Minister, Aysin Echeverry.

For his part, Mayor Tomas Vodanović pointed out the importance of welcoming this event in public places: “We are very happy to welcome this monumental event in the municipality. We have all been able to enjoy the sunset, see the stars and from there I think all Chilean men and women are potential astronomers but we do not have access to knowledge so close. Today we got a very nice gift when we received the National Science Award class in a public square in Maip, especially for boys and girls. And we think it’s a very right direction for the Ministry of Science to take, not to keep knowledge to a few, but to democratize access to it through activities like this,” he said.

According to data provided by the ministry’s Department of Gender Imaging, STEM fields show low participation for women, and only when zooming in on STEM enrollment. , for its acronym in English), which are the fields that are directly involved in astronomy, the study shows the participation of women at 22%.

That is why, in the words of Undersecretary Gainza: “From MinCiencia, we focus on the structural aspects that affect the life and path of STEM researchers, whose problems are different from those of researchers in the social sciences or the arts. Our gender equality policy works At CTCI we are working to expand the field of work and we are looking at formulas to continue progressing and telling girls and women clearly: We are working for you in the present so that you have a better future.”

For his part, Mario Hamoy emphasized: “This kind of example represents huge opportunities to bring science closer to citizens, especially boys and girls. Chile is a country that needs science if it wants to make a leap in development, and for this we need more scientists, so that boys and girls from all over the country can take part in the adventure of science.”

This activity was carried out in the run-up to March 20, the date when Chile and the southern hemisphere will receive the change of seasons in 2023, from summer to autumn at around 6:24 pm in the national territory. This phenomenon occurs in the months of March and September just as the sun passes over the line of Equator, and produces very special moments, occurring on a day and at a certain moment, but all cultures and ancestral knowledge, as well as scientific and technological cultures, have been used for different purposes.