GeminiFocus April 2013 | Page 20

Peter Michaud, Maria Antonieta García, & Janice Harvey Giving Back… Dignitaries cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially open AstroDay Chile 2013. This year 17 institutions participated in the program, including Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) facilities, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, and the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope. Other participants came from as far away as Santiago, as well as a number of public observatories in the La Serena/Coquimbo area (Region 4). Gemini’s guiding principle: “Exploring the Universe, Sharing its Wonders” has rarely been more apparent than in the first few months of 2013. During this period, two of Gemini’s flagship annual outreach programs — AstroDay Chile (held in January), and Hawai‘i’s Journey through the Universe (held in March) — inspired thousands of students and residents in our host communities of La Serena and Hilo, respectively. For staff and others who participated, these programs offered excellent opportunities for them to share their passion for the stars with the public who support us. They also got to inspire local students who may become our next generation of scientific explorers. The images that follow strive to capture the essence of exploration that drives both of these programs. AstroDay Chile An estimated 2700 visitors descended upon the Outreach Center at the University of La Serena on Saturday, January 12, 2013, for Gemini’s a