La Serena Educator Receives AURA–Padre Picetti Award

2 January 2025

Vilma Tapia Pizarro from Valentín Letelier School in La Serena is the winner of the 2024 AURA-Padre Picetti Award, an annual initiative by AURA Observatory since 2014 that seeks to recognize Chilean teachers focused on science and astronomy, as well as encouraging the training of new generations of scientists.

Tapia has had a professional career of more than 40 years, most of which has been spent in the north of Chile, mainly in Antofagasta and now in La Serena. She is a general teacher and has a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences, and a postgraduate degree in Natural Sciences. She has completed internships and training in Astronomy Didactics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and in Active Methodologies in Natural Sciences at the University of Northern Iowa in the U.S. Additionally, she was recognized as a teacher of the Red de Maestros de Maestros (Masters of Masters Network) of the Ministry of Education, and received the academic degree of Dama de Lazo (Lady of the Ribbon), awarded by the Ministry of Education in 2004.

“Tapia reflects very well our spirit of recognition that honors the teaching life of the priest Juan Bautista Picetti, who for years sought to awaken curiosity about science in his students at the Seminario Conciliar school in La Serena,” said Alejandra Voigt, Head of Mission of AURA in Chile. “He even created an astronomy academy and with our support installed a small observatory at the school: ‘Tololito’.”

“Being worthy of the AURA-Padre Picetti Award is a great honor and a responsibility,” said Tapia. “Father Picetti was passionate about teaching science and astronomy and left a great legacy. I hope to live up to expectations by providing outreach to the educational community of the Fourth Region and also to its citizens.”

Throughout her career, Tapia has received numerous awards, both nationally and internationally. Her highlights include first place in the National School Scientific Congress (2007), the award for excellence at the International Science Expo (2008) in Brazil and first place at the San Luis de Potosí Science Expo (2023). She is the National Coordinator of Education in Astronomy in Chile, and since 2008 has organized the National School Astronomy Congress, a platform that allows young people and teachers to share their research and learn from each other.

As part of the AURA-Padre Picetti Award, Tapia will receive a plaque, an 8-inch Dobsonian telescope and a visit to the AURA/NOIRLab facilities at Cerro Tololo.

Contacts

Luz María Aguirre
Email: LAguirre@aura-astronomy.org