The new partnership will seek to strengthen the dissemination of content on Antarctic and subantarctic research produced by the BASE Millennium Institute through the editorial’s lens, bringing excellent research closer to different groups of readers in Chile and around the world.

The recent collaboration agreement signed with Editorial SurCiencia represents a new stage for the science outreach developed by the BASE Millennium Institute. Among its priorities is the publication of works aimed at diverse audiences, with education as a central tool for knowledge. “This partnership seeks to give sustainability to the science outreach books we are able to develop, making it possible to expand their reach and presence throughout the country, as well as the development of new stories around Antarctic and subantarctic research aimed at different audiences,” says Dr. Elie Poulin, faculty member at the University of Chile and director of the BASE Millennium Institute.

“We believe that science outreach gains greater value when books succeed in meeting their readers. This agreement will allow us to work with the BASE Millennium Institute to develop publications that bring Antarctic and subantarctic research closer to children, families and educational communities, favouring a broad and sustained circulation of this content,” underlines Fresia Grimberg, editor and representative of Editorial SurCiencia.

Antarctica in early childhood

One of the first projects contemplated in the work between both institutions is the publication of the book “We dive with mum… in Antarctica!”, a work aimed at early childhood that highlights Antarctic biodiversity, marine ecosystems, and the leadership of women in polar science. The book, created by journalists Constanza Barrientos and Nadia Politis, had scientific advice from members of the Millennium Institute such as: Dr. Angie Díaz (UdeC), Dr. Karin Gérard (UMAG), Dr. César Cárdenas (INACH) and Dr. Elie Poulin (University of Chile). The illustrations were created by Magallanes artist Daniela Silva (@artpatagoniawild).

Educators Marcela Soto and Porfiria Barrientos advised on the pedagogical content of the work, which tells the adventures of a family from Punta Arenas, led by a researcher mother dedicated to scientific diving in Antarctica: “In early childhood, girls and boys are discovering the world and are highly sensitive to everything. While it is very important for them to have experiences and play outdoors, it is also important that, little by little, they approach reading together with their caregivers: observing images, listening to stories at a calm pace and letting them be protagonists of the reading experience, so they can point to words and turn the pages. Books like this help form readers from early childhood, showing that reading can also be an adventure to explore the world and discover new places,” reflects teacher Porfiria Barrientos.

The book “We dive with mum… in Antarctica!” will also have a preview at the 12th SCAR Open Science Conference (SCAR 2026), which will take place from 8 to 19 August in Oslo, Norway, and is organised by the Norwegian Polar Institute. “As a team, we will take part in the Art and Science session to share our experience of integrating stories, symbols and analogies to bring Antarctica closer to the youngest audiences. This represents an international milestone for our institute,” highlights Nadia Politis, director of Communications and Education at the BASE Millennium Institute, an ANID centre of excellence of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.

In the new project, Editorial SurCiencia will be responsible for the editing, publication, distribution and commercialisation of the first edition, as well as promoting its dissemination in bookstores, book fairs, libraries and educational spaces, in a first print run of one thousand copies. It also includes dissemination and promotion actions through launches, presentations in libraries, educational establishments and the media. More information at https://www.surciencia.cl

Source: BASE Millennium Institute and Editorial SurCiencia

Antarctic humanities and social science scholars and stakeholders to the 2025 biennial academic conference of the Standing Committee on Humanities and Social Sciences (SC-HASS) of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The Antarctic Studies Program of the Universidad de Chile’s Law Faculty is very proud to host this conference for the first time.

The conference will take place on October 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2025, in an online format. The first two days will feature three live stream channels, divided into two-time blocks (morning and evening, according to Chilean time). We have considered plenary conferences, panels, individual presentations, and pre-recorded video presentations. The last day we will have time for SC-HASS and the action groups’ business meeting.

We have prepared online forms for you to submit your proposals and applications. I look forward to seeing all of you through the online platform.

Call for Abstracts
Open from June until the 9th of August, 2025

1. There will be no fee for submitting an abstract
2. Date and expected format of the conference: October 7-9, 2025, online format The conference will be held online
3. Preferred manner of presentation: When you submit your abstracts, you are also requested to provide your preferred manner of presentation
   • Online live oral presentation; or
   • Online uploading of video presentations, with on-demand viewing and commenting
4. The Theme of the Conference:
   The conference theme is “Antarctica in Times of Change”, chosen to reflect the challenges and pressures placed on the Sixth Continent by climate change, accelerated ice melt, biodiversity loss, and growing geopolitical and economic interests. In keeping with the ethos of SC-HASS, we warmly invite contributions from all disciplines within the humanities and social sciences, including the performing and creative arts, that explore an aspect of the relationship between humans and the Antarctic (including the Southern Ocean)
5. The format, length, and number of abstracts: Abstracts must be submitted via the following Google form (link here). Both proposals for individual presentations and proposals for panels on a specific topic or theme are welcome. Proposals should be written ideally in English; however, given the strong support from our community for non-English language streams, presentations in languages other than English will also be considered. The proposals should not exceed 500 words in length for a panel submission or 250 words for an individual submission. Additionally, please include the academic information and a brief biographical statement, as required in the Google form, for each presenter. You are welcome to submit multiple abstracts, up to two per person, as the first author. The conference’s Academic Planning Committee will review all proposals. Questions related to the submission of proposals and the academic content of the conference may be submitted to Luis Valentin Ferrada (schass2025 [@] gmail.com)
6. Deadline for submitting abstracts: August 9th (Saturday) up to 23:59 hours, Chilean time (GMT -4). Successful applicants will be notified by the end of August. Registration is planned to open by the end of August 2025. Send your summary here.

Bases to download here

Luis Valentín Ferrada
Convenor, 2025 SCAR SC-HASS biennial conference
Professor and Director of the Antarctic Studies Program of the
Universidad de Chile’s Law Faculty
Principal investigator Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystem (BASE)