A ‘trip from the mind to the universe’ will be the motto of one of the most relevant science festivals in Latin America, Puerto Ideas, starts this Thursday, April 24, in the Antofagasta region, in northern Chile, which in this new edition, which will conclude on Sunday, 27, will address advances in neuroscience and astronomy.
In the event about 18 universities and dozens of institutions dedicated to scientific research will be involved. Among the 70 guests who will offer talks is the Molecular Biologist Ardem Patapoutian, awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2021 for their findings about the sense of touch. Your conference, which will be held on Friday at 12:30 pm, will be focused on sharing the details of your research on receptors that allow the nervous system to perceive pain, pressure and temperature. This is the ninth time that this science festival invites a Nobel Prize. In previous editions, the German astrophysician Reinhard Genzel, the American biophysicist Erwin Neher, the French physicist Serge Haroche, the Israeli crystallographer Ada Yonath, among others, participated.
In conversation with El País, Chantal Signorio, president of the Puerto de Ideas Foundation, highlighted the relevance of the festival: “instances like these are those that connect to the world of science with the citizen on foot, who wants to understand what is happening in her own country already worldwide.”
The Argentine neuroscientist Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, recognized for the discovery of the ‘Jennifer Aniston’ neurons, which contributed evidence about the functioning of the memory, will debut in Puerto Ideas Antofagasta: “I have many expectations to enjoy the fascinating combination between science and art offered by the festival.” He will have two participations, one on Saturday and another on Sunday, in which he will address aspects of his last book, Things you would never believerelating to ideas of science fiction and neuroscience.
-Also in this space will be the biologist Felipe Court, who heads some of the most outstanding research on aging. This theme will explore with the neurologist Andrea Slachevsky. For its part, Chilean actress Paulina Urrutia, whose testimony has been fundamental to sensitize the impact of Alzheimer’s and cancer, will lead activities focused on care and mental health, based on her own experience.
The festival, which is held next to the hidden mining company | BHP, is open to the public and free and expects the participation of more than 16 thousand people. More than 100 free activities that will be carried out, most, in the zero site of the Port of Antofagasta are planned. “Our idea is to show the amplitude of research that takes place in Chile,” adds Signorio.
Discover the mysteries of the universe
For Chile, one of the most recognized world centers of astronomy, product of its clean skies in the north of the country, will also give space to know the latest advances in the construction of the largest optical telescope in the world, which stands in Antofagasta: the ELT (English acronym for the extremely large telescope). The Spanish Astrophysics Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo, head of the Office of Sciences of the European Observatory Austral in Chile, will be one of those responsible for sharing details about the building process of this monumental structure in the Atacama desert.
Different Chilean astronomers such as Teresa Paneque, Mónica Rubio, María Teresa Ruiz and Priscilla Nowajewski will participate in the event. Precisely, this last planetary scientist, who works at the Alma Observatory, will offer girls and boys a conversation that will explore different planets, stars and exoplanets where there could be life. In addition, for the first time during Puerto Ideas, a guided tour will be made to enjoy the sunset from the Paranal Observatory, place with the darkest skies of the world.
