More than one hundred students from schools across the region gathered in Concepción to showcase their scientific research projects. The Millennium Institute of Oceanography was present with an interactive outreach stand.
On August 27, the Municipal Gymnasium of the Ester Roa Stadium in Concepción brought together more than 150 students and teachers from 70 educational communities across the Biobío region for the latest edition of the Regional School Research and Innovation Congress (IIE) , organized by PAR Explora Biobío.
In this setting, the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO in spanish) hosted an interactive scientific outreach stand, offering attendees the opportunity to explore its research and discover the mysteries of the deep ocean.
For the IMO team, the event was highly rewarding, enabling direct dialogue with young participants in the program. Felipe Gamonal, marine biologist and outreach specialist at the institute, emphasized that "there is a very natural connection: we can show them how research is conducted, share our discoveries and experiences from scientific expeditions, and at the same time listen to their questions and learn how their own curiosity led them to their scientific inquiries".
“We have always believed that generating frontier knowledge about the ocean is a top priority for the institute, but equally vital is ensuring that this knowledge extends beyond laboratories and scientific publications to be shared, understood, and embraced by society, particularly the school community", he added.
A Consolidated Partnership
The participation of the IMO (funded by ANID) builds on a long-standing collaboration with PAR Explora Biobío—a program funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation (CTCI in spanish) and executed by the Interactive Center for Sciences, Arts, and Technology (CICAT in spanish) at the University of Concepción. This partnership has enabled the institute to expand its outreach footprint and engage with educational communities throughout the region.
According to Gamonal, participating in such forums "consolidates and positions the IMO within a multi-institutional collaborative framework aimed at sparking curiosity, strengthening scientific culture, and showing new generations that exploration and scientific knowledge are essential to their future".
Reflecting on the experience at the Regional Congress, the outreach specialist praised "the enthusiasm and curiosity displayed by students visiting the stand. Furthermore, thanks to the IMO's ongoing outreach work, many participants—especially teachers—already recognized us from previous engagements with the school community. Ultimately, the goal of the IMO stand is not merely to provide institutional information, but to extend an invitation to explore and discover the deep ocean from diverse perspectives".