“Facing the bad news of the PAES” is the title of the Letter to the Editor recently published in El Mercurio, written by Dora Altbir, director of the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA) and National Prize for Exact Sciences 2019, together with Miguel Kiwi, researcher at the Center and National Prize for Exact Sciences 2007.
In the text, both prominent scientists analyze the worrying results obtained in the PAES Science test, inviting us to view them not only as a situational warning sign, but as the expression of a structural challenge that requires a long-term perspective and sustained policies over time.
The letter emphasizes the need to strengthen science education from an early age, promoting critical thinking, a deep understanding of natural phenomena, and the link between science, society, and development. Likewise, the authors underscore the irreplaceable role of the State in building an educational system capable of training citizens with the tools to understand an increasingly complex and technologically advanced world.
From this perspective, the text does not limit itself to diagnosing a difficulty, but rather proposes an invitation to transform challenges into opportunities, moving towards a more solid, equitable and inclusive scientific education, aligned with the needs of the country and its future development.
The publication of this letter reinforces CEDENNA's commitment to public debate and to the generation of knowledge that contributes not only to scientific advancement, but also to critical reflection on education, training and public policies in Chile.
