Recently, Florian Kaefer wrote about Chile’s potential for economic development through astronomy for the Place Brand Observer. Dr Luis Chavarría, Director of the Astronomy Program at the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research CONICYT, shares his thoughts on how the growing interest in astronomy can contribute to the economic development of Chile.
It is clear that astronomy has a great potential for economic development, not only in the Coquimbo region, but also in the entire north of the country. The geographical characteristics that create the conditions for a clear sky, are present in an area of more than one thousand kilometers from north to south.
In this sense, astronomy can become an economic engine for the Coquimbo, Atacama and Antofagasta regions, which can generate all kinds of services for observatories, and the different local universities can collaborate scientifically with them.
