Many schools in the south of Chile have limited or no access to astronomical activities, in contrast to the capital city, Santiago, where these activities are ubiquitous. Chile is widely known for its focus on astronomy, thanks to its privileged skies and the huge number of international observatories in the north. However, only a selected part of the country’s population benefits from this, and mostly from the capital city. For students in remote regions, this lack of access and opportunities often discourages the pursuit of not only astronomy, but also STEM-related career paths, perpetuating a cycle of disparity.
This project consists of a two week-long program of activities led by 5 astronomers, who will visit schools in the southern region of Aysen, Chile, bringing astronomy talks and workshops for the students (K through 12) and teachers with an emphasis on follow-ups with the school through online meetings, surveys and a dedicated forum for both teachers and students where they can keep learning and discussing astronomy topics.
We will visit schools from different towns aiming to engage with as many people as possible. Part of our schedule will include multiple workshops per day, talks on astronomical concepts, our experience within the field and training for the teachers. Every activity will give the opportunity for both kids and adults to ask questions and interact with astronomers working in different research areas. We will also give public talks in each town for a more general audience with topics ranging from astronomical concepts, our experience in research and, women and diversity in astronomy. For example, this could include black holes, galaxies, planetary systems, search for life in the universe and the contribution of women astronomers, such as Vera Rubin, María Teresa Ruiz, Cecilia Payne and others. This last talk option can also be more of a conversation with the public depending on the attendants.
