Within the framework of the astrotourism meeting “Let's live the eclipse”, the official launch of Univrso will be held, an initiative that seeks to innovate in astronomical tourism by enhancing the riches and quality of the skies of the Estrella Region.

Free massive online courses and a virtual reality mobile application that seek to give a new perspective to the vision of astrotourism for the community in general. This is what is contemplated in the project of the University of La Serena called “Virtual Reality to reinvent Astrotourism”, from the Innovation Fund for Competitiveness (FIC-R) - Coquimbo Region.

Today this project executed by Campus Digital ULS, gives its first light with the launch of UNIVRSO, a new way of approaching astrotourism, with its website Universo.userena.digital, its four massive, open and free online courses (MOOC) and its virtual reality mobile application, which provides technology to an area that has sought to enhance the richness and quality of the skies of the Estrella Region for tourism.

The MTI. Humberto Farías, director of the project, highlights the impact of this initiative in the region and the importance of promoting the local tourist-astronomic aspect "The FIC was conceived in conjunction with various actors in the region in order to aim that based on A community informed and formed through our distance courses will take value from the richness of its sky and be its first defender. Likewise, seek that citizens join the tourism production chain, so that they can convey to tourists that there is another type of tourist offer in the region that is not only beaches, but that there are also alternatives in the valleys. The idea is to help enrich and diversify the astrotourism offer based on a virtual reality application that Campus Digital is also developing. These two things imply a strong component of innovation in the tourist services that the region offers.”

In addition, the professional extends the invitation to participate in the activity that includes an open talk by Guatemalan photographer Iván Castro. “At the launch of this project, the community will observe its progress, since they will learn about the first products that will be available, which would be the first massive courses and also a preview of what the virtual reality application is. In addition, you will be able to appreciate the talk of a speaker who will be able to give us more guidelines on how to live and enjoy the approaching eclipse.”

The appointment is this Tuesday, April 9, from 14:30 p.m., at the Gabriela Mistral Regional Library. Registrations can be made through the page http://univrso.userena.digital/.

Written by Emilio Castro, ULS Digital Campus