For the second year in a row, the Regional Associative Project Explores the Northern Metropolitan Region, Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and innovation, had more than 10.000 Participations, reaching 61 educational establishments with its initiative CuriosasMentes. From May to November, This proposal brought science and technology closer to educational communities, through talks, Itinerant Laboratories, visits to various institutions and territorial actions.

CuriosasMentes is an activity of the PAR Explora RM Norte, project led by the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS ) through the University of Chile and its Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which seeks to generate meeting spaces between the scientific community and the educational communities, for students, teachers, Managers, families can learn first-hand about the work of researchers, helping to awaken curiosity, interest in and appreciation of scientific topics through the development of various experiences. "CuriosaMentes not only seeks to bring the STCI closer (Science, Technology, Knowledge and innovation) to the school community, but also to contribute to the improvement of researchers by linking them with the community", dr.. Mario Chiong, director of Explora RM Norte.

Talks, Workshops, Visits and territorial actions

The proposal was divided into four main activities, carrying out more than 100 actions in the 20 communes of the territory:

1. Curious TalksMinds: Researchers and practitioners shared their personal and professional experiences with students, Inspiring with stories and innovative projects.
2. Itinerant Laboratories: through free hands-on experiences, the laboratories took the CTCI to various educational communities in the North Metropolitan Region, allowing students to explore various topics.
3. MOLA Visits: Museums, Observatories and laboratories opened their doors to receive students and teachers, promoting hands-on learning in academic and cultural environments.
4. Territorial actions:  instance to empower the territories by attending to local needs, in addition to promoting research in various areas of knowledge, Encouraging, for example, the development of fairs and/or communal festivals.

Enriching experiences

One of the educational institutions that participated in CuriosasMentes, was the Abdón Cifuentes de Conchalí Polyvalent High School, who participated in an educational robotics workshop given by the Bernardo O'Higgins University. During the workshop, Sofía González, member of the Fénix robotics team of the Liceo, She programmed her first robot and commented "I had never done it before and I am very happy with the results. I invite all people, especially girls, to join robotics. It's fun and helps us socialize and learn more.".

In this same sense, Karen Pozo Henríquez, academic of the School of Differential Education of the Bernardo O'Higgins University, highlighted the interdisciplinary impact of these activities, "Through these workshops, We seek to show how areas such as education and robotics can be integrated for student learning and development, helping them to project their academic future".

On the other hand, for Bladimir Suárez, student of the General José Alejandro Bernales Basic School of Conchalí, participated in the MOLA "Nebula Laboratory from Soil to Space" offered by the Diego Portales University. After the visit, Bladimir said the experience was amazing, "I'd never been to a university and it was amazing."

Bladimir was accompanied by his teacher, Viviana Fuentes, who highlighted the importance of these activities "these encounters with science, they are significant learning that leave traces on students, allowing them to reflect and question themselves".

With these enriching experiences, CuriosasMentes continues to consolidate itself as a transformative initiative, that not only brings science and technology closer to educational communities, but also encourages curiosity, critical thinking and a love of learning.