As part of the 26th Meeting of Latin American Antarctic Historians (EHAL 2026), the 10th Antarctic Education Forum took place—an international event bringing together teachers, researchers, educators, and science communicators from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay in a virtual space. Under the banner of turning the white continent into an open and shared classroom, the event established itself as a key platform for exchanging pedagogical experiences, debating outreach strategies, and promoting polar education across the region.
The forum was opened by Dr Mauricio Jara Fernández, an academic from the University of Playa Ancha and member of the Centre for Hemispheric and Polar Studies. He emphasised the need to strengthen Latin American cooperation and ongoing professional development as vital pillars for connecting Antarctic research with wider society.
Uruguay: From primary classrooms to expressive media
APECS Uruguay featured prominently in the academic programme through two presentations addressing Antarctic education from complementary angles: curricular integration within formal schooling, and the use of creative media for knowledge building.
Antarctica in primary school
In the first session, focused on Institutional Frameworks, Ongoing Training, and Identity, Giovana Gerosa outlined the history and challenges of integrating Antarctic themes into primary classrooms across Uruguay. During her talk, she analysed how scientific and historical content regarding the white continent can find a place in everyday school activities, fostering early environmental awareness, a curiosity for research, and a sense of belonging to a region with strong Antarctic ties.
Children's drawings as a diagnostic tool and literacy technique
Later, in the session dedicated to Teaching Tools, Technology, and Outreach, Research Associate Waldemar Fontes presented his project examining children's drawings as a methodological tool. His presentation demonstrated how analysing students' visual artwork makes it possible to assess prior knowledge, geographical preconceptions, and imaginative constructs surrounding the polar environment. Furthermore, he demonstrated how children's art serves as an exceptionally effective vehicle for Antarctic literacy, encouraging critical thinking and the uptake of scientific concepts through visual language.
Latin American dialogue
The forum highlighted the rich creativity and methodological diversity displayed across the Southern Cone's educational community. The Uruguayan presentations shared the stage with prominent regional initiatives, including polar mediator training schemes ("Embajadores Antárticos" in Chile), artificial intelligence developed to combat misinformation ("Descongela el mito" by the BASE Millennium Institute), digital search-trend analyses regarding Antarctic information, and critical narrative pedagogy projects in socially vulnerable contexts.
For the APECS Uruguay community, active participation in these forums reinforces the importance of viewing outreach and education as core components of scientific and historical work. Connecting advances in Antarctic knowledge with schools and educational institutions remains essential to ensuring the development of future generations of researchers, educators, and citizens committed to the polar environment.
Event recording and press coverage
Watch the forum's live stream (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/live/2PwB7FOnPOo?si=jCt5xhs1MXqHgBSZ
Read the special press coverage: Mirador Antártico: https://miradorantartico.com/2026/08/23/la-antartica-al-aulax-foro-de-educacion-antartica/
