Nanotechnology can open up new possibilities to treat diseases, recover contaminated soils, tackle mining problems and develop technologies created in Chile. The director of CEDENNA and 2019 National Prize for Exact Sciences winner talked about these advances, and also about the challenges the country faces in transforming scientific knowledge into concrete solutions, Dr. Dora Altbir, in a new episode of “Tecnociencia, el podcast” on Radio ADN.
In conversation with science journalist Andrea Obaid, Dr. Altbir explained in an accessible way what happens when we work with materials at the nanoscale and how these properties can be used to respond to problems in areas as diverse as health, the environment, mining and technology.
Among the developments discussed during the interview is research that uses nanotechnology to advance cancer treatments using localized hyperthermia, technologies aimed at the recovery of water and soil affected by mining activity, sensors and new applications for industry, as well as developments that seek to contribute to the early detection of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The conversation also addressed one of the challenges facing Chilean science: ensuring that the knowledge generated in universities and research centers can move towards applications and technologies that effectively reach society.
“Chile has the talent and capacity to develop world-class science,” said the director of CEDENNA during the conversation, highlighting the need to strengthen the relationship between research, industry and technology transfer, along with funding policies that make it possible to sustain scientific development over time.
Another topic was women’s participation in innovation and patenting. In Chile, only 17% of patents involve women, a gap that poses new challenges for expanding the presence of women researchers in innovation and knowledge transfer processes.
Over about half an hour, the interview also covers Dora Altbir’s scientific career, the role of universities, the future of nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and the opportunities Chile has to take advantage of the scientific capabilities it has built over recent decades.
You can watch the full conversation on “Tecnociencia, el podcast”, available on YouTube and Spotify.
Watch the full interview on YouTube
