On November 21, groups of high school students from different regions of the country gathered at the University of Concepción to participate in the 13th School Astronomy Congress, organized by the Millennium Nucleus Titans and the UdeC Astronomy Department. In this new edition, Las Campanas Observatory (LCO) once again played a leading role as part of the jury and as the institution awarding the main prize of the contest: a scientific visit to its facilities in the Atacama Region.
The Congress brought together teams from Arica, Valparaíso, Santiago, Constitución, San Carlos, San Nicolás, Tomé, Concepción, Villarrica, and Valdivia. For several months, each group worked alongside a teacher guide and young researchers from the Nucleus, developing projects that covered various areas of astronomy and its intersections with culture, technology, and science education.
The research projects addressed topics such as the Andean worldview of the southern skies, the development of optical tools to mitigate light pollution, and innovative proposals for communicating complex concepts in astrophysics.
LCO's participation
LCO played an active role in the evaluation process through its astronomer and head of Communications and Outreach, Carol Rojas, who was a member of the expert jury.
As it does every year, LCO reaffirmed its commitment to training new generations of scientists by offering the winners a unique experience: a trip to the Observatory, where they will be able to learn about the Magellan telescopes and observe firsthand how advanced astronomical research is conducted.
2025 Winners
After the presentation of the projects, the jury selected the outstanding teams for this edition:
- First place: Mauro García and Mariano Jofré (Constitución), guided by teacher Andrés Freire, with the project “Learning by Playing: Creation of an RPG Video Game to Enhance Learning about Supermassive Black Holes.”
Prize: Trip to Las Campanas Observatory. - Second place: Montserrat Pardo and Francisca Barrera (Metropolitan Region), together with teacher Miriam Reyes, with “Echoes of the Universe: Listening to Infinity from the Big Bang to the Stars.”
- Third place: Javiera Delfín and Priscila Sabando (Arica and Parinacota Region), guided by teacher Eduardo Roco, with “Southern Skies: Andean Worldview for the World.”
An award that brings cutting-edge science closer to future generations
The winning team will visit one of the most important astronomical centers in the world. During their stay, they will tour the telescopes, talk with scientific and technical staff, and have a firsthand experience with the cutting-edge astronomical research being conducted in Chile for the international community.
With this initiative, LCO reaffirms its long-term commitment to science education, support for educational programs, and the promotion of careers in astronomy among young people throughout the country.