Professor of the Department of Astronomy of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (FCFM) of the University of Chile, Monica Rubiowas elected as Vice President of this important scientific organization, reported Casa de Bello.
The designation was made at the XXXII General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the world’s leading astronomy organization, held in Cape Town, South Africa.
“The nomination of Professor Mónica Rubio as Vice President of the International Astronomical Union is a great source of pride for the University and for the country. She will be the first woman to hold such a high position, which recognizes her brilliant academic career and contribution to science,” said the Rector of the University of Chile, Rosa Devés.
“Dr. Rubio has been one of the main architects of Chilean astronomy, which has shown remarkable growth over the years, and which attracts many young people to the scientific career today, while inspiring citizens. One of her great contributions was making it possible for Chilean science to have 10% of observation assigned to the large observatories of our country. In addition to her appointment, there is the great news that Chile will host the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union in 2030, something for which Dr. Rubio has also worked hard,” she added.
“Honor and emotion”
The IAU brings together nearly 13,000 astronomers from 92 countries and was founded in 1919. It is the world’s leading organization committed to promoting and advancing astronomy globally. This is why the Professor Rubio He said he received this appointment “with great honor and emotion.”
“I am very excited to take on this new role, as it represents a unique opportunity to continue contributing to the development of astronomy on an even larger scale,” he added.
The decision was also welcomed by the Chilean Astronomy Society (Sochias)stating that “this achievement is especially significant, as she becomes the first Chilean woman to hold such a relevant position at the UAI.”
“His election is not only a recognition of his brilliant career and his important contributions to the field of astronomy, but also a source of pride for all of Chile. His leadership at the IAU will undoubtedly strengthen international collaboration and promote the development of astronomy in our country and around the world,” said Sochias’s director.
Path
Professor Rubio also becomes the first Chilean woman to join the organization’s executive committee. Her career includes having been president of one of the nine divisions of the IAU, the “Division H: Interstellar Medium and Local Galaxies,” and president of the Chilean Astronomical Society on two occasions.
“From this position, I hope to continue promoting initiatives that strengthen scientific research and promote greater international collaboration in astronomy,” added the academic in reference to her new responsibility at UAI.
After the election, Professor Rubio He also stressed that the appointment “is not only a reflection of my personal career, but also a recognition of Chile’s commitment and contribution to the advancement of global astronomy.”
“This appointment is a recognition of the fundamental role that Chile has played in the development of astronomy at a global level. For more than 50 years, our country has been a key player in this science, not only due to its exceptional conditions of atmospheric transparency, but also due to the solid support of the State, which has facilitated the establishment and operation of international organizations in our territory,” he explained.
Professor Rubio holds a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Paris in France. She served as Director of the Astronomy Program (2007-2014), Vice President of the CONICYT Council in 2019, and is currently an associate researcher at the Center for Astronomy and Related Technologies (CATA). She is an expert on the subject of star formation and the study of molecular regions and has given numerous lectures at international conferences in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Latin America.
During his scientific career, he has logged more than 700 nights at observatories in Chile, as well as with the Hubble and Herschel space telescopes, and NASA’s SOFIA. Using the ALMA radio telescope, he discovered how dwarf galaxies form their new stars, a discovery published in the prestigious journal Nature and widely disseminated in the international press.
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