Astronomer Mónica Rubio enters the Chilean Academy of Sciences

This August 30, professor Mónica Rubio joined the Chilean Academy of Sciences, the session was chaired by the president of the Institution, María Cecilia Hidalgo, “We value very much the incorporation of Mónica as part of our academy. Her outstanding career in the study of star formation and molecular regions has greatly enriched our understanding of the universe. Her tireless dedication and achievements have left an indelible mark on the field of astronomy,” she said.

The ceremony, which was attended by almost a hundred people, both in person and online, was attended by distinguished personalities, such as the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Chile, Francisco Martínez, who had warm words for the astronomer “this great recognition is a product of the extraordinary scientific production, her warmth and her ability to train new generations of Professor Rubio. It is a great honor for the Faculty to have a new member in the Academy and we are doubly proud that the new member is a woman”.

Three women national prizewinners at the head of the table

María Teresa Ruiz, who’s also an astronomer and academic of the Department of Astronomy of the University of Chile, National Prize and member of the Academy of Sciences, was a key part of the ceremony, she gave a heartfelt welcome speech to the new member of the Academy “Mónica has been very important in the development of national astronomy and I am sure that she will contribute a lot to the functioning of the Academy, I still remember when in the Academy we were only two women, her arrival represents something very longed for”, she explained.

For Ezequiel Treister, deputy director of the Center for Excellence in Astrophysics and Associated Technologies (CATA) and astronomer of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Catholic University of Chile, the arrival of Mónica Rubio to the academy is something very well deserved “for us (CATA) it is an honor to have a researcher of her level, both for her great scientific productivity, her history and academic trajectory makes us very happy. What is being recognized today is basically her impressive trajectory and the tremendous work she has done over the years, which we hope she will continue to maintain”, he added.

Another authority who attended the ceremony was the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the University of Chile, Marcela Munizaga. “It fills me with pride to see women of Monica’s category being recognized at this event. She is also a clear role model; her large number of students proves it. I think it is excellent,” she said. 

The Director of the Department of Astronomy of the Universidad de Chile, Ricardo Muñoz, who was also present on the occasion, also reflected on the new achievement of Professor Rubio “To see how an academic of our Department obtains this type of achievement fills me with joy. Mónica’s scientific legacy is great and prolific. She has been a great contribution to our Department, the Faculty and the University and I am sure that she will also be a great contribution to the Academy of Sciences”.

A role model

During her induction, the astronomer gave a talk entitled: “Regions of Star Formation in Low Metallicity Dwarf Galaxies”, where the scientist, who obtained her PhD in Astronomy at the University of Paris, spoke about part of her work and scientific legacy.

After her talk, the brand new member of the Academy said “It is an honor to have been elected as a corresponding member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, it was unexpected, it took me by surprise… Since my beginnings, I have embraced collaboration at an international level, participating in research that has unraveled the mysteries of the universe,” she said.

Finally, the scientist sent a message to young women and girls: “I want to remind you that talent and abilities have no gender. And the fact that we are three women scientists sitting on the podium of the Academy of Science proves it. Therefore, I invite all girls to think that doing science is a possibility for them because I am sure they have the capabilities to do it,” she concludes.

A scientist of great solidity 

One of Dr. Rubio’s main research interests is the study of the properties and physical conditions of the interstellar medium and the process of star formation in low-metallicity systems. 

She has more than 180 articles in indexed scientific journals, such as Nature, Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Astronomical Journal, among others, which have been cited more than 5,500 times by her peers. 

In 2015, her study on a new form of stellar maternity, discovered after the discovery of an “incubator” of stars, at the eaves of Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte (WLM) and using the ALMA radio telescope, was published in the journal Nature, work that was intensively disseminated globally.

Mónica Rubio is an academic of the Department of Astronomy of the Universidad de Chile, National Prize of Exact Sciences 2019, researcher of the Center of Excellence in Astrophysics, former president of the Chilean Society of Astronomy SOCHIAS and corresponding member of the Academies of Sciences since this date.