{"id":15660,"date":"2026-11-06T12:44:54","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T12:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consejoderectores.cl\/?p=15660"},"modified":"2026-11-06T13:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T13:18:26","slug":"dia-de-la-antartica-chilena-universidades-del-cruch-destacan-por-su-contribucion-cientifica-y-academica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/consejoderectores.cl\/en\/2026\/11\/06\/dia-de-la-antartica-chilena-universidades-del-cruch-destacan-por-su-contribucion-cientifica-y-academica\/","title":{"rendered":"Chilean Antarctic Day: CRUCH universities stand out for their scientific and academic contributions"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 80% of the researchers working in the National Antarctic Science Program belong to institutions of the Council of Rectors and Rectors.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The commemoration on November 6 coincides with the progress of the Chile-Antarctic Interuniversity Alliance (AICA), which seeks to incorporate knowledge of the white continent into the training of professionals from different disciplines.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The universities belonging to the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) play a fundamental role in the study and protection of Antarctica, through research that contributes to understanding the effects of climate change, along with the training of new generations of professionals. This contribution takes on special significance on Chilean Antarctic Day, commemorated every November 6th.<\/p>\n

The anniversary commemorates the promulgation of Decree No. 1,747, signed in 1940 by President Pedro Aguirre Cerda, which established the boundaries of the Chilean Antarctic Territory between the 53\u00b0 and 90\u00b0 west meridians. Eighty-six years after this milestone, the commemoration also allows us to recognize the scientific and environmental importance of a continent that plays a crucial role in regulating the planet's climate.<\/p>\n

\"\"From the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region, the rector of the University of Magallanes (UMAG), Jos\u00e9 Maripani, emphasizes the responsibility of higher education institutions in generating knowledge. \u201cChilean universities and our country are called to be part of Antarctic research,\u201d he states, referring to the role that science and international cooperation play in this territory.<\/p>\n

In that sense, \u201cour university plays a role by being here, near the Strait of Magellan (\u2026) we are the gateway to Antarctica as a place of research and knowledge,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

The university's contribution and the challenges of research<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The acting director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), Andr\u00e9s L\u00f3pez, highlights the contribution of the CRUCH universities to the National Program<\/p>\n

of Antarctic Science (PROCIEN), administered by that organization and structured in seven lines of research.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe participation of CRUCH universities is vital, since the vast majority\u2014over 80%\u2014of PROCIEN researchers belong to these universities. This has resulted in, for example, 81% of Antarctic scientific publications between 2009 and 2023 being linked to universities in this network,\u201d says L\u00f3pez, who also highlights the high level of inter-university collaboration in Antarctic science.<\/p>\n

Among the main scientific challenges are the monitoring of pathogens and invasive species, the study of the effects of climate change on the cryosphere and its connection to the global climate, and the promotion of protected areas. INACH also fosters international cooperation and seeks to stimulate research addressing both the Arctic and Antarctic.<\/p>\n

From collaboration to action<\/strong><\/p>\n

In August 2025, CRUCH and INACH signed a framework agreement for collaboration to promote the Chile Antarctic Interuniversity Alliance (AICA), an initiative that seeks to integrate Antarctic content across higher education and strengthen collaboration between institutions.<\/p>\n

Between December 2025 and March 2026, the participating universities conducted a series of workshops to develop a shared vision. Once formalized, the alliance will have an assembly of representatives, an executive committee, and an executive secretariat. Its work will be organized around four strategic pillars: recognizing and integrating Antarctic culture; creating a new inter-university Antarctic training program; enabling and connecting the Antarctic knowledge network; and expanding Antarctic identity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge now is one of implementation, so that university education makes Chile a country with an Antarctic identity shared by all of society,\u201d says L\u00f3pez.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Rector Jos\u00e9 Maripani presented representatives of Chilean universities with two books prepared by the Antarctic Node during its first period: "Roadmap 2025-2030" and "Antarctica in Figures 4: Natural Laboratories".<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This sentiment is echoed in the words of Rector Maripani, who recalls that the Antarctic Treaty establishes the continent as a space dedicated to peace and science. From this perspective, he calls for \u201cevery citizen of Chile to feel that Antarctica is part of our country, part of what we must care for and protect,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n