In this new series called ‘Meet the UNAWE ambassadors!’ we introduce our ambassadors, who always work hard throughout the year to educate children about Astronomy and inspire them with our wonderful cosmos. Every month we put one of our unsung heroes in the spotlight. In this month’s episode, we introduce Alejandro Cárdenas-Avendaño from Colombia!
Name: Alejandro Cárdenas-Avendaño
Age: 21
Country: Colombia
Institute: Konrad Lorenz Fundación Universitaria
Study/Profession: Mathematics
Interests: Black Holes Physics and Astronomy Education
Favorite food: Seafood Stew
Most fun UNAWE experience: During an activity to observe the Sun, two siblings (boy and girl), made their own sun viewer and were the most difficult children to keep focused and quiet. Finally, when they started to use their viewer, head to head watching through the same hole, both were perplexed and didn't move for more than five minutes watching the Sun. The other kids just looked at the Sun once and then wanted to do other things, but the siblings just kept observing the Sun and no one bothered them.
Reasons for joining UNAWE ambassador programme: The UNAWE programme allows me to make an astonishing cultural exchange, to help doing educational activities and to realise that when we inspire children we assure a better future. There are many ways to do that, but I have always believed that astronomy is one of the greatest vehicles to achieve that mission. However, it is only possible through teamwork.
Favorite UNAWE resource: Safe Sun Viewer.
Favorite aspect of astronomy: Astronomy, as well as other sciences, relies on observations and theory, neither is enough by itself. The interesting matter is the connection between them; to make real progress we need really good observations, but then we need theory to interpret them. So, this interaction is what makes astronomy so colourful to me.
Plans for next UNAWE activity: Translate more resources to Spanish.
Message I want to give to kids around the world: Astronomy promises big surprises and challenges related to the new data provided by instruments, methods and technologies, making astronomy a fertile field to do research and to discover the mysteries of the Universe. But it requires preparation, so we have to learn with passion as much as possible.
Anything else: Astronomy has shown that today there are no boundaries. We live in a golden era, with many opportunities to connect people. We can work together to spread knowledge. “The Universe is ours to discover”.
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