Exploring genomic biodiversity in San Pedro de Atacama: a workshop of scientific discoveries
The first Genomic Biodiversity Workshop in San Pedro de Atacama took place during a week filled with discoveries and international collaboration. Organised by the Center for Genome Regulation (CRG), the event brought researchers and students together to explore the region’s rich biodiversity.
The workshop featured researchers from the Pontificia Universidad Católica, including Beatriz Díez and Juliana Vianna, as well as Claudio Latorre and Viviana Araus. Distinguished Universidad de Chile academics Mauricio González and Miguel Allende also joined this enriching event.
The workshop was organised around three key components: theoretical lectures, field trips and laboratory analysis. The lectures provided a solid foundation for understanding fundamental genomic concepts, while field trips took participants to strategic sampling sites, contributing to a deeper understanding of this natural laboratory.
One of the event’s highlights was the active participation of researchers and students from the University of Cologne in Germany. Knowledge and experience were shared throughout the workshop, fostering international collaboration in this fascinating field.
Beyond its research achievements, the workshop had a positive impact on the local community. Participants had the opportunity to undertake science outreach activities with students in the final two years of secondary school at Liceo de San Pedro and Liceo de Toconao. This initiative not only encouraged an interest in science but also inspired the next generation of local scientists. The event demonstrates CRG’s commitment to innovative research and sharing scientific knowledge. Building on this workshop’s success, we will continue working to explore and promote workshops on
