Senate’s Future Challenges Commission Holds Working Session at the OSF

The gathering brought together representatives from ALMA, AUI, ESO, NRAO, and NAOJ, alongside members of parliament and the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, Ximena Lincolao. Attendees toured the Array Operations Site (AOS) at an altitude of 5,000 meters and held an official Senate session at the observatory to discuss the country’s scientific development.

On Friday, July 3, the Operations Support Facility (OSF) hosted a milestone gathering bridging frontier science and government authorities. The Senate’s Commission on Future Challenges, Science, Technology, and Innovation, led by its chairman, Senator Rojo Edwards, conducted an official visit to the Atacama Desert facilities, where they also held a working session in the conference room.

The parliamentary delegation, which included senators Ricardo Celis, Daniella Cicardini, and Diego Ibáñez, was joined by the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, Ximena Lincolao; the Regional Ministerial Secretary (Seremi) of the portfolio, Héctor Bravo; and representatives of the executive partners that operate the observatory (AUI/NRAO, ESO, and NAOJ).

During the visit, the authorities ascended to the AOS, where they toured the technical building and the central array of 66 high-precision antennas. Upon returning to the OSF, they visited the control room and the cryogenics laboratory to gain firsthand insight into the daily work of the team sustaining global astronomical research.

The centerpiece of the day took place at noon, when the Senate commission officially convened in the observatory’s conference room. During the session, Paulina Bocaz, AUI/NRAO Representative, and Itziar de Gregorio, ESO Representative, highlighted major milestones and discoveries made at the observatory, as well as upcoming medium-term projects and strategic opportunities.

Commission Chairman Senator Rojo Edwards emphasized ALMA’s role in positioning Chile as a pioneer in science: “Astronomy is a point of national pride. ALMA is an institution that places Chile at the forefront of cutting-edge astronomy and technological innovation. Building bridges between science and the legislative world is essential to continue fostering public policies that ensure our country maintains the leadership position it has built in this field.”

Sean Dougherty, Director of the Observatory, underscored the vital role of the people who make ALMA’s operations possible: “It is always extremely valuable to host visits that allow us to showcase, on site, the extraordinary work our teams carry out every day. Operating an observatory of this complexity, under conditions as challenging as those of the Atacama Desert and at an altitude of 5,000 meters, requires talent, commitment, and collaboration. Behind every scientific discovery are the people who make this operation possible with a level of excellence that makes us proud.”

The visit concluded with a mutual commitment to continue strengthening partnerships among the scientific community, the legislative branch, and the executive branch, consolidating the position of Chile and ALMA as the global capital of astronomy