For one week the Chilean community celebrated science, during which Explora organized many events through its PAR projects with the aim of bringing science and technology closer to all Chileans, beginning with children.
IMO played a significant role in the activities carried out in Santiago and Concepción. One of them was the 11th Science and Technology Party, organized by PAR Explora Región Metropolitana Sur Oriente, which took place October 7-8, 2017. On this occasion, IMO was represented by doctoral candidate Sonia Yáñez, student intern Isidora Morel and IMO graphic designers Geraldine Corbinaud and Irlin Barrera.
Irlin Barrera expressed her thoughts on the event: “Our involvement included an information stand that captured the attention of both adults and children. There we explained the characteristics of marine species using concrete examples and we also gave children the opportunity to participate by drawing pictures. I believe that IMO’s role stood out because it made people enjoy the experience. I am convinced that the best way to get people interested in the ocean is by sharing this knowledge in a playful way.”
Geraldine Corbinaud underlined the importance of science for young people and children: “I believe that it is very important for the Institute to participate in these activities, because they are intercultural and interesting for all kinds of people regardless of their age. This time, many people had the opportunity to learn about the deep sea for the first time and to become acquainted with the species living there.”
In addition to the information stand focusing on the deep sea and featuring many exhibits of deep-sea fish and zooplankton along with information about IMO projects Let’s Dive into the Sea!, The Scientific Recipe of Tony Tonina and IMO at School, the main attraction of the event was a dark dome with fluorescent images of a number of deep-sea organisms that invited attendants to dive into the depths of the ocean. The dome amazed not only children but also parents and young people, as it aimed at familiarizing them with marine sciences in an original, fun way.
“We had a really large attendance, both at the information stand and in the dark dome. We also gave a talk with more information on deep-sea animals and organisms, which complemented the other two because the children who attended the talk were excited and asked more questions at the information stand,” said Sonia Yáñez.
On another note, PAR Explora Biobío held the “Science Party” in the four provinces of the Biobío Region for four consecutive days. The celebration began in Concepción on Monday October 2 with the launch of the event in the Plaza Tribunales and the participation of a dozen research centers as well as the students taking part in the provincial school congress. IMO was present on the occasion and set up an information stand on the deep sea featuring exhibits of various marine organisms, an idea that captivated hundreds of children, teachers and the public in general.
IMO also attended the Science Party in Los Ángeles, a city in the Biobío Province, on October 4. At that time, IMO not only had an information stand, but also organized the talk entitled “The Mysteries of the Ocean: a Voyage to the Depths” and performed its successful puppet show “Tony Tonina: Fins in Action” to preschool children from the city.
One of the most striking aspects of these events is that they represent an opportunity to reach a wide public, ranging from children to senior citizens. Bárbara Léniz, marine biologist and IMO’s Outreach deputy director, said: “We were actively and significantly involved in this science week, which is celebrated throughout Chile with different activities and events. It was an intense but rewarding week, during which we contributed to disseminating the wonders of the ocean, this year’s key theme, to the whole community, beginning with little children, who enjoyed our puppet show, and ending with young people and adults, who saw exhibits of real marine organisms and were astonished by the deep sea and its challenges.”
Quilleco also celebrated the week with the fascinating IMO at School talk entitled “The Mysteries of the Ocean: a Voyage to the Depths” by Belén Franco, Master in Oceanography. “The community at Liceo Francisco Guerrero Bascuñán is very excited about science. They organize their own science fair at the school because they want to encourage scientific development and critical thinking among their students, and they start that process in primary school,” she said.
Penco also joined in the celebrations of science with an activity called “Science Goes Out into the Street”, to which IMO brought all the wonders of the open and deep sea, with fun facts and exhibits of organisms. In addition to IMO, other member institutions of the organization “A Sea of Wonders”, such as the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR) and the Center for Education and Development Research (CIEDE), took part in the event.
To close a busy week marked by celebrations, the 7th family meeting “Science Day” took place at the University of Concepción on Sunday October 8. Belén Franco, who is also a member of the IMO Outreach team, explains: “This activity is very interesting because it gives us the opportunity to approach not only children, but also adults. For IMO it is always uplifting to amaze such a diverse public at these science fairs open to the community.”
