As part of our Science and Technology Week celebrations, Colegio Concepción welcomed Dr. Gabriel León, Chilean scientist, writer, and science communicator, on Wednesday, October 14th, for a special encounter with students from the junior area. Through a presentation filled with stories, questions, and reflections, students had the opportunity to discover how scientific curiosity can become the starting point for a lifelong journey of learning and creativity.
The activity was organised through a collaboration between the English Immersion Plan, led by Mr. Marcos Riveros, and the Sustainability Committee, led by Ms. Iowanna Maltés. This joint initiative brought together science, literature, communication, and education, offering students an opportunity to learn directly from a professional who has dedicated much of his career to making scientific knowledge accessible and engaging for different audiences.
During the encounter, Dr. León shared his personal journey, from his early interest in science and his career as a researcher to becoming a writer and one of Chile’s recognised voices in science communication. Through his experiences, students were invited to understand that science is not limited to laboratories or complicated theories. It often begins with simple questions about the world around us, the kind of questions that can lead to discoveries, investigations, and even books.
The presentation also highlighted the close relationship between science and storytelling. As the author of La ciencia pop and the popular children’s series Preguntas raras, Gabriel León has shown how everyday questions can be transformed into fascinating stories. Students also had the opportunity to interact with the author, bringing their own curiosity into the conversation.
A special part of his visit was the opportunity to share his books with our students, as copies of his publications were given to participants from both talks held during the day. We are also delighted to announce that Colegio Concepción has acquired several of Gabriel León’s books for our school library, including La ciencia pop, ¿Por qué olemos mal?, ¿Qué son las emociones? y otras preguntas raras que hago a veces, and ¿Qué son los mocos? y otras preguntas raras que hago a veces. These titles are now available for students to borrow and explore, allowing the experience to continue beyond the auditorium.
This encounter reflected the value of connecting different areas of learning through meaningful experiences. By bringing together scientific exploration, literature, critical thinking, and communication, the activity encouraged students to recognise the importance of asking questions, developing ideas, and sharing knowledge with others.
We invite our school community to explore the highlights of Dr. Gabriel León’s visit and discover his books in our school library. Whether through a surprising scientific fact or an unusual question, these stories offer a wonderful opportunity to revisit the ideas shared during the encounter and continue exploring the world with curiosity.
