More than 150,000 persons have visited “The Universe of Light” in the last 4 years.

This time, the 19 interactive experiences will include modules from the Photogrammetric Air Service of the Chilean Air Force, SAF, on themes related to Remote Perception.

The exhibit will be open to the public October 15 to November 6, Tuesday through Friday from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm.  On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays it will be open between 9 am and 1 pm.


“The Universe of Light” exhibition, which touches themes basically related to the properties of light and its most recent technological applications, will present its 28th showing in Easter Island next month during October, after having toured practically all of continental Chile.

The project team who will carry out the exhibit, now members of the Center for Optics and Photonics(CEFOP) at the University of Concepción, together with help from the Explora program of CONICYT, will stay for 20 days on Rapa Nui. During this period, islanders can not only visit the exhibit, but they may also participate in a series of activities with the scientists accompanying the exhibition.

According to Dr. Carlos Saavedra, Scientific Director of CEFOP, “Bringing the exhibition to Easter Island and thus closing the cycle of The Universe of Light presentations in the country there is especially attractive.  Besides, in this opportunity, additional applications will be incorporated in the form of modules from the Photogrammetric Air Service of the Chilean Air Force, SAF, on themes related to Remote Perception.  A comparable presentation to this one is probably the presentation in San Pedro de Atacama, where the number of visitors was greater than the population of residents, due to the presence of tourists and nearby towns. This time, we hope for a similar response.”

Also, the museum of anthropology, P. Sebastián Englert, had a fundamental role in the negotiation to host the exhibition at the Takarua events center, where the Rapanui community can appreciate the properties of light represented in a piano of light, fiber optics communication and solar panel operation.

Francisco Torres, director of the museum of anthropology Padre Sebastián Englert, explained the relevance of bringing “The Universe of Light” to Easter Island.  “For us, it is extremely valuable to have this exhibit on the island, first because it is a very special moment for the exhibit, as it is closing its national tour and, second, because we are physically very far from these types of activities.  Generally, tourists visit Easter Island for its cultural importance, but there are few didactic and educational instances such as this that teach, awaken and motivate to learn, especially for our children,” added the museum director.

Even though the travelling exhibit in Chile comes to an end with the Easter Island visit, it does open a new door to go out into the world, a challenge that has already been suggested and that is expected to be carried out in the near future.

In this respect, Dr. Saavedra noted, “One of the exhibit goals for the near future is to be able to present it in other countries. We have made contacts with the Optics Society of America (OSA) and the International Society of Optics and Photonics (SPIE), with whom we hope to establish specific agreements to internationalize the exhibition.  It would be very rewarding for all involved with the exhibit, that was conceived in its original version to tour the most isolated rural zonesof the Bio-Bio Region, with Professor Luis Braga, to now have the opportunity for presentation in various countries, transforming it into an example of scientific outreach.”

The inauguration
The exhibit inauguration will be October 11 at 9 pm in the events center Takarua, and will begin with a small Rapa Nui ceremony titled Umatahu, prepared by the museum of anthropology P. Sebastián Englert, in which success will symbollically be petitioned for “The Universe of Light” on the island.
The exhibit will be open to the public starting from October 15, and to groups with pre-registration via telephone at (32) 2551020-2551021, or by e-mail difusió[email protected].    Admission is free of charge.