Leaving a Teal

The Natural History Museum of Concepción is behind this astronomical outreach initiative for infancy, starring by a puppet named Estela Cósmica (Cosmic Teal). The project, developed with a gender focus, has a monthly chapter and addresses different issues that are defined and worked on with the Department of Astronomy of the Universidad de Concepción.

By Dayana Arrepol

/ mfuentes@astro-udec.cl

/ Photographies: Courtesy of AstroUdeC

Estela Cósmica, a puppet astronomer and a doctor in Rays and Sparks, is the protagonist of a new project of the Museum of Natural History of Concepción, which seeks to promote scientific curiosity in boys and girls, and make known different topics related to the Universe in a playful and educational way.

The project is developed and self-managed by a group of Museum employees in collaboration with the Department of Astronomy of the Universidad de Concepción, who advise the content discussed.

Roxana Torres, acting director of the Museum, highlighted that this initiative comes up from the search for new online experiences directed to children, in order to educate and to stimulate their scientific curiosity, also incorporating the gender approach.

“Historically, most of the leading figures around science are men. Through Estela Cósmica and the next puppets to come, we seek to normalize the idea that women are indeed present in the area of research, and along with it, tell girls indirectly that this will always be a possible path”, she affirmed. .

Estela Cósmica is the host of a show called “El telescopio. Historias estelares” (The telescope. Stellar stories) a space that will have a monthly short video that will be available on the Museum’s YouTube channel and which was inaugurated with the chapter “The movements of rotation and translation”. Estela, always accompanied by her cat, named Black Hole, also talks about the “Moon and its phases”, “Mars”, “Asteroids and comets”, “Artificial satellites”, among other topics.

The Museum plans to implement a new educational place with puppets, which will expand the topics covered to the areas of Natural Sciences and Heritage.

For more information follow: YouTube Museo de Historia Natural de Concepción