Attendees were welcomed by the Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation at Usach, Dr. Alberto Monsalve; the Director of Cedenna, Dr. Juliano Casagrande; and the Executive Director of the Cedenna Foundation, Dr. Dora Altbir. They were joined by the Head of the Science and Society Division of the Ministry of Science, Pablo Brugnoli, representing the government.
ProNano was created this year in partnership with the Explora Program, the Chemistry Teachers’ Network, and SLEP Santa Corina, as well as the Aprender Corporation and the Strategic Relations Department of Usach. During the event, teachers had the opportunity to participate in talks given by leading researchers, conduct practical experiments, and visit state-of-the-art laboratories, while also conducting their own experiments so that they could take these experiences and knowledge back to their classrooms.
“Our mission is to generate cutting-edge knowledge, develop technological innovations, and train human capital of excellence in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology,” Casagrande emphasized. He stressed that for this to happen, “it is essential that the knowledge generated in our laboratories transcends and reaches society. In this sense, education plays a crucial role.”
Vice-Rector Alberto Monsalve commented that “Cedenna’s work is not limited to research excellence; it also has a strong commitment to education and scientific dissemination. Programs such as ProNano are an example of this, providing teachers with up-to-date tools and knowledge so that they can convey the wonders and applications of nanoscience to their students.”
Pablo Brugnoli highlighted Cedenna’s role “in bringing cutting-edge technology to teachers so that they can pass it on to students in Chile. We believe this is very important because one of the objectives of our Science and Society Division, part of the Explora program, is to democratize science, democratize knowledge, and bring science closer to people.”
“From the Science and Society Division of the Ministry of Science, we have been working hard for science that is neither foreign nor distant. Science that is lived, talked about, and practiced in the territories. And that starts here, with you, teachers, who have in your hands the most noble and transformative task: to spark curiosity, open worlds, and shape critical awareness and hope at the same time,” he said.
He added that “nanoscience may seem distant or abstract to those who are unfamiliar with it. But you are here to prove the opposite: that it is possible to bring this cutting-edge knowledge into the classroom, translate it into educational experiences, and turn it into opportunities for children and young people throughout Chile to approach science not only as content, but as a way of looking at the world.”
ProNano was created in 2010 with the aim of serving as a bridge between cutting-edge research and school education. This is because, for Cedenna, teachers are the main agents of change in the training of new generations of researchers and professionals in this and other fields of the country’s development.
Albumin Nanoparticles
The event featured a unique scientific experience that can be replicated in classrooms: secondary school teachers from different regions of the country participated in the production of albumin nanoparticles using egg whites.
"Using accessible, everyday materials, teachers will be able to directly replicate this activity in their classrooms. They'll transform egg white into a tangible example of cutting-edge science through a simple process," noted Dr. Patricia Díaz, a Cedenna researcher in charge of the practical experience.
Dr. Díaz noted that ovoalbumin nanoparticles, sourced from egg whites, are analogous to human albumin nanoparticles already in production. These represent an advanced drug delivery system that has undergone significant research in nanomedicine.
"These particles are biodegradable and safe and are currently used in cancer treatments for controlled drug release and in bone marrow scintigraphy, lymphoscintigraphy, and sentinel lymph node localization in patients with malignant melanoma and breast cancer. Egg albumin nanoparticles, being edible, may be useful in the food industry," he concluded.
ProNano, a trailblazing initiative in Latin America, has become a leading model for secondary school teacher training, supplying educators with innovative pedagogical instruments. The tenth iteration of this workshop comprises lectures from distinguished scientists—notably National Prize for Exact Sciences laureate Dora Altbir—tours of specialized laboratories, and experiential activities. These elements collectively aim to reinforce foundational nanoscience concepts and offer classroom-ready applications.
In alignment with the new secondary school science curriculum, the organizers report that the 2025 iteration addresses the escalating demand for specialized knowledge within educational settings. The program aims to furnish teachers with the requisite methodologies and hands-on experiences to facilitate the meaningful and practical integration of nanoscience and nanotechnology concepts into their instructional approaches.