Young people who break new ground in science in Paraguay

Doing science is not easy, but the situation becomes more complex in a country where the educational system is not focused on the early initiation of students in this area.

In addition, investment in scientific, technological, and innovation developments is still meager.

Despite the adversities, some overcome these barriers and struggle to keep the spark of science alive in their lives. With much self-respect and enthusiasm, the country’s young scientists are making their way in a world where trial and error are essential to success.

MATHEMATICS, A WINDOW INTO SCIENCE

Mathematics is indispensable. This science studies the relationships between quantities, magnitudes, properties, and the logical operations by which unknown quantities, magnitudes, and properties can be deduced.

It also describes everyday phenomena and helps us understand our environment.

Nahuel Gómez, 19, was a bronze medalist in the Ibero-American Mathematics Olympiad 2021 and honorable mention in 2020. He also represented the country in the last International Mathematics Olympiad.

The young man spoke about his experience. Although he said he discovered his love for mathematics by chance, he assures that mathematics is a window to the other branches of science.

“Thanks to my participation, I was able to join the National Program for Scientific Initiation of Young Talents of the Multidisciplinary Organization for the Support of Teachers and Students (Omapa), which emphasizes mathematics,” he explained.

For him, through these programs, a person can size up the importance of early initiation in science.

“If you look at the countries that are at the forefront of development, they all have a very important scientific investment and aim for people to initiate early the future scientists, entrepreneurs in the technology sector, among others, so that, when it comes to choosing their careers, they have an idea about this whole world,” he said.

For Nahuel, there are no opportunities for scientific development beyond mathematics in Paraguay. “For example, just this year, a biology olympiad was implemented; before, there were no resources. If one wants to be a biochemist or a physicist, there are no resources,” he added.

“Mathematics is the exception. In the case of Paraguay, it is like an open window for people with certain scientific gifts to carry out their projects. When one hears about outstanding young Paraguayans in science, the common link these people have, on most occasions, is this Omapa Science Initiation Program,” he said.

WRONG EDUCATIONAL MODEL

The young mathematician pointed out that one of the main reasons why mathematics is not attractive to other young people is the educational model used in teaching.

“I think the way mathematics is taught in the school puts a lot of emphasis on memorization and on it being a manual computational process. There is no creativity involved in the process, no logical adventure of figuring out the way,” he said.

For Nahuel, in addition to being comforting to learn mathematics, “one discovers how this can teach you to structure your mind and become a much more creative person, to think more logically.”

“A professional mathematician or scientist is about producing ideas and making good observations rather than memorizing computations. That’s why I talk about the merits of the programs,” he said.

Nahuel says that the ideal would be to change how mathematics is taught and the education system is structured.

However, he says that the best way forward is to use the opportunities some organizations offer in the short and medium term.

ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE

For Paraguay’s representative at the last International Mathematics Olympiad, programs for young talents and opportunities to participate in olympiads can be fundamental to encourage an increase in the number of young people dedicated to this type of science.

“Once you have that opportunity, you have to do the work of encouraging young people to try it. It opens a big window for them to expand into the area. If there are opportunities and incentives, good things can come out of it,” he said.

Nahuel Gómez assures that mathematics helps one think in a structured way and discover they can overcome the frontiers of the mind. “I will always see mathematics as the beginning of a structured and logical look at the world,” he said.

ROBOTICS, LEARNING IN A FUN WAY

Robotics is the science that studies robots and, as such, concentrates the various disciplines needed to design and manufacture them. Undoubtedly, this area will contribute greatly to the country’s scientific future.

For many, robotics is an entirely unknown world. However, more and more children, adolescents, and young people are becoming immersed in this science.

Robotics is a branch of knowledge that includes several disciplines: electronics, computer science, mechanics, physics, algebra, animatronics, and automation.

The areas covered are control, sound, programming, and planning of robotic systems.

In Paraguay, some sites promote this type of science, such as Espacio Ser, which helps children and young people to interact with new technologies.

In this case, knowledge about robotics, programming, mechanics, design, and construction is offered using LEGO and Robora construction pieces.

While the main objective is to design and build an automated mechanism to execute a specific action, through programming, students develop qualities and apply values during the elaboration process.

Logical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills are some qualities that robotics can develop in students.

During the last few years, the number of schools and colleges betting on educational robotics has also multiplied. Several of them have excelled in national and international competitions.

An example of this is the members of SpaceTeens (Space Kids), who met at a camp organized by the Paraguayan Space Agency and then decided to form part of a team focused on robotics.

Its members were recognized with the innovation project award during the last First LEGO League Paraguay, qualifying them for an international competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There they competed against 90 delegations from 38 countries.

Although these children and adolescents were thrilled with the whole process, they also had to overcome the lack of resources to travel to Brazil and present their project.

ARASUNU II AND THE ROAD TO SPACE

A team of young scientists from the Polytechnic Faculty of the National University of Asuncion (FP-UNA) stands out in the country for the design and manufacture of rockets, elaborated with high technical complexity.

Its latest project, the Arasunu II, won the Engineering Award for Technical Excellence last August with the Arasunu II rocket at the Latin American Space Challenge 2022, held in Tatuí, São Paulo, Brazil.

The project was in charge of members of the Aerospace Club of the FP-UNA, who were not satisfied with meeting the minimum requirements of the competition and went beyond, providing the Arasunu with greater technical complexity and using innovative materials.

HOW COMPLEX IS IT TO DO SCIENCE IN PARAGUAY?

University student Marcos Garay, who was part of both Arasunu I and Arasunu II, said that science is not part of the general culture of Paraguayans. He also pointed out that there is not enough support from the State and private institutions.

“Talking about science seems strange to many. Doing science in different sectors is complicated since there is no support, even more so in the aerospace sector, since it is a very complex, competitive, and expensive field. But, at the same time, it is very beneficial,” he said.

Garay assured the country has enough technical capacity to develop large-scale aerospace projects, which requires greater dissemination of these projects and thus obtaining more financial support.

For his part, university student Alex De Andrade assured that one of this project’s objectives is to demonstrate sufficient engineering capacity in Paraguay.

“The capacity is very good, but we need a lot of support. A team must work here, but financial backing is required,” he said.

The Arasunu II project posed a great challenge for the FP-UNA students. The undertaking was financed with resources from the Yacyretá Binational Entity, while the university provided the infrastructure for its development.

CAN PARAGUAY REACH SPACE?

Although Paraguay is far behind the rest of the world in the aerospace race, for the members of the Aerospace Club of the FP-UNA, the idea of our country reaching space with a project entirely developed by a local team is not far-fetched.

To reach space, the rocket will have to rise about 100 kilometers above sea level, which requires the development of powerful engines and a more resistant structure. It will require significant investment.

“The first step would be to touch space and return, but in the future, we can talk about an orbital rocket that can leave a satellite in space. Everything is a process. We need a liquid propulsion engine. We are making progress on that”, explained Cristian Rivas.

For his part, Marcos Garay assures that the country can reach space, but more support is needed to design and execute the project. He assured that it would be possible to reach space with a Paraguayan rocket in two or three years.

Édgar Ramírez was also very optimistic about reaching space.

“If we had infinite resources and the laboratory structures, it would not be unusual for us to reach space. It would not be far-fetched with the innovations and facilities to exchange knowledge. We need more investment in higher and school education,” he said.

HOW TO AWAKEN INTEREST IN SCIENCE?

Edgar Ramirez recalled that many of the inventions that are consumer items were tested thanks to aerospace technologies.

He affirmed that one of the ways to encourage young people to enjoy science is to promote the creation of laboratories in educational institutions at the elementary school level.

“You can start doing small science projects in schools. It will make it easier for them in the future. It does not always have immediate repercussions, but a future can be built,” he said.

Cristian Rivas pointed out that implementing project-based teaching in the education system is another way forward. He stated that this would allow for more outstanding professionals.

“We realized that by doing a project, you can apply what you have learned in the classroom and reach a higher level of competence. You can understand what you are learning for, and sometimes you learn things on your own,” he said.

Along the same lines, Alex De Andrade explained that project-based education would allow the students themselves to see the results and take ownership of the knowledge.

SCIENCE IN PARAGUAY

Over the last few years, Paraguay has made a considerable effort to promote the development of the sciences, but actions are still insufficient.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018, issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF, 2018), denotes the country’s low investment in financing scientific, technological, and innovation developments.

The country still has much to do to generate investment and public policies and foster scientific and technological development.

However, it must be recognized that there is a considerable effort regarding the development of science and technology with the elaboration of a National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy to be implemented between 2017 and 2030 through the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt).

With information from Ultima Hora