Interviews
Chilean student to travel to Nobel Prize ceremony: "My great inspiration is Marie Curie"
Francisca Ulloa, 17 years old, she is one of the three students selected by the Explora Program of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and innovation, for a unique experience: attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm.
"I'm very excited and a little nervous! I would love to ask you what inspired you to conduct your research and how you came to be recognized with the highest scientific award. This will be my first time traveling by plane and visiting another country. My parents have always taught us that we must first get to know our country, to be able to get to know another place, but this is a unique opportunity that I never imagined living This trip will be something completely new for me!”, says the young woman.
The "Explore Nobel" initiative: from Chile to Sweden", emerged as a result of a strategic collaboration between the Association of Chilean Researchers in Sweden(AIChis) and the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS ). This joint effort made it possible to establish alliances with the Ministry of Science and the Explora Program, opening opportunities for young Chileans to live a unique experience at the Nobel Week in Stockholm, Sweden.
"Since I was a child, I have always been interested in scientific topics. First I was fascinated by space, and later I became interested in technology, which led me to want to study computer engineering. But everything changed, when I started having classes with my teacher Sandra Quiroz, She showed me areas of science that I didn't know and that's when I realized that I wanted to combine science with technology. That's why I now want to study biotechnology", says the teenager.
Francisca is part of the School Science Clubs of the Explora Northern Metropolitan Region Project, the young woman studies at the Monsignor Enrique Alveal High School in Pudahuel.
"My group is working on a natural cosmetics project, We want to show that it is possible to create economical products, environmentally friendly and, above all, cruelty-free. Recently, she and her team presented this project at the Cerro Navia Science Fair and in November they will participate in the National Congress of Explora", says the young woman.
In addition to science, she says she likes to cook, Play PlayStation, Reading and learning languages.
"I really like languages. I know how to speak English and I have been learning Italian and Russian", Explains. "My favorite genre is mystery and horror. There was a time when I became obsessed with Stephen King's books. I also really enjoy spending time with my family, we are very close",Adds.
During the announcement, Francisca said that she dreams of studying abroad, "My family is my biggest motivation, I've always wanted to get ahead. Since I was a child I have felt capable of achieving my goals. My great inspiration is Marie Curie, in addition to his great contribution to science, I am inspired by her story at a time when women had many limitations", Adds.
In this sense, affirms that Professor Sandra Quiroz has been a fundamental pillar.
"Professor Sandra has been more than a teacher for me, She has been a mentor and a great support. It doesn't just help me academically, but I can also tell him my personal things. His passion for teaching shows, For her, being a teacher is not an obligation, It's a hobby, And that is reflected in their dedication. It constantly motivates us, especially women, so that we participate in science", Express.
Explora Nobel is a strategic collaboration with Chilean researchers in Sweden (AIChis) , The objective of the program is to provide young people in public education in Chile with an exceptional opportunity to, for various reasons, they would not normally have access.
"As scientists, We know how important it is to dream big, And we firmly believe that these young people deserve all the support possible to follow those dreams. We ourselves once dreamed of working in world-renowned laboratories and research centers, so to see these young people approach that world is deeply inspiring", commented Gustavo Monasterio, Vice President of the Association of Chilean Researchers in Sweden (AIChiS) and general coordinator of the Explora Nobel project.
He also stressed that "the first contact with ACCDIS was fundamental for our initiative, since from the beginning we found in them a committed ally who shared our vision and showed a deep interest in making it a reality".
"Although we decided to carry out the project centrally, collaboration with ACCDIS remains essential, since they were the ones who gave us the initial sense of viability, which was later amplified with the interest of the government", Said.
To finish, the vice president of AIChis Gustavo Monasterio, highlighted the commitment of ACCDIS and its team to work in the territories, particularly with young people.
"That dedication was key to making our idea a reality in Chile and allowed us to include a representative from Pudahuel among the three winners of the program. The synergy generated has been invaluable and reinforces our desire to continue collaborating with them in the future", Concluded.