IEB

This workshop, organized by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and Senda Darwin Foundation will be carried out at Senda Darwin Biological Station, Chiloé, in November from 26th until 28th of 2007.

One of the most important resources that wild plants offer to us is the food. Nowadays, local people from villages and cities have lost the rich knowledge of natural tastes that surround us. We have lost recipes, traditions and different views of how to relate with our environment.
The goal of this workshop is to encourage the interest for wild plants as food, it diversity, it "cooking value" and commercial trade potential working through interdisciplinary group discussions (people from environmental, cultural sciences and culinary art).

We expect attending to learn and experiment in a culinary way with native and exotic species from Chile, valuating ignored species, giving use to weeds and exotic, and rescuing the traditional value of palatable plants, promoting the conservation of the ecosystems that supports this biodiversity.

Eduardo Rapoport (Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Argentina). Diversity and uses of palatable wild plants.
Bárbara Drausal (Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Argentina): Recipes.
Gloria Montenegro (P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago): Honey from Chilean native ecosystems.
Javiera Díaz (INIA, Vicuña): Conservation status of palatable species of wild plants.
Zunilda Lepín (CET Sur, Temuco): Indigenous mapuche uses of native and exotic flora.

Science for everybody: Scientific Talk for Community

For general public, these talks are organized by the Outreach Programe of Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB).

September 26, 2007 / 18:00 hrs.
Ximena Arango
Parque Omora, Universidad de Magallanes and Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB)
“The woodpecker as a charismatic specie for conservation of the Subantarctic Forests from Magallanes”
Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), Plaza Muñoz Gomero 1055, Punta Arenas

October 24, 2007 / 19:00 hrs.
Dr. Martín Carmona
Universidad de La Serena, Fundación Senda Darwin and Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB)
“The cycle of nutrients in the Chiloé native forest”
Museo Regional de Ancud, Libertad 370, Ancud, Chiloé

November 12, 2007 / 19:30 hrs.
Dr. Felipe Hinojosa
Universidad de Chile and Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB)
“Palaeoecology in Chile: history of climate and vegetation change, the last 60 millions years”
Teatro de la Aldea del Encuentro, Av. Larraín 9750, La Reina, Santiago

December 5, 2007 / 16:00 hrs.
Luis Letelier
Universidad de La Serena, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), and Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA)
“The biodiversity conservation: a regional responsibility”
Salón Pentágono, Campus Andrés Bello, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena

ANNOUNCEMENT by the IEB Science Outreach Program Course-Workshop “Teaching Ecology in the School Yard (EEPE): the cycle of exploration as a pedagogical tool for conservation in our natural surroundings”

This course, organized by the IEB Science Outreach Program (Santiago Node) will be carried out between 26 and 29 September 2007. Applications will be received until Wednesday, September 5th.

Teaching Ecology in the School Yard (EEPE) is a method that will be used a pedagogical tool to develop in students the holistic ability to understand natural processes as well as the social context in which they take place (the school yard, among others). In this way, we recuperate the process of curiosity, reflection, common sense and autonomy in learning.

In the context of formal education, EEPE is a pedagogical proposal that can be used as a tool for inquiry (self-motivated research) without costly instruments, but rather using our senses. While this proposal has a biological focus, it can also be applied to other fields and transversal education objectives.

- To train teachers in the use of EEPE as a teaching strategy for integral learning.

- To promote knowledge, understanding and conservation of local landscapes as an important education practice.

- To strengthen the capacity to generate practical and viable proposals in the area of education and research.

The course-workshop will begin with a presentation on how to formulate questions that lead to inquiry (research) by way of a simplified scientific method - the “Inquiry Cycle”. The cycle will be practiced from the formulation of the question in simple language, to taking data in the field and finally to presentation and reflection of possible applications of the study’s results. In this way, the participants will profit, as they can design research based on their own inquiry, which can be later applied to their own place of work and study, as a way of answering questions, reflecting on the findings and, in many cases, in making decisions.

Coordinating teachers: Wara Marcelo (MS in Ecology, IEB) and Carolina Tapia (Agronomist, IEB).

Place: La Reina Experimental Science Center (Av. José Arrieta Nº 5896, La Reina, Santiago).

Date and time: the course will commence on Wednesday 26 of September and end on Saturday 29 at noon. The schedule will be from 13:30 - 17:30 hrs.

Cost: the course will be financed by the IEB, meaning it will not have any cost for participants.

Applications: applicants will need to fill out an inscription form, which will be received until Wednesday 12 September at the following email: difusiondelaciencia@gmail.com. In the case of not having email, please call (2) 9787384 or 09 8623226. The notification of selected individuals will be 14 September.

Regional Council’s Culture Fund: IEB-CEAZA awarded projects for scientific outreach

The Coquimbo Regional Council approved the project “Card game: illustrated flora of the region” and “Cubic puzzle:

Both projects were presented to the Regional Council on Culture by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) together with the Center for the Advanced Studies of Arid Zones, CEAZA (ULS-UCN-INIA).

As explained by MSc Claudia Hernández, Coordinator of the La Serena Node of the IEB Outreach Program, the card game was thought of as a way to communicate to the community the knowledge generated by the different research programs that relate to conservation of native flora and ancestral cultures that were present in the region.

“This game is directed towards the general community, school kids, as well as young people and adults. It is also thought of as an object that tourists will want to acquire when they visit the region to take home as a keepsake”.

The objective of the Cubic Puzzle is to transmit scientific knowledge about particular causes of desertification in our region. In addition, it puts forth proposals that would help to stop the advancement of the desert.

This game was elaborated together with researchers and professors who are currently working on the desertification problem and it is meant for children, particularly those in ages 9 and 11.

“We thought of the boys and girls as a door to their homes, since through education of the sons and daughters it is possible to also educate the parents”, declares MSc Hernández, who is also the leader of outreach for CEAZA (ULS-UCN-INIA).

This second material is expected to be used in the class Study and Comprehension of Nature, specifically in regard to the units on caring for nature. It will also be used as support materials within the program on Study and Comprehension of Society, where environmental problems are analyzed in the social context.

In June and July of 2007, the IEB and the Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA), together with the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), conducted training workshops for the communities of Punillas, Lorenzo Peralta and Peral Ojo de Agua (Coquimbo Region).

The first workshop, entitled “Biodiversity of the Forests in Fray Jorge National Park, a biosphere reserve”, was carried out on June 23rd and 24th, 2007 in the park. The subjects addressed were:

The second workshop, entitled “Communities of Punillas: Integrating Fray Jorge National Park through biological conservation and sustainable tourism”, was carried out from July 7th to 8th, 2007 in the park. The subjects addressed were:

More information:
Claudia Hernández, La Serena Coordinator of IEB Science Outreach Program. E-mail: claudia.hernandez@ceaza.cl

Hands-on workshop for controlling the mink: a harmful species for the native fauna of Cape Horn

From November 2nd to 3rd, 2006, the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) and the Omora Park (University of Magallanes) will conduct this course in Puerto Williams, Chile.

Agents of SAG and researchers of the Omora Park-UMAG will conduct a work meeting to analyze the current situation of the mink on Navarino Island in order to get to share investigations currently under way, their results and evaluate how to improve the existing activities.

Thursday, November 2nd at 19:00, the public is invited to a hands-on workshop in the headquarters of the UMAG in Puerto Williams to see the presentation of results from SAG and Omora-UMAG. In addition, on Friday the 3rd in the provincial office of SAG, trapping methods will be demonstrated as a way of controlling the population of this invasive species in our region and to inform potential hunters how they can become involved in the program financed by the regional government.

The mink (scientific name: Mustela vison) is originally from North America and was introduced to Tierra del Fuego in the 1940s. The first confirmed presence on Navarino Island was in 2001 and currently its distribution is throughout the island, as well as Hoste Island. As a predator of birds and rodents, the mink has been classified as a harmful species and its control is a priority for SAG in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.

The activities of the workshop will be conducted in the context of the program “Control of harmful fauna in Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region" (FONDEMA - SAG) and the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (Scientific Advisory Committee - CHBR), with the support of the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) and its Science Outreach Program. This gathering is part of the continuing commitment of the authorities and scientists of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve to carry out studies that put into practice the results of research for sustainable use of nature resources and for the benefit of the local community.

More information:
José Tomás Ibarra (jtibarra@uc.cl): Masters Student, P. Universidad Católica de Chile. Parque Omora-UMAG. Phone: (56 61) 621157

Luis Llaipén (luis.llaipen@sag.gob.cl): Provincial Office, Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) XII Región. Phone: (56 61) 621025.

Announcement: International Course-Workshop “Design of field studies in biodiversity by local actors”

This course, organized by the Senda Darwin Foundation and supported by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) and the Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB), will be conducted on Chiloé between November 27th and December 10th, 2006. Applications will be received until October 27th.

The course will be taught by Dr. Peter Feinsinger, who is a tropical ecologist that in the last decade has promoted and developed a scientific education program directed towards non-scientists (park guards, teachers, local communities, decision makers and environmental professionals) in diverse countries of Latin America (Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, Argentina, and Chile).

The course’s main objective is to strengthen the understanding and application of the scientific method to develop explorations of biodiversity and conservation with a strong emphasis on local reality in Latin America.

The course is meant for students and professional in the area of biology, as well as local stakeholders (farmers, fishermen, park guards, rangers and primary school teachers) and all those who want to design “exploratory experiences” for students and visitors to protected areas. In this context, the course will place emphasis on “community inquiry”, “park guard inquiry”, “teaching ecology in the school yard (known as EEPE)” and “inquiry trails”. We also extend the invitation to academics and/or professionals with the objective of training them as facilitators of activities undertaken by local stakeholders.

The course-workshop will begin with a presentation on how to formulate questions that lead to exploration (research) by way of a simplified scientific method - the “Inquiry Cycle”. The cycle will then be practiced from the formulation of the question in simple language, to taking data in the field and finally to presenting and reflecting upon possible applications of the study’s results. In this way the participants will profit in designing research from their own inquiry, which can be later applied to their own places of work and study, as a way of answering questions, reflecting on the findings and in many cases in making decisions. Participants will always work in teams of scientists and non-scientists.

Professors include: Peter Feinsinger (University of Northern Arizona - UNA, Wildlife Conservation Society-WCS) and Juan Armesto (IEB, CASEB, FSD).

Facilitators include: Samara Álvarez (WCS- Ecuador), María Alemán (Ecuador), Norvis Hernández (National Parks, Cuba), Félix Daza (Brasil), Laura Margutti (National Parks, Argentina), Jimena Gato (UNAS, Argentina), Natalia Radovani (Argentina), Sergio Coelho (Brasil), Alejandra Schwarz (Argentina).

Place: Senda Darwin Biological Station, Cruce El Quilar, Ancud-Chiloé.

Cost: $50.000 Chilean pesos which covers lodging, food, course materials and field trips. Scholarships available.

Applications and scholarships: applications will be received until October 27th 2006 by email: conservacionchiloe@gmail.com. In the case of not having access to email, please call 09.6249070 or (56 2) 6862649. The notification of selected individuals will be made during the first two weeks of November 2006.

In September, the activities of the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB)’s Scientific Outreach Program began officially. The IEB is a center of scientific excellence financed by the Millennium Scientific Initiative (ICM) of the Ministry of Planning. The Outreach Program has centers based in four regions between La Serena and the far south of the country.

The goal of the Science Outreach Program is to develop a long-term plan that generates positive feedbacks with the centers that generate scientific understanding for society at all levels. In this way it will generate interest in understanding and valuing our surroundings to promote conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development.

According to Dr. Mary T. Kalin Arroyo, IEB director, “in Chile there is still a tendency to think of innovation as simply the creation of industrial or agricultural products, usually based on technology imported from other countries, without realizing the value of ecosystems and natural resources themselves. However, in other countries, for decades the value of natural ecosystems and biodiversity has been appreciated for the economic activities and services it provides to industries like tourism and sustainable production”.

This program has various nodes (centers of activity) in four regions of the country in which it will develop activities such as workshops about science and biodiversity for students; courses for teachers, university students and park guards; as well as producing educational material, such as puzzles, card games, etc. about biodiversity. This work will be done in a network with IEB scientists together with institutions that form part of the program: Senda Darwin Foundation, Omora Ethnobotanical Park – University of Magallanes (UMAG) and CEAZA (ULS-UCN-INIA).

The Center of Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA) will coordinate the activities of the La Serena Node. Starting in November 2007, this center will be executing the Explora project entitled “Applying the Cycle of Exploration for reforestation of native species in semi-arid zones with rural and urban schools”. In addition, scientific lectures will be offered in schools with workshops on biodiversity for farming communities that are adjacent to Fray Jorge National Park. The lectures are open and offered to park rangers, which will leads to the incorporation of the Inquiry Cycle method to the national system of protected areas.

The principal activities of the Santiago Node are developed together with the Explora Program of the National Science Commission (CONICYT) entitled “Exploring the Worlds in our World: The Biodiversity of the Central-south of Chile”, coordinated by the Senda Darwin Foundation. These activities are directed towards primary school students and consist of workshops on flora and fauna of the central-south region of Chile. It also uses the Inquiry Cycle to teach the interactions between plants and animals. With the support of Pirque and La Reina city governments, visits have been made with students and teachers from schools to the Río Clarillo National Reserve to get to know the great biodiversity of the central area of Chile. In addition with academics from the University of Chile, two general ecology courses will be offered for teachers of middle and high school.

The Chiloé Node (Lakes Region), working mainly through the Senda Darwin Foundation, will develop activities in Ancud related with the Explora Program. It will also carry out activities related to forest biodiversity in Chiloé in various areas of the archipelago, and participate in festivals and events in the area. In addition, in December 2006, a field course will be taught on biodiversity at the Senda Darwin Biological Station with the professor Dr. Peter Feinsinger (U.S. - Latin American expert on forest ecology and education).

Finally, the Navarino Node (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region) will develop permanent activities on Navarino Island - courses, workshops and talks on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, integrating social wellbeing and conservation of biological and cultural diversity. Together with this, the node will conduct mini-workshops with the support of the Explora Program in Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas and Porvenir. Additionally, in the context of the program “Exploring and conserving our biological-cultural diversity at the end of the Earth”, on the days 3, 4 and 5 of November it will conduct the course “Exploring and conserving the habitats of the world’s southernmost ethnic group”. This workshop will focus on understanding and valuing the region of Cape Horn in the context of a holistic course, in which students from the University of Magallanes master’s program act as guides and participants for the principal activities with the local community.

This course will be carried out by the Faculty of Sciences of Universidad de Chile, as part of the activities of the Science Outreach Program of the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB). It will be conducted between September 27th and December 13th, 2006 on Wednesdays from 18:30 to 21:30.