Impact of language, culture and heritage on the way we learn and communicate Astronomy

• Published in: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
• Main Author: Solís-Castillo, Basilio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2019
• Subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics; Space and Planetary Science; First Nations
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1743921321000521; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1743921321000521

Abstract The language we speak, the culture in which we grew up and where we come from have a tremendous impact on the way we learn astronomy. Additionally, the historical predominance of Western culture has influenced the way our modern society sees the world, and of course, the sky. In this work, we will share author’s experience working as science advisor in an outreach institution, where he explored different strategies to reach diverse communities and bring astronomy closer to broader audiences. Even though the construction of world-renowned astronomical observatories in Chile has boosted the interest in astronomy on the community, many challenges have not yet been addressed. One of them is to raise awareness about the ancestral heritage of Chilean’s first nations. Finally, we would like to highlight the importance of learning astronomy in our own language and therefore assure inclusion, diversity, and equity in our countries.