It was the twelfth version of the Research Exhibition FIUFRO, where researchers presented their scientific and technological work. More than two thousand people visited the stands that had been prepared to bring science closer to the community.

The Regions of Chile do contribute to the scientific development of the country. This is one of the premises the Universidad de La Frontera has supported through research, thanks to the talent of the women and men who have helped this institution to be nationally recognized because of the knowledge they are creating, and who now have been sharing their work with the community.

It was the twelfth version of the Research Exhibition FIUFRO, where researchers presented their scientific and technological work to more than two thousand people who went to see how science is made at the UFRO. More than 60 exhibition stands and about a hundred researchers were being part of the circuit that had been prepared especially for the exhibition, with the aim of showing science in a fun way and to bring it close to the people.

“This Exposition connects us with the people, with our region and our country,” Dr. Hebel, the Rector of the university, emphasized regarding this new version of the exhibition. He explained that the important advances the UFRO shows in research “are part of the strategy for positioning itself as a complex university that once started as a future-oriented vision with two fields of research in its first stage: bioresources and social sciences. Now we can see with satisfaction that there are emerging groups.”

He also appreciated the importance of innovation and technology transfer: “They give sense to our research, make the people feel that they benefit from it and that it improves their life.”

Dr. Renato Hunter, the Vice-rector for Research and Graduate Studies, specified the scientific advances the UFRO has made and mentioned the main achievements and indicators. “This Exhibition allows us to disseminate the knowledge we create in our classrooms and laboratories, with the objective to make the community participate in the success of each of our research works,” he said, and added that this was also a space of integration, where the academics get to know what their colleagues are doing.

OUTREACH

The exposition is an initiative that came to life at the Research Division more than a decade ago and, by the time, became a yearly awaited event and a real science festival.

In this regard, Dr. César Arriagada, the Director of the Research Division, pointed out that this Exhibition – that is organized by his division – is one of the important opportunities that allows the UFRO to present its work to the community. “We are a complex university and it is an important aspect to bring the different research work we are developing close to the community, but explaining it in simple terms, so everybody can understand what we are doing,” he explained.

This year, more than two thousand people visited the stands. Most of them were elementary and high school students who came from different parts of the Araucanía Region and were invited through the regional partnership project, PAR Explora Araucanía, and the educational program for children and teenagers with academic talents, PROENTA-UFRO. There was also a space to talk about science at the special edition of the Scientific Café, with live streaming.

Felipe Gallardo, the director of PAR Explora Araucanía, said that this event does not only bring science close to the community, but that it is also a space to motivate young people to do science. “We can see that the scientists of each stand are very dedicated and trying to make science playful in order to bring the world of science closer to educational establishments and the citizens, so young kids get captivated by knowledge.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

At this year´s version of FIUFRO, Dr. Mario Cantín López received a posthumous award for his productive scientific career, which was handed to his widow, Mariela Muñoz.

The dedication and creativity at the stands was also awarded. After an evaluation, the three best have been announced. The first place went to Dr. Alejandra Fuentes with the stand “Biological Remediation of Contaminated Soils”; the second place went to the group of researchers of the CIBAMA (Center of Excellence in Biotechnological Research Applied to the Environment) stand; and the third place to the stand of the Biometrics Laboratory, led by Dr. Christian Salas.

COMMUNITY AND SCIENCE

	Dr. Beatriz Pérez Sánchez, Researcher at the Scientific Social Science and Humanities Nucleus, UFRO “This exhibition is fundamental, because it is an important opportunity to show what is happening with the population of Chile and the Araucanía Region and to motivate the children to do science. It is very interesting to talk to them about all kind of topics we are investigating.”
	Irene Huentemilla, teacher at the Leftraru Center for Education of Nueva Imperial, Chile “This is the second time I visit this exposition. I think that it is excellent that the UFRO shows the research they have been doing during the year and that they share this information with institutions like ours, where we don´t have resources for research.”
	Tania Toledo, student at Irene Frei School of Lautaro, Chile “I really liked the exposition a lot, because I was able to participate in a lot of things and that was very fun. At the moment we are learning about bacteria and viruses at school and the exposition helped me a lot to improve on what is difficult for me. I really enjoyed the experience.”
	Humberto Ponte, PhD student in Natural Resource Sciences, UFRO “I find it very positive, not only the fact that we get out of our laboratories to show the people what we are doing, but also that children of all ages come here to see what we are doing and get in touch with science, so the fact that science and the community come together is very positive.”