NOV. 5, 2019

Astrophysicist Paulina Assmann appointed Regional Science Ministerial Secretary for the Central-Southern Macro-Area

Undersecretary of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation Carolina Torrealba and Regional Governor Sergio Giacaman introduced the new Regional Science Ministerial Secretary for the O’Higgins, Maule, Ñuble and Biobío regions.

Speaking from the CiCAT Biobiósfera Center in Concepción, Science Undersecretary Carolina Torrealba and Biobío Regional Governor Sergio Giacaman introduced the new Regional Science Ministerial Secretary for the Central-Southern Macro-Area, Paulina Assmann.

Dr. Assmann holds a Ph.D. in Physics and specialized in Astrophysics at Universidad de Concepción. She has conducted research at Universidad de Chile and the National Astronomical Observatory of China and will now represent the Science Ministry in the O’Higgins, Maule, Ñuble and Biobío regions.

Prior to accepting the challenge of serving as Regional Science Ministerial Secretary, Assmann was Deputy Director of International Relations at Universidad de Concepción, where she worked to bolster projects involving international cooperation between academia and companies in the fields of astronomy and mining. 

Dr. Assmann is a renowned scientist and scholar with several international publications who has been involved in science and knowledge dissemination from a very young age. She has held internships at renowned research centers including University of Bonn, Heidelberg University and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics.

Science Minister Andrés Couve celebrated the appointment of the new Regional Science Ministerial Secretary, noting her “exceptional track record, connection to innovation and commitment to the regional development of science and technology.” Dr. Assmann is the second macro-area regional representative appointed by the new minister. 

In Concepción, Undersecretary Carolina Torrealba highlighted “the opportunity to create a scientific pole that serves as a reference for the surrounding regions in this macro-area.” She noted that “Paulina Assmann personifies the Science Ministry’s commitment to decentralization, which we believe is more relevant now than ever before. Some of the inequalities in our country are also related to unbalanced regional distribution, as all decisions are made in Santiago. We must foster profound dialogue in today’s context. Science can bring us together, speak to us about the future and foster a different type of development to which our ministry would like to contribute.” 

Upon accepting the appointment, Paulina Assmann remarked, “I am proud to be a part of the process of building the Science Ministry. I have participated many of the programs that it offers, including Explora and Conicyt doctorate scholarships. I was one of the people who felt that we needed a Science Ministry to represent the scientific community and knowledge and technology at the central level.”

In regard to the macro-area’s unique characteristics, the new Regional Science Ministerial Secretary noted that, “This macro-zone could be Chile’s brain. We have all the ingredients we need, including academic ability, companies, technological development and technological entrepreneurial ventures. We have to start listening to all of the players, set the objectives and draw a road map. My role is to facilitate that process as part of the ministry’s focus on dialogue between the academic and technology world and society.”

Following her appointment, Dr. Assmann will work in Concepción, where she will initially focus on drafting an evaluation of the local context that will be used as a basis for launching specific initiatives to promote science, technology, knowledge and innovation throughout Chile.