Chile (University of Chile) Radio program U. de Chile brings the creation of knowledge to schoolchildren of Recoleta and Lo Espejo

With the aim of generating a space for dialogue and discovery, during 2021 the program “Creating Knowledge” was carried out, through Radio Bellavista of the Commune of Recoleta and the TV channel of Lo Espejo. The initiative, led by the Vice-Rectory of Research and Development (VID) of the University of Chile, in collaboration with the municipalities of Lo Espejo and Recoleta, will have itssecond version this 2022, hoping to reunite students with researchers from the Casa de Bello.

Dr. Hortensia Morales, in charge of institutional linkage of the VID, was in charge of conducting this space, through a participatory methodology, every Monday at 4 pm via zoom. Creativity, heritage, human rights, gender, copper, nature, astronomy and medicine were some of the topics addressed in the 50 programs. With more than fifty guests from academia and civil society, the students, together with their professors, were able to meet and dialogue with specialists on various topics according to their needs.

Putting students at the center of learning, Hortensia Morales explained that the program allowed an enriching conversation, because “each conversation not only taught young people, but also allowed us to enter into a feedback process. For years, we have devalued simple language and for introducing ourselves to academia, however, this process taught us the simple thing again.”

From the University to the classroom

According to the United Nations, the promotion of human rights, education, information, freedom of opinion, and participation in scientific advances are priorities for the development of societies. In this line, the University of Chile -throughout its history- has implemented various measures to contribute to the country in a transversal way, being the “Creating Knowledge” program, one of them.

The current Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Flavio Salazar, participated in these instances, adding that “linking citizenship with the generation of knowledge that takes place within the University of Chile is a social responsibility of high impact. It generates a very important two-way interaction to calibrate the type of research and make it more relevant. For me, as a person, it was very enriching.”

Likewise, the director of the National Seismology Center, Sergio Barrientos, indicated that “any activity that benefits knowledge and its extension, helps society at all levels, both to make informed and coherent decisions, and for the development of the country itself. I participated in two programs, where we talked to students about earthquakes, allowing us to demolish myths and at the same time, know their concerns.”

For her part, the professor of Visual Arts and Technological Education of the commune of Recoleta, Matilde Marambio, thanked the instance promoted by the Casa de Bello. “My experience was very positive. As a teacher, this program allows us to face other realities. It means a lot to students as well, because it gives them the possibility to develop ideas by helping in aspects such as cognitive development, expression of ideas, communication with their peers, and a more active personality,” he said.

The “Creating Knowledge” program will have its second version during this 2022 and will collaborate with various schools in the communes of Lo Espejo, Recoleta and Cerro Navia.