Cosmic Explorers: Empowering Girls Through Astronomy
TalkEducation Focus Session: Teaching with Authentic Data
7th Shaw-IAU Workshop
Tuesday Nov. 18, 2025
UTC: 6:20 p.m. - 6:35 p.m. America/New_York: 1:20 p.m.- 1:35 p.m.
Wednesday Nov. 19, 2025
UTC: 8:50 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. America/New_York: 3:50 a.m.- 4:05 a.m.
Daysi Quinatoa Bringing astronomy education to Ecuadorian public schools with classroom visits. (Observatorio Astronómico de QUito)
We use data from the ESO NTT telescope in multiple filters to create RGB images and teach young girls from public secondary schools, where opportunities in STEM are limited and few pursue science careers. Through coding and image processing activities, we help students gain confidence with technology and show them that coding can be creative and fun. Our goal is to inspire girls to explore astronomy and consider futures in STEM by reducing fear and building skills.
About Daysi Quinatoa Bringing astronomy education to Ecuadorian public schools with classroom visits.
I am Daysi Quinatoa, PhD in astrophysics and an observational astronomer based in Quito, Ecuador. My research focuses on studying the interstellar medium using bright water lines at 752 GHz in low-redshift ULIRGs and calibrating dust continuum as a tracer of gas in nearby galaxies. I specialize in radio and submillimeter astronomy, with interests in star formation and masers. I am also dedicated to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in science, and advancing astronomy education in Ecuador.
