The Usach Physics Department and YEMS Millennium Nucleus were recently awarded 2026 astronomy projects focused on education and promotion. These projects, backed by international and national funding, are designed to enhance scientific literacy and astronomy teaching in Chile.
One of the 2026 winners is 'Intergalactic Real Estate Agents: Bringing Astrobiology to the Classroom through a Board Game.' This initiative expands on the 'Exploring Exoplanets' educational kit created by the YEMS Millennium Nucleus. Since 2024, these resources have become a cornerstone for astronomy outreach in Chile, using active learning to explore planetary systems.
This project introduces an innovative astrobiology teaching strategy that connects planetary environments and extremophile organisms through gamification. By leveraging interactive play, the initiative invites students and educators to explore planetary habitability and the scientific search for life in the universe while emphasizing the unique ecological value of Earth.
Led by Dr. Carla Hernández (Department of Physics, Usach), the interdisciplinary team features original creators Dr. Alice Zurlo (UDP-YEMS), Dr. Irma Fuentes (YEMS), Professor Danitza García (Beta PUCV), and designer Nicolás Baeza (Twinkl Chile). The project also benefits from the expert collaboration of Dr. Jenny Blamey (Usach-Ciras), a world-renowned authority in extremophile microbiology and biotechnology.
Dr. Carla Hernández expressed her pride in the results, noting that the national competition for educational funding is increasingly competitive. This achievement marks the fourth time the team has secured financing for their STEM outreach initiatives. “This reaffirms that our research and teaching strategies are moving in the right direction, consistently delivering high-impact results,” she stated.
The Physics Department at Usach has maintained a continuous commitment to educational communities, strengthening strategic ties with teachers and local schools. This new initiative arises directly from that collaborative context, reinforcing regional educational development and the practical application of scientific knowledge in the classroom.
The proposal is distinguished by its innovative educational approach, having been spearheaded by Professor Danitza García. Reflecting on this teacher-led initiative, Dr. Carla Hernández praised the high level of motivation among educators to "join these scientific initiatives, contribute creative ideas, and actively participate in their development. The result is a testament to solid collaborative work and a growing community of practice."
The 12-month science education project is institutionally sponsored by the University of Santiago, Chile (Usach), with additional strategic support from the Chilean Society for Physics Education (Sochef). This partnership ensures that the project’s findings and materials will have a broad, verified impact on the national physics education landscape.
Intercultural Mediation and Immersive Technologies
The YEMS Millennium Nucleus has also been awarded ANID-Gemini funding for its groundbreaking project, "Intercultural Mediation Strategies in Astronomy." Developed in partnership with the Astrodiálogos Foundation, the initiative is co-led by Daniela Tapia and Dr. Sebastián Pérez (Usach-Ciras), a prominent academic from the Department of Physics. This collaboration focuses on integrating Mapuche ancestral knowledge with immersive technologies in both educational and cultural settings.
The primary objective of this astronomy outreach program is to implement educational activities across schools and cultural centers in the Araucanía and Los Ríos regions. By promoting a direct dialogue between scientific astronomy and the Mapuche worldview, the project utilizes virtual reality (VR) and intercultural mediation to create inclusive learning environments. These "spaces for encounter" are designed to honor the diversity of human knowledge and the varied ways different cultures relate to the cosmos.