Millennium Nucleus YEMS has secured funding to drive new astronomy teaching and outreach initiatives in Chile, through two complementary projects that promote active learning, reflection on habitability and intercultural dialogue.
ESO–Chilean Government Joint Committee 2026: astrobiology in the classroom through play
The project "Intergalactic Real Estate Agents: Bringing Astrobiology into the Classroom through a Board Game" was selected by the ESO–Chilean Government Joint Committee 2026. The initiative builds on the educational kit "Exploring Exoplanets", developed by Millennium Nucleus YEMS, which since 2024 has promoted education and outreach on planetary systems in Chile.
Building on this foundation, the project proposes a playful and interdisciplinary approach to link planetary environments and extremophile organisms, inviting reflection on habitability and the unique value of Earth through the use of games as a pedagogical tool.
The project team includes researchers Alice Zurlo (UDP – YEMS), Irma Fuentes (YEMS) and Carla Hernández (USACH – YEMS – CIRAS), together with teacher Danitza García (Beta PUCV) and designer Nicolás Baeza (Twinkl Chile). The project also features the special participation of Dr Jenny Blamey (USACH – CIRAS), an expert in extremophile microbiology.
The project will run for 12 months and has the institutional patronage of the Universidad de Santiago de Chile, as well as the support of the Chilean Society for Physics Education (SOCHEF).
Exploring Exoplanets educational kit.
See the Exploring Exoplanets game:
YEMS Resources
ANID–Gemini and Fundación Astrodiálogos: intercultural mediation and immersive technologies
In parallel, Millennium Nucleus YEMS also secured ANID–Gemini funding together with Fundación Astrodiálogos for the project "Intercultural Mediation Strategies in Astronomy: Mapuche Knowledge and Immersive Technologies in Educational and Cultural Contexts". The initiative is led by Daniela Tapia (Fundación Astrodiálogos) and involves USACH/CIRAS academic Sebastián Pérez.
The project's objective is to implement an astronomy outreach programme in schools and cultural spaces in the La Araucanía and Los Ríos regions, promoting dialogue between scientific astronomy and the Mapuche cosmovision. Immersive virtual reality experiences and intercultural mediation activities will be incorporated, seeking to create spaces for learning and encounter that recognise the diversity of knowledge and ways of relating to the sky.
