• Universidad de Santiago’s representatives won one gold medal, one silver medal and four bronze medals in the US Open in Las Vegas, USA. They are part of the karate national team and have participated in different international competitions.

The members of the karate branch of Universidad de Santiago won one gold medal, one silver medal and four bronze medals in the US Open in Las Vegas, USA. They are part of the Chilean national team of karate and have participated in different competitions worldwide.

Javiera González, Paola Arias and Alejandro Mellado, the three of them students at the School of Health, Sports and Physical Activity Sciences, and Jorge Acevedo, a student at the Faculty of Administration and Economics, participated in the US Open in Las Vegas, an international competition held in USA between March 23^rd and 27^th this year. 

Javiera González won one gold two bronze medals; Jorge Acevedo won a silver medal; and Paola Arias and Alejandro Mellado won a bronze medal each.

This international competition brought together delegations from different countries in the world, like India, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Ukraine and USA, among others

“It was a fulfilling experience as we met competitors from all over the world,” said Alejandro Mellado. He added that six former world champions participated on this occasion.

“This experience will help us to achieve our ultimate goal: the Pan American Championships (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). It is part of our preparation to evaluate what we need to improve and to have a competitive pace,” he said

According to Javiera González, the results they obtained are the fruit of the rigorous and serious attitude that they have when facing competitions and representing Universidad de Santiago and the country.

The Karate branch of Universidad de Santiago

 “We are more than a team: we are a family. Sports performance is important, but the members of the team are important too. That is the key to the success of the Karate branch of Universidad de Santiago,” Paola Arias said, adding that the branch is made up of fifty students who train four hours every day in search of sports excellence.

The team members said that Universidad de Santiago has encouraged both their academic and sports performance and has given them support so that they can combine both areas.

For them, the support of Manuel Arrieta, Vice President for Student Support, and Professor Mario González, leader of the Karate branch, has been essential.

Future competitions

Although they acknowledge that the results they obtained in the US Open are good, they feel that the most important challenge is to come: The Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (May 26^th-28^th, 2016). 

“We expect to win medals there, because our previous results were good,” Javiera González said, adding that 2016 will be a year full of competitions.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• “With this vehicle, we expect to win the 2016 Atacama Solar Challenge,” said Martín Catalán, general director of the Solar Car Team (ESUS) of Universidad de Santiago de Chile, after the presentation of the Apolo III. Claudio Murúa, mechanical director of the team said that the new car can achieve 140 kilometers per hour using as little energy as a hair dryer.

“With this vehicle we expect to win the 2016 Atacama Solar Challenge. Not the second or the third, but the first place. The cars competing are very similar so the possibility of winning is very high,” said Martín Catalán, general director of the Solar Car Team (ESUS) of Universidad de Santiago de Chile, after the presentation of the Apolo III.

Among the most remarkable features of the new model that will compete in the Evolution category (high-range cars that are only fed with solar energy), the car stands out for its low weight, 190 kilos, what makes it very competitive not only in Chile, but also at an international level.

Martín Catalán will be the team captain during the race and their goal is to have a better performance in comparison to the past challenge, where they reached the fourth place in general and the third place nationwide. This left them in the 17^th place of the International Solar Car Federation global championship table.

The ceremony

The Apolo III presentation ceremony was attended by Universidad de Santiago’s authorities, students and external guests. Dr Juan Manuel Zolezzi, President of Universidad de Santiago, and the ESUS team members unveiled the new car. 

Dr Zolezzi said that he appreciates the links with the private sector to develop these projects. “We expect the business world to really trust universities and contribute with resources to achieve what they want: To produce more cheaply and with better quality. In turn, this will allow us to develop science and technology.”

The car

The car is 4 and a half meters long, 1.8 meters wide and one meter high; its advanced control system allows to adapt speed to the weather conditions in route; and its flexible solar panels weigh 80% less than conventional ones to make it more competitive.

Claudio Murúa, mechanical director of the team said that the new car can achieve 140 kilometers per hour using as little energy as a hair dryer.

He highlighted that the Apolo III body shell is completely made up of carbon fiber. It took them three months to assemble it and they worked together with several companies.

“It is a very strong and reliable car that should not have any problem in completing the 2,550 kilometers of the race. This time, we have focused on the use of energy,” he added.

The group that developed the project is formed by 50 people from different programs at the university, mainly from the Faculty of Engineering.

An example in energy matters

The general director of ESUS said that his team does not only work on the car, but it also seeks to disseminate knowledge and show new technologies.

“In a few years, we would like our work to be an example in the university and position ourselves at a national level in the context of renewable energies,” he said.

During the presentation, Leandro Valencia, general director of the NGO Ruta Solar, highlighted the work done by the team of Universidad de Santiago by saying: “The ESUS team is very active in outreach activities. We are very proud of this, because the team contributes to our mission of making Chile the world capital of solar energy.”

Translated by Marcela Contreras

•  The karate teams of Universidad de Santiago won the first places in women and men categories in the championship coordinated by the University National Federation of Sports, a sports organization that depends on the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities.
• The complete victory of the students who competed became an unprecedented milestone in this type of sports competition, as this is the sixth consecutive time that Universidad de Santiago wins the first place, something that no other higher education institution has done before.
• The karatekas accomplished this unprecedented feat after prevailing over renowned institutions with a strong tradition in sports, like Universidad de Chile, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María and Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, among others.
• According to Mario González, the coach of the karate branch of Universidad de Santiago, the key is the excellence of those who make up the team. “They are strong-willed. They are 100% Universidad de Santiago.”

On October 11^th, the University National Championship of Karate for women and men, FENAUDE 2015, took place at Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. The best specialists in this sporting discipline representing the universities of the National Council of Rectors (Cruch), gathered together at this competition.

The women and men teams of Universidad de Santiago won eight gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze ones, showing their excellence and the importance of sports as part of student training.

In the men category, the team of Universidad de Santiago got 40 points, far from the closest competitor, Universidad de Chile, on 26 points.

Women, for their part, won the first place with 44 points, with a difference of 29 points over Universidad de Chile.

Besides, our university won the team women and team men categories for the sixth consecutive time, something completely unprecedented in this type of competition.

According to Mario González Faúndez, coach of the karate branch of the university, these results are “extremely positive”. He explains that, although the group of sport men and women wanted to continue with the triumphs that the university enjoyed the previous years, “This year the competition was much harder and they had to win all the matches.”

González adds that one of the merits of the group is that they have learned to adapt themselves to the changes every year, when some of the members of the team leave because they complete their academic training in our institution.

“We have won a university national championship for the sixth consecutive year, with six different teams, because they change every year,” Gonzáles says.

He says that, in this regard, their success has been based on the policies that our university has on sport matters, like the outstanding sportsmen/women special admission.

“The university showed that it has the talents and the ‘raw material’ required because of the good selection of sports talents at this special type of admission. First, they are students, and then, sportspeople, so they are even better. Their commitment is the hallmark of the team. They are strong-willed; they are 100% Universidad de Santiago.”

Fair play

Javiera González, a student at the Bachelor’s Program in Physical Activity Sciences, and Jorge Acevedo, a student at the Master’s program in Management and Public Policies of the Faculty of Administration and Economics, were awarded as the best sportsman/woman of the competition, for their uprightness and “fair play” at fighting.

Mario González highlights that “Both of them were impartially chosen by the referees. In the case of women competitors, although there were girls of Universidad de Chile and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María who are part of the national team (of karate), Javiera stood out for her ability to apologize to others when she committed a foul.”

In the case of Jorge, “There were bouts that he won after 20 seconds, just by scoring points and without needing to hit or harm the opponent,” he added.

This way of behaving during competitions is “What happens everyday in the karate branch,” González says. “There are many youngsters who start from scratch and begin to train and to compete representing the university, and others who have a karate background, since their dojos, and know what it is about.” Therefore, “During training sessions, there is a mixture; there is a mystical relation between those who know and those who are learning.”

For example, Alejandro Mellado, a bronze medal winner in the past Santiago 2014 South American Games, is part of the university’s men team and he trains together with the new members of the karate branch and helps them to improve every day.

“Alejandro Mellado practices together with youngsters who do not know much about karate, because they have just started with this sport and he is interested in teaching them when they make mistakes,” González concluded.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The classes given every Friday by IDEA to students who wish to participate in the Model United Nations Conference next year, in New York, will continue until January. The training workshop is addressed to future professionals of the programs of the Faculty of Administration and Economics and the Faculty of Humanities and its purpose is to equal or exceed the performance level reached in the 2015 conference, in which our university’s delegation had an outstanding performance.

Students who will participate in the Model United Nations Conference debates at the UN headquarters (New York), in 2016, are being trained in different workshops held at the facilities of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IDEA, in Spanish) of Universidad de Santiago de Chile.

The cost-free workshop that is being held every Friday at the IDEA facilities will continue until January 2016, and they train the students in different topics, like international policy, leadership skills, negotiating, and English language. All this has the purpose of maintaining the outstanding performance that our university’s delegations have had in this international activity in which the operating model of different UN bodies, like the Security Council or Unicef, is simulated. Every year, this conference gathers more than 5,000 students from all over the world. 

During the third session of the workshop, students were visited by the Director of the Department of History, Dr Igor Goicovic; the Deputy Director of the Department of Administration, Héctor Toledo, and the Head of the International Studies program, Dr Nelson Paulus. They committed themselves to back the efforts to institutionalize the support to this activity in which our university has had an outstanding performance for three consecutive years.

In this regard, Dr Goicovic said that, in the meetings with future and former participants and with the professors in charge of the activity, he has been able to appreciate “The willingness, motivation and academic level to continue participating in this international conference.”

“The students who have already participated in this Model UN debates have gained considerable experience, which was reflected in their achievements during the conference. When they came back to Chile, they officially reported the very positive results of their participation. What they learned, in turn, has had a deep impact on their professional training, and this impact has clearly replicated as experience in their programs,” professor Goicovic said.

“It is essential that the University gradually but systematically takes responsibility for the funding process of this activity, so this Department commits to help in creating these conditions,” he added.

Total commitment

Sofía Schuster, professor at the Bachelor’s Program in International Studies and coordinator of the Model UN workshop, highlighted the high commitment shown by the students of the Public Administration, Translation and International Studies programs who are interested in participating in this activity in 2016.

“During the first session, we asked the students to write a commitment letter. There, we were able to see their willingness to participate in this activity and we learned about their interests and motivation,” she explained.

Professor Schuster also said that they have already submitted a Teaching Innovation Project proposal for 2016 that seeks to have more students of Universidad de Santiago participating in other models’ debates, similar to de Model UN, for example, in the Organization of American States (OAS).

Interested students

Johann Golsworthy, a fourth-year student of the Public Administration program, showed himself very interested in completing his preparation and then participating in the Model UN Conference.

“I read the invitation on the Internet and I got immediately interested in attending the workshops to improve my knowledge on how international policy works in the UN and how international conflicts develop. Now I have to complete my program, but I am really willing to go (to New York),” the student said.

Likewise, Javiera Díaz, a fifth-year student of the English-Portuguese Translation program, said that she has been interested in participating in such an activity for a long time.

“I have always wanted to know more about the international relations field and, in the future, I would like to pursue a Master’s degree related to it. For this reason, I believe this is a great opportunity that should have all the possible support,” she finally said.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• They shared with 400 youngsters from 71 countries, met 15 Nobel laureates in the fields of science and received recognition for their enthusiasm and creativity in the picture that they took and sent to the organizing committee before their trip.
• Felipe Recabal Rivas and Eduardo Cancino Jaque, students at the Faculty of Science, and Renato Leiva Tubino, student at the Technological Faculty, represented Universidad de Santiago at the first version of this important science meeting for youngsters worldwide.
• The three students, together with Maricarmen Castro Amaro, student at Universidad de Chile, represented Chile in the activity that, according to the surveys, exceeded expectations.
• The group was accompanied by Dr Dora Altbir Drullinsky, director of the Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. She said that after the trip, “They came back highly motivated for what they are studying, aware of the impact that science may have on a country’s welfare and of the importance of personal efforts to have good results. This experience will mark them for many years, both personally and at their work in their disciplines.”

Felipe Recabal Rivas and Eduardo Cancino Jaque, students at the Faculty of Science; Renato Leiva Tubino, student at the Technological Faculty, and Maricarmen Castro Amaro, student at Universidad de Chile, were the only Chilean representatives at the first version of the World Science Conference- Israel (WSCI). They were accompanied by Dr Dora Altbir Drullinsky, director of the Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

More than 400 students from 71 countries attended the conference, and the four Chilean students fulfilled the requested tasks with enthusiasm and creativity, the abilities that this conference sought to foster.

The Chilean students received recognition for the creative picture that they took of themselves together with a moai a few days before leaving the country, showing their eagerness to participate. With this picture, they won the second place in the contest of most original photographs.

Besides, each student participated in groups made up of students from different countries and science disciplines, to promote collaborative work among scientists. Eduardo Cancino participated in a team that was recognized for its work in making one of the best posters of the conference.

Inspiration

For the students, the conference was a great experience, as “It reflected the great interest that Israel has for scientific activity, as a key part of development,” Felipe Recabal said after the trip.

He highlighted that working with international multidisciplinary teams showed him that “There is always more than one way of interpreting and analyzing a phenomenon, what makes science much more complete.”

Eduardo Cancino stressed how interesting the presentations were, particularly the ones given by researchers whose scientific-technological developments seemed “impressive to him.” “A significant factor was that they had received funding for their studies, what is very encouraging in research matters,” he said.

He added that, from his personal point of view, the experience shared by the speakers made him understand the importance of persistence and hard work. “Once, they were like us, so we have a long way of efforts and dedication to go.”

Renato Leiva highlighted the level of the organization of the conference and its goals. The conference sought “To inspire young scientists, and I feel that, at least in my case, I am now more eager to continue working in science and doing my best to contribute to my country and the world.”

He was surprised by the scientific environment in which Israel lives. “I was able to notice that young Israelis who I talked to are very eager to contribute to their country. I believe this enthusiasm should be replicated in Chile. What all Nobel laureates stressed the most (both in presentations and in conversations) was ‘Do not give up.’ I will use this message in my academic development,” he said.

For Maricarmen Castro, student at Universidad de Chile, the experience was “Out of this world!” “It put into perspective all I had thought about science since I was a girl. Listening to Nobel laureates and see how they got where they are now was very exciting and gave me a lot to learn. Effort, motivation and persistence are the key words to say ‘Eureka’ some day.”

Motivation for the future

For her part, Dr Altbir described the activity as “fantastic.” “The possibility of interacting with such renowned scientists as the 15 Nobel laureates and other scientist from different universities of Israel, plus the huge cultural diversity given by the students of 70 countries, and an environment that fostered creativity and imagination, made this conference a “once in a lifetime experience,” she said.

She added that she has been able to see that the students came back “Highly motivated for what they are studying, aware of the impact that science may have on a country’s welfare and of the importance of personal efforts to have good results. This experience will mark them for many years, both personally and at their work in their disciplines.”

The conference was held in Jerusalem and it was conceived to contribute to the cooperation and the sense of responsibility, for a better future for the new generations of scientists.

The activity was organized by the Hebrew University, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel.

The Chilean delegation was supported by the Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Cedenna) and the Israeli Embassy in Chile.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• Once again, Universidad de Santiago responds to “the appeal for help from the Chileans affected (by floods and mudslides in the north of the country). And the primary reason for responding is that we are a state and public university that is committed to society and common wealth,” President Juan Manuel Zolezzi said.

• “Our university cannot ignore an emergency situation like this, so we invite everyone to participate in this solidarity campaign,” he stressed during a coordination meeting with Manuel Arrieta, the Vice President of Student Support; Marta Matamala, the President of Feusach, and Diego Flores, a Student Senior Adviser.

• The purpose of the campaign is that all members of our university community contribute with five-liter bottles of water, that are essential good for the affected people in the Antofagasta and Atacama regions.

• Besides, the university continues collecting basic medicines, non-perishable foods, infant formula and baby food, batteries, diapers (both for adults and children) and basic cleaning supplies, in Room #511 (at the EAO facilities), at the Vice Presidency of Student Support’s Office and at the campus main entrance. The goal is to send soon a truck with a shipment of 10 tonnes of goods to help people in the north.

   

  Historically, our University has contributed to society in national emergency situations. This time will not be the exception.

  Facing the tragedy occurred in the north of Chile for the heavy and unusual rains, our University has started a solidarity campaign to help people affected by this tragedy. 

  The challenge is to fill a ten-tonne-capacity truck with basic goods, like non-perishable foods, blankets, mattresses, diapers (for adults and children), cleaning supplies, pet food and, mainly, bottled water. The truck is expected to leave Santiago on April 02^nd for Atacama and Antofagasta.

  With this idea in mind, Dr. Juan Manuel Zolezzi, President of Universidad de Santiago; Manuel Arrieta, Vice President of Student Support; Marta Matamala, President of the Feusach (the University Students Federation), and Diego Flores, a Student Senior Adviser, met on April 31^st. They invited the University community to contribute to the campaign. Donations are being collected at three different points: Room #511 (at the EAO facilities), at the Vice Presidency of Student Support’s Office (Paseo Los Naranjos) and at the campus main entrance (Av Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Estación Central). 

  Social commitment

  During the meeting, President Zolezzi highlighted once again that Universidad de Santiago responds to “the appeal for help from the Chileans affected (by floods and mudslides in the north of the country). And the primary reason for responding is that we are a state and public university that is committed to society and common wealth.”

  “Our university cannot ignore an emergency like this, so we invite everyone to participate in this solidarity campaign,” he said, referring to students, administrative staff and academics.

  “I invite each member of this community to collaborate with this first step: the most urgent supporting help. We want to focus on the motto “one community member, on bottle of water”, in addition to all the other contributions the community may want to make,” Dr Zolezzi added.

  For her part, Marta Matamala, President of the Feusach, said that solidarity is a “basic pillar” for building a fairer society.

  “Our University is unique in its social role. We are future professionals, with a commitment to society. Being touched by people in precarious situations is an essential part of the imprint of this University,” she said.

  Volunteers

  Besides sending basic goods, the University Presidenct, the Feusach and the different faculties are evaluating the possibility of doing volunteer works in the affected areas.

  President Zolezzi said that he is in contact with Universidad de Atacama, a former campus of Universidad Técnica del Estado, “because we feel morally committed to it,”  to define the areas of greatest needs.

  The School of Medicine, the School of Obstetrics and Child Care, and the School of Psychology are among the schools and departments that could initially contribute by sending student volunteers.

   

  Translated by Marcela Contreras

• For the third consecutive year, Universidad de Santiago is the only Chilean institution participating at a new version of the National Model United Nations, a forum that gathers together more than five thousand students from different countries in a simulation of the UN main activities. Twenty undergraduate and graduate students at the International Studies Program travelled on March 18th to New York to participate in the activity that will be held between March 22nd- 26th.

Thirteen students at the Bachelor’s Program in International Studies and seven students at the Master’s Program in International Studies will attend the National Model United Nations forum organized at the UN headquarters. The purpose of the activity is to give new professionals a glimpse into the work done by this international organization.
 

The activity will be held in New York between March 22nd-26th and it will bring together more than five thousand students from different countries. They will be able to replicate the operating model of different UN bodies, like the Security Council, for example, by representing other States.
 

In the case of our University students, the will represent France in the Security Council, and Finland, in different UN programs and funds, like UNICEF, UNHCR or UNDP.


Mabel Cobos- who is currently completing her dissertation for her Master’s degree in International Studies- is coordinating this activity and this is the third time that she takes part in the project. The first time she participated as a delegate of the Master’s Program in International Studies, when an academic at Long Island University (USA) prompted students to join this activity. This time, in order to promote an outstanding performance among the participating students, she conducted a training workshop since June last year, in the context of a Teaching Innovation Project.
 

“It is very important for students to attend this type of activity, because more than five thousand people from Europe, USA and Asia are taking part in it; it is also a way of positioning Universidad de Santiago de Chile at a regional and international level. We were the first university of the Southern Cone to participate, and at a Latin American level, few countries participate, like Ecuador, Venezuela, Guatemala, Mexico and Brazil, a country that joined the activity last year,” Ms Cobos says.
 

Also, Mabel Cobos highlights the possibility that students are given to make use of their theoretical knowledge and abilities. “This forum is a simulation of what the UN and diplomats do at studying foreign policy guidelines and history of the country to be represented, as well as English language, to take part then in the debate. This allows them (students) not only to speak about cooperation and multilateralism but to also to act making resolutions, working in teams and developing partnerships. In this way, students develop soft skills that are difficult to develop in the classroom setting,” she says.
 

“We have been pioneers in this sense and the University has gained prestige because of this,” she added. Ms Cobos also explains that the best teams receive awards and our university teams have already received them in previous versions of the forum.
  

Prepared for good results

This year, the number of participants has increased to 20 students. Thirteen of them are students at the Bachelor’s Program in International Studies given by the Faculty of Humanities. Catalina Rodríguez, one of the students at this program who will participate in the forum, recognizes that she has high expectations of her performance, “because we have prepared ourselves to stand out and to bring recognition to our program and our university.” She expects her group to receive acknowledgement for their work, just like it happened last year, when students of our university received “position papers” awards. Catalina values the possibility of participating in this activity and capitalizing on experience in the field of international relations.
 

Jaime Rojas is a student at the same program. He expects to have a good performance thanks to the training they received in an eight-month workshop, in which they were able to study in depth the work done by the different UN bodies and funds, with professors of the Department of History and the Institute for Advanced Studies (IDEA, in Spanish). “We have made simulations and we are ready to bring recognition to our university and our country, because we are the only Chilean higher-education institution participating. It is also an opportunity to grow and position ourselves both at a national and international level,” he says.
 

Translated by Marcela Contreras

• The Apollo II, the photovoltaic car developed by the Solar Car Team (Esus) of Universidad de Santiago de Chile, showed an outstanding performance during the eco- rally across the desert, covering the route in a little more than 22 hours and being one of the four cars in its category that managed to reach the finish line.
• The Esus Team received recognition for its fourth place in the competence. The Japanese team of Tokai University won the first place; the team of Minera Los Pelambres mining company and Universidad de La Serena, won the second the place, and the team representing Universidad de Concepción, won the third place.
• The Esus Team students and collaborators valued the work done, and the knowledge applied, but above all, the experience they gained. Likewise, they expect to continue with this project, as “the performance and positioning of the team was clearly the best,” Gonzalo Pacheco, Executive Director of Esus, said.

 
The Universidad de Santiago’s Esus Solar Car Team members described the Apollo II’s performance during the Atacama Solar Challenge as absolutely positive. The prize awarding ceremony was held on November 18th, at Humberstone Saltpeter Works, in the Tarapacá Region.

The Challenge, one of the five solar car races held around the world, finished on November 17th, after the twenty teams coming from Japan, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile, completed five days travelling a route across the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile. The teams were mainly made up of university students and professors.

The Apollo II managed to cover the 1,082 kilometer route planned for the race- just like other three cars did, out of the eight that competed in the Evolution category- in 22 hours and 9 minutes, according to the official records. The Esus Team received recognition for being one of the finalists and achieving the fourth position, after the team of Universidad de Concepción (third position), the team of Minera Los Pelambres mining company and Universidad de La Serena (second position), and the team of Tokai University, from Japan, that won the first position with only a nine-minute gap over the second place.

In this category, the teams of Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Pontificia Universidad Católica, and the cars Sköll and Eolian, could not finish the Challenge.

Experience and growth

For the Esus Team members, this fourth place means an important progress in their evolution as a group, because many of them took part in the previous race (2012), in which the Apolo I had to be towed to complete the route, what led to penalizations that affected the final result.

This time, the Apollo II completed the required kilometers and route and followed the control protocols. Although it had some problems, they were solved, showing and optimal performance of the car, that in some stretches reached 100 km/h, the maximum speed allowed by the Challenge organization

“The solar car team had a significant progress in experience and knowledge. Overcoming difficulties and reaching the finish line were our challenge and we made it,” Pablo Fernández, head of management of Esus Team, said. “We were able to prove that the level of the competition was higher, because four of the cars that run on this occasion in the Evolution category finished the route, so all of the teams have progressed a lot,” he added.

For this reason, Pablo Fernández said that in terms of disseminating the advantages of solar energy- one of the goals of the Atacama Solar Challenge- “Universidad de Santiago is very well positioned, because all the students taking part in this project learn about renewable energies and how to use solar energy, regardless of the discipline or the program they study.”

Keeping talent at the university

Although they were satisfied with the performance of the car, Pablo Fernández explained that, according to his evaluation, they “did not have enough time to test the car and check some issues,” because importing some parts and getting some resources took too long and this affected the work management and the assembly of the Apolo II. “It gave us a test period of about a week, and during the race, we realized that with more test time we would have been able to prevent some problems. However, we were prepared and had spare parts for everything. Thanks to this and to our planning and inventiveness, we adapted to the situation and kept on going.”

According to Gonzalo Pacheco, Executive Director of Esus, “the performance and positioning of the team was clearly the best.” This was recognized by other teams, like the Japanese team, for example, that valued the Esus Team’s high level of organization. Particularly because it was “the only solar car team totally made up of students and unpaid collaborators that completed the challenge.” 

Pablo Fernández explained that teams from other universities hire graduates and professionals for direct expert advice.

“As a team, we would like to preserve the knowledge of the people with experience in this field in our university. We cannot let experienced people go; we should have strategies to keep talent here and include more professors in the team,” Fernández said.

This is why they expect the University to get involved in the project and in the innovative ideas of the Solar Car Team. “This experience left us well positioned as University. We will be remembered as a neat, disciplined and organized team. But the Solar Car Team should not continue being considered only an extra-curricular activity,” he finally said.


Translated by Marcela Contreras

• As the Executive Director of the Propedéutico Program of Universidad de Santiago and on behalf of academics from five national higher education institutions with inclusion experiences, professor Lorna Figueroa took part in the 4th Latin-American Conference on Higher Education Dropout (Medellín, Colombia), presenting an article that collects the experiences of universities that have successfully implemented the Propedéutico program, like Universidad de Santiago, among others.

 The initiatives driven by Universidad de Santiago to promote inclusion and equity in the access to higher education have been highly valued both in Chile and abroad. Recently, in Colombia, an article on the experience of Propedéutico programs in our country was awarded recognition. This project has been supported from the beginning by our state and public University.

• The Apolo II, the new vehicle built by students and thesis students of Esus, the Universidad de Santiago’s Solar Vehicles Team, is being assembled these days. During this week, they expect to finish mounting the electrical wiring onto the mechanical structure while they finish the body shell that, this time, was made of carbon fiber and fiberglass; the sheets were manufactured by Fibrovent, one of the sponsoring companies.
• After two years of work and research, the new car surpasses its predecessor by incorporating technologies that improve the energy efficiency, the engine performance and the use of batteries. Besides, innovations have been included in the design to meet the standards required by the Atacama Solar Challenge that will be held between November 13th and 17th this year.  
• The Executive Director of the project, Gonzalo Pacheco says: “We want to be in the first place as we have worked for that. We will do our best until the end of the race.”

 

Two years ago, Esus, the Universidad de Santiago’s Solar Vehicles Team, developed a prototype for an ultra-light vehicle, fed with photovoltaic power -the Apolo- that competed in the Atacama Solar Challenge.

Since then, the team focused its efforts on improving the efficiency of the car. The results are about to see the light of day. In 2014, Esus members, together with the new students that have become part of the team, have developed a new and more advanced car model to compete again in this race and win. The car now is in the process of being assembled.

“We are in the process of integrating all the electrical, mechanical and design components,” Gonzalo Pacheco, a thesis student at the Mechanical Civil Engineering program and Director of Esus, said. He added that the challenge has been as big as the expectations. “We want to be in the first place as we have worked for that. We will do our best until the end of the race,” he said.

Innovations and improvements

This week the electrical and mechanical components of the Apolo II will be assembled together, including new technologies. Patricio Cerda, director of the electrical area and thesis student at the Electrical Civil Engineering program explained that the components were tested separately and that now is the time to assemble them together to get everything working as expected.

“We are using better engines than the ones we used before. They are two engines and they can reach 97% efficiency, what makes the car go at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. We have acquired nine 120 watt solar panels made in China, with an efficiency of 21 per cent. The previous car only reached 19 per cent. Also, with the new lithium –ion batteries made in Japan, we have reduced 40 kilos of weight. The batteries have a higher power density that allows storing more energy,” Patricio Cerda said.

Regarding the mechanical aspect, the student Martín Catalán said that the chassis is made of 4130 steel, which is used in high-speed vehicles for its resistance and low weight. Also, the designers decided to move the driver’s place to the left side in order to reduce friction areas and to improve the aerodynamic design. To balance the car weight, the battery array will be mounted on the right side. The car assembly also incorporates a brake system that includes two discs that work independently.

The body shell will be one of the last parts to be assembled and it is also different from the one in the previous car. In the Apolo II, it is made of carbon fiber and fiberglass, what results in a lighter and more resistant body manufactured by Fibrovent.

Several mechanical and electrical aspects had to be adapted, not only regarding their design, but to meet the standards required by the Atacama Solar Challenge that will be held between November 13th and 17th. The team will arrive in Iquique before that date for the qualifiers.

Learning experience

The experience of building this car goes beyond competing in the race. Patricio Cerda explains that “This is a very valuable learning process for students”. The practical experience that they have gained in renewable energies is something new in their training, as they started the project before the University created a laboratory for this area. “We have been working on this for four years so we have an advanced knowledge now,” he said.

For his part, Gonzalo Pacheco added that the project became an interdisciplinary initiative without expecting it. “We realized that the cooperation among engineers, architects and designers does not frequently occur in other projects. The project gathered several academic units around one point of view, with the support of the University, to continue working in a more professional way.”

The Apolo II should be ready on October 20th, to move on to a testing phase to then be introduced to the University community on November 3rd.

In the practice there are challenges too. The two drivers also competed in 2012. Pablo Carter, a student at the Mechanical Civil Engineering program explained that this not only about experience in driving, but also in developing the project.

“We the drivers belong to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and we have participated in the project. We know how the car works, how it performs, how it should move or brake and how the electrical component works,” he said.

Sponsors

Although 80 per cent of the project was funded by the University and the participating departments, it has been sponsored too by the University’s Society for Technological Development and important companies like Fibrovent that was responsible for the body shell; Schneider Electric that provided training courses; PC Factory that contributed to the development of the telemetry software to transmit data from sensors in the Apolo II to the support team; Servicio Láser that made the fiberglass molds, and Maestranza Murúa that helped with the chassis welding.


The Esus team has about 65 members, including students and thesis students of the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and General Technologies, and the School of Architecture. A group of academics has been supporting the team with the development and implementation of the project.


Translated by Marcela Contreras

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