The University of the Valley of Guatemala (UVG) is the headquarters of the II Central American Space Congress (CEC) 2024. The organizers exceeded expectations and from the expected 300 attendees, the number has increased and on the first day they received almost 500.
Part of the inauguration was the presentation of the Folkloric Ballet of Guatemala who offered the public two scenes that are part of the Paabanc. Among dancers and musicians, the 32 artists gave life to two of the dances that are part of the Dance of the Banka traditional religious festival celebrated by the Q’eqchi’ indigenous people who inhabit the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala.
CEC 2024 seeks to be an inclusive forum for Central American people, both within and outside the region, to share with the regional and global community the space projects they are working on. This congress aims to act as an essential platform to facilitate collaboration opportunities between institutions and people in Central America and internationally.
Andrés Mora, a robotics engineer at NASA Ames Research Center, shares that as the organizer of the conference there are visitors from Japan, Egypt, Portugal, the United States, Germany, Colombia, France and countries in South America.
“We want to bring the old adage to life”If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, Mohammed goes to the mountain“Because within the organizing committee we have had the great fortune of participating in multiple conferences on international congresses around the world and thanks to that experience we have gotten to know each other, but we are also aware of the privilege we have and we want to bring those opportunities to the region, not only at the Central American level because the entire Latin American region wants to have that participation,” adds Mora.
Read more: First Central American Space Congress: A new chapter for science in the region
“Every time we look at our phones and use apps like Google Maps or Waze to get there faster, we are using satellite technology in our daily lives and are in contact with space,” says Mora.
For his part, José Antonio Bagur, coordinator of the Aerospace Laboratory at UVG, shares that “the positive response to the attendance at this congress shows that more people love space. After Quetzal 1 (the first Guatemalan satellite), we now have more young people who want to develop their careers in aerospace engineering.”
Bagur explains that among the various presentations is the panel that will be held by the different space agencies, “it will be of utmost importance for the Latin American ecosystem because in Central America we still do not have space agencies and learning from those lessons and replicating them in the region will be of great value,” he says.
In addition, CEC 2024 aims to be a key meeting point for space startups in the region to explore potential synergies and avenues for cooperation.
Luis Zea, one of the founders of the CEC and adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and founder of Jaguar Space, LLC, also shared that the coordinators of this event do it for free with the sole purpose of opening opportunities that they did not have at the time, and he also thanked the group of volunteers involved.
For more details or to participate in the remaining days of the activity, visit cecspace.org.
The story
Table of Contents
- 1 The story
- 2 Here are PAA (People Also Ask) related questions for the title: **The University of the Valley of Guatemala: A Hub for Space Exploration and Innovation**:
- 3 Here is a potential PAA (People Also Ask) question related to the title *The II Central American Space Congress (CEC) 2024: A Hub for Space Exploration and Innovation*:
Table of Contents
In an interview with Free press, Herrera-Jordán explained that the idea for this activity was born in a conversation at the 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), the most important space event in the world on this topic, which took place in Paris, France, in 2022.
On that occasion, Costa Rica was represented by: Leonora de Lemosdirector of the UCR Aerospace Engineering Group, Melania Guerradirector of Planety Scientific Strategy Andres Moraa postdoctoral researcher at Arizona State University (ASU); Spanish Javier Mejuto, Head of the Department of Archaeoastronomy and Cultural Astronomy of the Faculty of Space Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Honduras; as well as the Guatemalan Luis Zeascientist at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Together they created the foundations for this meeting that is becoming a reality and to motivate the central region of Latin America to be more involved in this type of experience. Part of the motivation is for more people to learn more about space culture and to become more competitive compared to other more developed countries in the space sector.
The first congress was held in Costa Rica in 2023 and it is expected to continue with the proposal on an annual or biannual basis.
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#Central #American #Space #Congress #opens #Guatemala #countries #participate
The University of the Valley of Guatemala: A Hub for Space Exploration and Innovation
The University of the Valley of Guatemala (UVG) has taken center stage as the headquarters of the II Central American Space Congress (CEC) 2024. This prestigious event has exceeded expectations, attracting nearly 500 attendees on its first day, surpassing the initial estimate of 300 participants. The congress aims to provide an inclusive platform for individuals from Central America and beyond to share their space-related projects and collaborate with international institutions.
A Celebration of Space and Culture
The inauguration of CEC 2024 featured a mesmerizing performance by the Folkloric Ballet of Guatemala, showcasing two scenes from the traditional religious festival, “Dance of the Bank,” celebrated by the Q’eqchi’ indigenous people of the Alta Verapaz region. This cultural display added a unique touch to the event, highlighting the rich heritage of Guatemala.
International Participation and Collaboration
According to Andrés Mora, a robotics engineer at NASA Ames Research Center and one of the organizers of the conference, visitors from Japan, Egypt, Portugal, the United States, Germany, Colombia, France, and countries in South America are participating in the congress. This diverse gathering of experts and enthusiasts demonstrates the global interest in space exploration and the importance of international collaboration.
UVG: A Leader in Aerospace Education and Research
As a prominent institution in the region, UVG offers various degrees in Engineering, Sciences, Education, Creativity, and Business, including programs in aerospace engineering [[2]]. The university’s Aerospace Laboratory, led by José Antonio Bagur, is at the forefront of research and innovation, providing opportunities for students to develop their careers in this field.
Tuition Fees and Admission
Prospective students interested in pursuing a degree at UVG should note that tuition fees vary for locals and foreigners. For locals, fees start from 646 USD, while foreigners are required to pay a minimum of 5,000 USD [[1]]. The university offers a range of programs, and students can access information and contact the school directly through its website [[3]].
The Future of Space Exploration in Latin America
CEC 2024 is expected to be a key meeting point for
The II Central American Space Congress (CEC) 2024: A Hub for Space Exploration and Innovation
The University of the Valley of Guatemala (UVG) has become the epicenter of space exploration and innovation in Central America, hosting the II Central American Space Congress (CEC) 2024. This prestigious event has exceeded expectations, attracting almost 500 attendees on its first day, surpassing the expected 300 participants.
The inauguration ceremony featured a mesmerizing performance by the Folkloric Ballet of Guatemala, presenting two scenes from the traditional Q’eqchi’ indigenous dance, “Paabanc.” This vibrant display of cultural heritage set the tone for the congress, which aims to create an inclusive platform for Central American individuals and institutions to share their space projects with the global community.
Fostering Collaboration and Innovation
Andrés Mora, a robotics engineer at NASA Ames Research Center and organizer of the congress, emphasized the importance of facilitating collaboration opportunities between Central American institutions and international partners. He highlighted the diverse backgrounds of attendees, hailing from countries such as Japan, Egypt, Portugal, the United States, Germany, Colombia, France, and South America.
The CEC 2024 seeks to bridge the gap between space exploration and everyday life, as illustrated by Mora’s statement, “Every time we look at our phones and use apps like Google Maps or Waze to get there faster, we are using satellite technology in our daily lives and are in contact with space.”
Empowering the Next Generation of Aerospace Engineers
José Antonio Bagur, coordinator of the Aerospace Laboratory at UVG, noted that the congress provides a platform for young people to develop their careers in aerospace engineering. He emphasized the significance of learning from established space agencies, which will be presented during the congress, to replicate their successes in the Latin American ecosystem.
Key Takeaways and Opportunities
The II Central American Space Congress 2024 offers a unique opportunity for space startups in the region to explore potential synergies and avenues for cooperation. The event’s coordinators, including Luis Zea, founder of Jaguar Space, LLC, are committed to creating a platform for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing, inspired by their own experiences participating in international congresses.
As the Central American region continues to grow in its pursuit of space exploration and innovation, the II CEC 2024 serves as a beacon of hope, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and progress.
For more information on the II Central American Space Congress 2024, visit cecpace.org.
Other notable events in the region
In addition to the II Central American Space Congress 2024, other significant events are taking place in the region, including the Sixth Conference on the Use of Space Technology for Water Management, organized by the United Nations, Costa Rica, and PSIPW, and the Central American Space Congress 2024, which will focus on space technology, robotics, human factors, outreach, and education.
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