Among many issues, the National Awards recalled his beginnings in science field. Astronomer Maria Teresa Ruiz said  wanted to be a chemical engineer. But after an internship at Cerro Calán (which houses the National Astronomical Observatory), was sent to the newly opened Cerro Tololo Observatory: "For the first time I saw the Milky Way and it was like a cto be falling of  love with, a total crush, Anyway  I do not regret because it has been a a fun life, "said the Director of the Center for Astrophysics and Related Technology (CATA), funded by CONICYT .