News - University of Arkansas
Latin America and Caribbean Seminar Series on the 2024 Annual Eclipse Wraps Up
The Latin American and Caribbean RCO, along with Raúl Pérez Orellana (Country Coordinator for Chile), Marta Kingsland (Country Coordinator for Argentina), María Marta Daneri (Alternate Country Coordinator for Argentina), and Ana Prieto (Mentor Trainer from Argentina), just completed a series of seminars on the 2024 Annular Eclipse. The goal was to train the community, especially educators, on various aspects of the annular eclipse, preparing for the event that will take place on 2 October.
This phenomenon will be visible in the southern part of South America, including Argentina and Chile, as well as in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and Antarctica. Locations where the eclipse will be seen in totality include Easter Island in the South Pacific Ocean, the Aysén region in Chile, and much of the province of Santa Cruz in Argentina. The solar eclipse will begin on 2 October at 15:42 GMT (15:42 UTC), with the annular phase starting at 16:50 GMT and reaching its maximum at 18:45 GMT (15:42 UTC). The ring of fire can last up to 7.5 minutes, depending on the observer's location.
Session One: 11 September, Ethological Aspects of Eclipses:
Experiences in Argentina and Uruguay I.
Ninety people connected to this first session from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay.
The event featured the following speakers.
- Marcial Beltrami Boisset (Chile): State Professor in Biology and Natural Sciences at the University of Chile; Master's in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Zoology from the University of Chile; Diploma in Scientific Research and Open Knowledge Generation from the University of Development. Currently, he is a full professor and senior researcher at the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences (UMCE). He specializes in research in the ethological field, including seasonal behavioral changes in primates and behavioral changes in baboons during solar eclipses.
- Manuel Banchieri (Chile): Physics and Natural Sciences teacher, GLOBE Program Trainer, and communicator on topics related to Science and Astronomy.
- Claudia Romagnoli (Argentina): Professor of Mathematics, Physics, and Cosmography with a Master's in Science Education. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she has coordinated workshops and science fairs. She has published articles in educational journals and contributed to books on science.
- Darío Greni (Uruguay): Teacher in several rural schools, currently serving as director of Rural School No. 88 Alfred Nobel located in Las Violetas, Canelones. He has received several national awards and was honored in 2017 with a diploma in recognition of his work by the Global Learning Network.
Session Two: 17 September, Astronomical Approach to the
Eclipse: Experiences in Latin America II
Thirty people connected to this second session of the series from Argentina, the Bahamas, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay.
The speakers were:
- Luis Barrera Salas (Chile): Doctor rer. nat. in Astrophysics (Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany), Master in Physics (UAC), Professor of Physics and Natural Sciences (UC). He is currently a Full Professor and Director of Research at the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences (UMCE). His expertise includes Variable Stars, the Solar System (TNOs), Centaurus, Comets, and various disciplinary aspects and management in Education and Astronomy.
- Ana Beatriz Prieto (Argentina): Master in Sciences; Director of the Master's Program in Teaching Exact and Natural Sciences at the National University of Comahue; Mentor Trainer for the GLOBE Program.
- Raúl Pérez Orellana (Chile): Master in Education from UMCE; Master in University Teaching from UDLA; Specialist in Environmental Education from UNED; Mentor Trainer for the GLOBE Program; Coordinator of the GLOBE Program in Chile.
- Victor del Fierro (Chile): Computer and Informatics Engineer (USACH); specializing in Software Engineering and Code Generation Applications. He has studies in Astronomy and experience as a science communicator, and he is also a member of the scientific team of GLOBE CHILE.
Session Three, 25 September, The GLOBE Observer Application:
Experiences in the U.S.
The speakers were:
- Marilé Colón Robles (United States): Project scientist for NASA GLOBE Clouds and educational outreach coordinator at NASA Langley Research Center, working with Science Systems and Applications, Inc. She engages with students and teachers through the GLOBE Program. Marilé received the 2017 Women of Color STEM Award for Educational Leadership – Corporate Promotion of Education, due to her passion for exposing as many students as possible, particularly those in underserved communities, to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). She has been recognized during multiple NASA Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Marilé holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; a Master's in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and completed the Endeavor STEM Teaching Certificate Program in STEM Education through the Teachers College of Columbia University.
- Ana Beatriz Prieto (Argentina): Previously introduced, she will address the topic of the GLOBE Observer Application and the Eclipse.
Learn More
- View the recording of Session One: Ethological Aspects of Eclipses: Experiences in Argentina and Uruguay I.
- View the recording of Session Two: Astronomical Approach to the Eclipse: Experiences in Latin America II.
- (COMING SOON) View the recording of Session Three: The GLOBE Observer Application: Experiences in the U.S.
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Read
news about the seminar series.