This presentation describes an interdisciplinary educational experience developed in a primary school in Guanaqueros, Chile, where astronomy was used to foster transformative education (Lange, 2023). Through collaboration between the school, a local community member, and a local university astronomy department, students planned a symbolic journey to Mars while exploring scientific identity, scale, astronomical observation, and spatial representation. The experience is analyzed through the lens of transformative competencies (OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030, 2019), showing how astronomy can strengthen student agency and connect learning with local communities and future-oriented thinking.

About Maximiliano Montenegro

Maximiliano Montenegro holds Bachelor's and Doctoral degrees in Physics from the University of Chile and a PhD in Education from The Ohio State University, USA. He is a researcher at Factoría Ideas and previously served as an education researcher at the Universidad de La Serena and as a faculty member in teacher education at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. His research focuses on astronomy education, interdisciplinary learning, student agency, and equitable access to STEM education. He develops community-engaged educational initiatives that use astronomy to foster transformative learning and expand opportunities for all learners.