For two years now, the educational program has reached more than 600 students in grades 1 through 4 in different regions of the country, supported by ChileCarne through the Ministry of Science’s Explora Partnership Project (PAR) for the Northern Metropolitan Region.
The initiative began in 2024 in urban communities, but this year it has a new focus on rural schools, emphasizing science education related to local farming. Superhero Training, organized by ChileCarne, is one of several projects that form part of CuriosasMentes Laboratories: Explore the territory!, which is run by the Northern Metropolitan Region Explora PAR. It has proven to be a practical way to bring science into the classroom with games, experiments, and teaching materials.
Its objective is to share knowledge about balanced nutrition—including the role of animal proteins—and promote sustainable production practices with a focus on water conservation and reuse.
Beyond the classroom, the initiative aims to teach students about activities that add value to their community—many of which support their families’ livelihoods—, show them how science and innovation promote the efficient use of water and energy, and help them learn valuable skills for their future.
2025: Science and sustainability in the rural classroom
“This year we had 355 students from seven rural schools in Chillán Viejo, Rancagua, Machalí, Richidegua, Bulnes, Talagante, Lampa, and Melipilla. The last three are located in the Northern Metropolitan Region, where Explora supports us, while the rest were included thanks to our member companies. Being able to reach rural schools has been incredibly rewarding. We’ve been able to share knowledge about balanced nutrition and sustainable farming, topics many students already know because they live in the countryside. One of our biggest achievements was to highlight this practical knowledge and encourage them to imagine innovative solutions to reduce water consumption and prevent food waste as part of their superhero training,” explained María Ignacia Essedin, Sustainability Analyst at ChileCarne and member of the initiative.
By delving deeper into topics such as nutrition, the role of proteins, and sustainable production practices, the classroom can be connected to the everyday reality of people who live in farming communities.
The program began in 2024 in the municipalities of Quinta Normal, Quilicura, Independencia, and Santiago Centro in the Metropolitan Region. It was the brainchild of Explora Northern Metropolitan Region and the Ministry of Science, which launched the initiative to engage younger generations in science and technology in a practical and fun way, while also strengthening local ties and highlighting the productive environment as a learning resource.
Explora also noted the positive results observed in schools. According to Dr. Mario Chiong, project director and researcher at the PAR’s Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), “This initiative has had a meaningful impact on students and educational communities, especially in rural schools. It creates interactive encounters between the scientific community and schools and sparks curiosity, interest, and appreciation for science.”
Bringing science to communities for three decades
This year, the Explora Program celebrated thirty years of bringing science and innovation to educational communities. It is currently executed as a Regional Partnership Project (PAR) led by universities and local actors. Between 2023 and 2024, it reached 92% of the country’s municipalities and trained more than 15,000 teachers.
Regarding the partnership with ChileCarne, Chiong stated that “collaboration between public institutions and trade associations is invaluable for bringing science to the region. This partnership enriches the program’s content and approach, connects scientific research with everyday life and local production challenges, and makes science more tangible and appealing to educational communities. I don’t know of any previous collaborations with other trade associations, which speaks to how innovative and enriching this one is.”
A commitment to education that goes beyond productivity
Looking ahead to 2025-2026, the Northern Metropolitan Region Explora Project will focus on co-creating activities related to food, biodiversity, and local challenges. It will also strengthen partnerships, such as the one with ChileCarne, which connect scientific research to the challenges facing farms and communities.
ChileCarne intends to continue with this initiative next year and expand it to more schools and regions. To further broaden impact, an activity and presentation kit will be sent to the community relations teams of ChileCarne’s member companies, and efforts will be made to strengthen partnerships with other government organizations such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of Agricultural Research and Policies (ODEPA), and the companies that make up the Sustainability Committee of the Chilean Food Export Council.
Collaboration will be key to strengthening ties with communities and promoting a culture of learning and environmental awareness that drives local growth. The partnership plans to extend its reach in the long term, committing to continue fostering science, technology, and sustainability as tools for regional progress and the future of new generations.
