CATA was present at the REC 2025 Festival in Concepción

On March 15 and 16, the Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) was present at the REC 2025 Festival, held at the Bicentennial Park in Concepción. Authorities and general public approached the stand presented by CATA, to learn more about science and astronomy.

In the run-up to Astronomy Day in Chile, the Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) participated on March 15 and 16 in the REC 2025 Festival in Concepción, one of the most important musical events in the country. In collaboration with the Department of Astronomy of the Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), the Center for Astronomical Instrumentation (CePIA) and the Astronomical Outreach Team of the UdeC, our organization offered an interactive space to bring science and technology closer to the public.

During the festival, the public was able to learn first-hand about the technologies developed by our institution in collaboration with CePIA, as well as the latest research by CATA astronomers. In conjunction with the Seremi de Ciencia Macrozona Centro Sur, the initiative sought to decentralize access to knowledge and promote scientific culture, in line with the objective of the ministry, which was also present at the event with an interactive exhibition on space exploration.

Attendees enjoyed various activities, such as virtual reality simulators and lunar and Martian gravity, through the activity “Mission Moon Mars” of the Astromania Foundation; solar observation telescopes, various infographics, among other activities. These experiences brought astronomy closer to the public in a dynamic and entertaining way.

Likewise, CATA’s stand at REC2025 allowed attendees to learn more about technology transfer, astronomical instrumentation and scientific advances in astronomy. National authorities also came to learn more about our Center, such as the Minister of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, Carolina Arredondo. In addition, the activity served as a prelude to the National Astronomy Day, commemoration in which our institution is preparing various activities.

In conjunction with our organization, the Astronomy Department of the Universidad de Concepción also played a prominent role in the event, presenting research projects and showing the work done by the EDA, composed of undergraduate students of Astronomy at UdeC. This collaboration made it possible to offer a more enriching experience for the attendees, combining science with music in an accessible and attractive environment.

Elise Servajean, general manager of our Center, valued the presence of CATA and the work done in one of the most important festivals in Chile: “As an institution dedicated to cutting-edge astronomical research, we are proud to bring astronomy and the technologies we develop to families across the country. We want them to discover firsthand the work of our astronomers and engineers and visualize that this science is more present in their lives than they imagine. Our goal is to awaken curiosity and inspire interest in studying careers related to science and technological innovation,” she said.