Announcement

ESO at Expo Milano 2015

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet holds video conference with Paranal Observatory from the Chilean pavilion

8 June 2015

More than 140 countries and many organisations are taking part in Expo Milano 2015, the World Exposition that is being hosted by Milan, Italy, from 1 May to 31 October 2015. ESO is also present at this event, which expects to welcome over 20 million visitors to its 1.1 million square metres of exhibition area.

Throughout the entire Expo Milano, visitors to the Chilean Pavilion will be welcomed with ESO Ultra HD videos showing the beautiful night skies of Chile and breathtaking scenery, including that surrounding the ALMA, La Silla and Paranal Observatories.

On 6 June 2015, the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, visited the Chilean Pavilion at Expo Milano and held a live video conference with ESO’s Representative in Chile, Fernando Comerón, the Director of the Energy, Science and Technology & Innovation Division of the Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry, ambassador Gabriel Rodríguez and Chilean astronomer María Teresa Ruiz, who were speaking from the platform of the Paranal Observatory.

During the conversation, President Bachelet and the astronomers at the observatory highlighted the importance of the Chilean skies as a window on the Universe, and the importance of facilities like Paranal to help develop state-of-the-art astronomy in the country.

President Bachelet also confirmed that she hopes to visit Paranal in October 2015 together with the Prime Minister of Italy.

"We are delighted by this news. We hope to welcome President Bachelet as an expression of the collaboration, spanning more than 50 years, between our organisation and Chile. It has generated great results and has a bright future ahead," said Fernando Comerón after the video conference.

For those who plan to visit Expo Milano, there are further chances to find out more about ESO and Chile. At the Chilean Pavilion between 5–11 October 2015, there will be the “Semana de la Astronomía” (Astronomy Week) with guests and activities supported by ESO and other observatories and universities in Chile.

Links

Contacts

Valentina Rodríguez
ESO
Santiago, Chile
Tel: +56 2 24633258
Email: eson-chile@eso.org

About the Announcement

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Images

Screenshot of the Chilean President Michelle Bachelet video conference with Paranal Observatory from Expo Milano 2015
Screenshot of the Chilean President Michelle Bachelet video conference with Paranal Observatory from Expo Milano 2015
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet holds video conference with Paranal Observatory from Expo Milano 2015
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet holds video conference with Paranal Observatory from Expo Milano 2015

Videos

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet holds video conference with Paranal Observatory from Expo Milano 2015
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet holds video conference with Paranal Observatory from Expo Milano 2015