CATA sparks scientific curiosity in students from Colina

The activity was aimed at children from the Pedregales School and was led by José Utreras, astronomer and Outreach and Content Coordinator at our Center.

The Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) held a talk entitled “What if the Moon had never existed?” at the Pedregales de Colina School, where more than 80 students from third to fifth grade participated in the activity led by astronomer José Utreras.

The event sought to introduce concepts of astronomy and our natural satellite to children in simple, accessible language, through everyday questions and examples. “It was a very entertaining experience. The children were very surprised to imagine a world without the Moon. They asked very curious questions, such as what would happen to the night or the tides if the Moon did not exist. It is a fascinating topic, because the Moon is present in our daily lives and at the same time connects us to the Universe,” said José Utreras.

The school greatly appreciated the visit. “We loved having astrophysicists visit us. I had no idea that CATA participated in school communities, which turned out to be a fantastic discovery. Sometimes we think that these professions are confined to domes and observatories that are inaccessible to the rest of the population,” said Bernardita Preece, assistant principal and librarian at the school.

The official also highlighted the experience of translating complex knowledge into simple, accessible language. “The children had the opportunity to ask several questions, sparking their curiosity and interest and giving them access to different topics and expert professionals.”

Finally, he highlighted José’s work in the activity. “Excellent, dynamic, and entertaining. The presentation was very appropriate for third- to fifth-grade children and for answering a wide variety of questions,” concluded Preece.