Women scientists: find out how they contribute to the environment

At just 29 years old, Constanza Levicán Torres is the founder of the Chilean start-up Suncast that combines Artificial Intelligence with renewable energies, in order to work for a more sustainable future and create exportable Chilean technology. Fabiola Sepúlveda is also one of the featured researchers in the exhibition, within her lines of action is the search for alternatives to agricultural burning and promoting agroecology.

Adriana Mujica, ACCDIS.- Equally Wise “Conscience Creators”.- is the traveling exhibition that highlights the work of twelve women who carry out research, technological developments, innovations or dissemination activities in areas related to the care and protection of the environment, organized by the Associative Project Explore the Northern Metropolitan Region, of the Ministry of Science Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.

From November to March, the exhibition has visited various places in Santiago, including the Pedro Lemebel Public Library in Recoleta, the Pablo Neruda Library in Recoleta, the Center for Primary Environmental Care (CAPA) in Pudahuel, the Til Til Cultural Center, the Museum of Gabriela Mistral Education, Santiago Library and is also available in its virtual format on the project website (See here).

Find out how some of the scientists contribute to the environment:

Application of artificial intelligence to renewable energy

Constanza Levican Torres She is the founder of Suncast, a Chilean start-up that was born in 2017 with the aim of accelerating the transition to clean energy.

Within the scope of Suncast is the prediction of solar and wind energy, that is, predicting the generation of energy from photovoltaic and wind plants with high-precision models to comply with current regulations, “we also work with the prediction of Soiling, we can predict when and how many times the cleaning of the photovoltaic panels of the large parks must be carried out, this represents cost reduction and automation of traditional processes” explained Constanza.

Agroecology and exchange of knowledge with the agricultural community

In its commitment to promote sustainable agriculture, INIA La Platina works in a committed manner with farmers in the Metropolitan Region, promoting sustainable and viable practices in the management of their agricultural residues.

Fabiola Sepulveda has been working at INIA La Platina for 10 years and through financing from the Santiago Metropolitan Regional Government and its Council, a project called “Adaptation to climate change: alternative practices to the use of fire in the agricultural sector of the RMS” was developed, which brings together more than 45 farmers, who were incorporated into the productive chain, more than 800 people were trained in alternative practices to the use of fire, and three chipping machines were delivered to the community, in the communes of San Pedro, Melipilla and Curacavi.

“All of the above, in order to facilitate and promote the correct use of their waste, giving them added value and improving their soils, production, biodiversity and moisture retention,” said Fabiola.

Genomic studies of fruit trees to face the challenges of climate change

Lee Ann Meisel She has more than 20 years of academic experience and is one of the pioneers in genomic research in Chile. These studies make it possible to understand at the genetic level (genotype) which gene or genes play a role in a trait of interest (phenotype), and also to understand the interaction of genes with each other and with their environment, Lee explained.

“For example, genomic studies of fruit trees, such as the cherry tree (Prunus avium), are helping in the identification of molecular factors associated with flowering, pollination, maturation and accumulation of antioxidant compounds, among others. This information serves as a tool to better understand the development and growth process of the fruits, and how they relate to their environment,” she added.

This knowledge can be used technologically to optimize the application of growth regulators in the field, implementation of genetic improvement programs to produce better quality postharvest fruits, which will help minimize food loss, among others. These new tools are expected to help transform the fruit food chain into a sustainable food system, concluded the researcher.

New addresses to visit the exhibition during March

As part of the commemoration of Women’s Day commemorated on March 8 of each year, next Tuesday, March 7, the exhibition will open at the Tiltil Cultural Center located at Arturo Prat 215 starting at 11 a.m. by Dr. Carolina León Valdebenito, biologist and head of the Natural Resources and Sustainability Research Center of the Bernardo O’Higgins University who will talk about “Sustainability Science for Nature Conservation.” Free entrance.

You can also visit the exhibition at the Santiago Library – Youth Room – from Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.