The collaboration between the Saphir Millennium Institute and the Fundación Puerto de Ideas Antofagasta represents a significant effort to bring science closer to the public, promoting dialogue between researchers and the general public. This alliance takes on special relevance when developed within the framework of the science outreach festival held in the city of Antofagasta between April 24 and 27, an event that brought together various scientific centers and institutions in the country. Through talks, workshops and interactive activities, the link between the scientific community and society was strengthened, highlighting the fundamental role of knowledge in the cultural and social development of northern Chile.
The Saphir Millennium Institute, focused on the study of matter at the subatomic level, provided an innovative and in-depth look at advances in fundamental physics, while the Puerto de Ideas Foundation provided an open and accessible platform for this knowledge to reach a broad and diverse public. The synergy between the two institutions allowed not only to disseminate frontier science, but also to encourage scientific vocations in young people and foster a more informed and critical citizenship. This collaboration reinforces the commitment to an open, inclusive and territorial science.
SAPHIR joined this important instance of scientific dissemination with various activities aimed at the general public. One of the main presences of the institute was its permanent stand at the "Paseo por la Ciencia", a space where visitors of all ages could learn more about particle physics, interact with didactic material and talk directly with scientists from the Saphir team.
In addition, the alternate director of the Saphir Millennium Institute and academic of the Institute of Physics of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Dr. Francisca Garay, gave a talk entitled. "The Higgs boson was not dead, it was on a spree".which attracted great interest for its close and entertaining approach to explain one of the most relevant discoveries of contemporary physics. In addition, an interactive workshop of the external projection project "Atomic Girls" was presented. "Atomic Girls".focused on awakening interest in science in girls and adolescents, promoting gender equity in STEM areas. These activities reflect Saphir's commitment to an open, inclusive and socially impactful science.
We would like to express our most sincere thanks to those who made possible the outstanding participation of the Saphir Millennium Institute in the Puerto de Ideas Antofagasta festival, which took place during four days at the city's Sitio Cero. In particular, we would like to thank Nicolás Faúndez, Master's student in Physics at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Melanie Martínez, PhD student in Physics at the same university, for their enthusiasm and dedication in the "Paseo por la Ciencia" stand and in the workshop "Niñas Atómicas" (Atomic Girls). Atomic Girls. We also extend our recognition to Dr. Francisca Garay, alternate director of Saphir and academic of the UC Institute of Physics, for her brilliant talk that brought the world of the Higgs boson closer to the general public. We also thank Felipe Olivares León, Executive Director of Saphir, and Patricio Grunert, Director of Outreach and Communications, for their valuable organizational work and institutional representation. Thanks to each one of them for contributing to the strengthening of the link between science and the general public in such a significant instance for scientific dissemination in the north of the country.
