“What I liked most about the Regional Congress is to know the projects of other schools and their researchers”

After two years in virtuality, the Regional Congress organized by the Explora North Metropolitan Region Project of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and innovation, returned to its face-to-face format in the Faculty of Sciences, Chemistries and Pharmaceuticals of the University of Chile. Desde el 20 hasta el 21 de octubre, the school research projects presented the results of their work focused on Natural and/or Exact Sciences, social sciences, Arts and Humanities.

During the first day, the students enjoyed an inaugural talk by Irene Cuadrado from the Complutense University of Madrid, also participated in a workshop led by Ideo Maker, visited the laboratories of the Faculty of Sciences, Chemical and Pharmaceutical of the University of Chile and the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDIS), but without a doubt the activity they enjoyed the most was to know other research projects and talk with other students of the RM Norte, comentó Richard Argüelles de 8vo básico del Colegio San Adrián de Quilicura “la actividad me pareció muy interesante y divertido, as well as stressful (between laughs), It's the first time I've participated in an activity like this, me gustó conocer cómo trabajan los diferencias laboratorios y conversar con otros estudiantes que también hacen proyectos de investigación en sus colegios”.

The Regional Congress aims to socialize the results of school research and innovation projects of students through an exhibition, with clear and precise language, Enabling children, Girls and adolescents develop communication and argumentation skills in a stimulating space where they interact with different students.

“Esta es la etapa final de un proceso de investigación e innovación escolar, that shows us once again the constant and systematic work done by the Explora RM Norte team. During my visit to the Regional Congress, I noticed that all participants are highly motivated and appropriate to their research., The great support of teachers and scientific advisors is noticeable. On the other, estamos muy contentos de retomar el formato presencial y volvernos a encontrar con tantos estudiantes motivados” expresó Edith Abarzúa del Proyecto Explora.

Los proyectos de investigación fueron evaluados por más de 40 especialistas de diversas áreas del conocimiento e instituciones académicas, who previously read the written reports and the day of the Congress, evaluated their presentations. “Es un honor seguir siendo parte de los evaluadores del Congreso de la RM Norte, The truth is that I love that children learn science from a young age and break the gap of previous generations., where science was seen as unattainable, commented the teacher Karla Lozano, researcher at the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Chile, who also added, What she liked most about being an evaluator for the fourth consecutive year, is to see that every year the projects are better.

On the other hand, the teacher Jessica Miños of the Emprender Larapinta School of the commune of Lampa, contó que también es primera vez que participa en actividades como esta “la experiencia ha sido genial, starting with the opportunity to resume the face-to-face, It was gratifying to be part of this space where my students can disseminate the results of their research and meet students and work from other schools., los cuales les permitirán prepararse para próximas experiencias académicas”.

Ignacia Maquieira, students from The Kent School also said "the whole initiative was very interesting for me., It was a nice opportunity to be able to talk with scientists and get to know the instruments they work with", On the other hand, his colleague Maite Jorquera thanked the closeness with which the researchers of the laboratories explained their lines of research.

Winners of the XVI Regional Congress

At the end of the activity, the best research was recognized. Then, the four projects that will represent the Northern Metropolitan Region in the National Congress, organized by the Explora Program:

Best Basic Education innovation project: "Recovery of spaces for the planting and cultivation of medicinal plants and other herbs" of the Piloto Pardo Basic School of the commune of Santiago.

Best Basic Education research project: "Evaluation of the effect of lead on onion growth, for the inference of sustainable agricultural development of The Kent School of the commune Providencia.

Best innovation project Secondary Education: "Star Point" José Miguel Carrera National Institute of the commune of Santiago

Best research project Secondary Education: "Categorization of sites for the conservation of Eulidia yarrelli (Hummingbird of Arica) in the valleys of Arica and Pararinocota, Chile" of the CICE School Scientific Research Center of the commune of Santiago.

Other projects were also recognized:

Best written report: "Categorization of sites for the conservation of Eulidia yarrelli (Hummingbird of Arica) in the valleys of Arica and Pararinocota, Chile" of the CICE School Scientific Research Center of the commune of Santiago".

Best Oral Presentation: “La Yupana, un material didáctico que facilita el aprendizaje de la adición en niños y niñas de primer ciclo básico del Liceo Presidente José Manuel Balmaceda” del Liceo Polivalente José Manuel Balmaceda de la comuna de Independencia.

Best project chosen by peer vote: “Star Pointer” del Instituto Nacional José Miguel Carrera de la comuna de Santiago.

Award for the project with the most likes: con 654 likes “Evaluación de la resistencia bacteriana ante antibióticos presentes en el río Mapocho durante la época de invierno” del Colegio Ozanam de la comuna de Santiago.

Award for the project with the most comments: con 131 comentarios “Sistema de regadío por capilares subterráneos: La solución a la pérdida de agua” del Colegio Emprender Larapinta de la comuna de Lampa.

On behalf of the Explora RM Norte team, we congratulate all the students who participated in the XVI Regional Congress.

View the summary book of research projects here