For the third consecutive year, ChileCarne and a regional science program are leading CuriousMinds (CuriosasMentes) Laboratories: Explore the territory!, which provides children with content on balanced nutrition, well-being, science, and sustainability through learning experiences connected to their daily lives and local environment.
How are food, science, and caring for the planet connected? This is one of the questions addressed by the “Training for Superheroes!” initiative, led by ChileCarne and Explora RM Norte—a project of the Ministry of Science—to get children excited about these issues through hands-on activities, experimentation, and play.
The initiative is part of the CuriousMinds Laboratories, led by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation. Drawing on diverse experiences and educational materials, students explore topics such as balanced diets, well-being, and sustainability, connecting them to daily life situations and decisions.
One of the topics covered is the role of animal protein in a balanced diet and in sustainable production practices, such as water conservation and reuse. The project aims to help children understand these concepts through firsthand experience, connecting them with their local environment.
“For ChileCarne, participating in ‘Superhero Training!’ is a way to teach new generations, bringing them closer to topics that are key to their well-being and the future of our planet. We believe that education and knowledge are key tools for awakening curiosity, fostering conscious decision-making, and showing that science can also be fun and approachable,” says María Ignacia Essedin, Sustainability Analyst at ChileCarne.
Science and learning in the territory
One of the key features of the initiative is linking the topics to the realities of the specific communities. The activities help children recognize processes and activities present in their communities, many of which are related to food production and the jobs of their family members.
This approach connects science, technology, and innovation to their real-world experiences and show how this knowledge is found in different areas, from food production to the efficient use of resources such as water and energy.
In 2026, “Training for Superheroes!” workshops were held at Almirante Riveros High School in Conchalí, with 18 fourth-grade students; El Pino Viejo School in Lonquén, with 30 first-grade children; and Montenegro High School near Coexca’s facilities. These workshops bring this educational experience to schools near production plants and strengthen the link with local schools.
A partnership that brings science closer to new generations
The collaboration between ChileCarne and Explora RM Norte has sustained an initiative that allows children to interact with scientific content through experiences designed to spark their curiosity and promote active learning.
After three years of joint work, the initiative has established itself as a meeting place for education, science, and the community, with activities that connect knowledge to the challenges and specifics of each territory.
For ChileCarne, the experience is also an opportunity to strengthen ties with communities near production facilities and to create spaces to learn about topics relevant to the industry and society at large.
“After three years of this initiative, one of its most valuable aspects is the ability to reach school communities directly and connect the content with their realities. It is very important to us to continue this work, especially near production facilities, because it allows us to create spaces for coming together and learning, shining a light on the relationship between people, production, and the sustainability challenges we face as a society,” says Essedin.
With more than three decades of experience bringing science and innovation to Chile’s schools, the Explora Program continues to promote experiences that make knowledge a close and meaningful tool for children and young people.
