CATA participated in university vocational fair at Colegio Campanario in Buin

The Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) participated in this university fair, bringing its work closer to high school students through a didactic and close experience.

As part of its scientific outreach program, the Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) was part of the university vocational fair organized by the Campanario School in the municipality of Buin. The event brought together students from first to fourth grade, who learned about the academic offerings of leading Chilean universities and, as a novelty, discovered the interdisciplinary work promoted by CATA.

The fair, organized by the School Support Department of the school, is part of the vocational guidance project that is being developed at the school. This year, for the first time, it included the presence of our Center, which was valued by the educational community as an enriching milestone.

“The context of the activity is to bring high school students closer to direct information from the universities, regarding available careers, special admission routes and other information of interest that students can access. On this occasion, for the first time, the participation of an institution that brings together several universities that converge in a common interest, which is astrophysics, is incorporated. A place where professions converge to provide solutions to different industries. Showing their praxis to the students in a very didactic and close way as CATA does”, highlighted Alejandra Zúñiga, Psychologist of the School Support Department of Campanario School.

During the day, the students interacted with representatives of the Center, who explained how different disciplines converge in the development of astronomical research and technology transfer. The experience aroused the curiosity of many young people, who came to ask questions and became interested in this scientific field.

In addition to CATA, the fair was attended by important universities such as the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Andrés Bello, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Universidad Diego Portales, Universidad Finis Terrae, Universidad San Sebastián, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad del Desarrollo, Universidad de los Andes and Universidad Mayor.

María José Jullian, CATA Communications and Outreach Manager, highlighted the importance of the Center’s participation in this activity, emphasizing that “at CATA we have a team of professionals from various disciplines who work together not only to advance astronomical research, but also to promote technology transfer with direct impact on industry and society. This interdisciplinary articulation represents a great opportunity for future professionals, who often perceive centers like ours to be focused only on astronomy, when in fact we have installed capabilities that go far beyond a single area of knowledge,” he said.