Oscar García Meza
Augusto Patiño
The content of this news item has been machine translated and may contain some inaccuracies with respect to the original content published in Spanish.
Through a series of videos, the programme shows the latest Minds of Peru (or Minds of Peru) showcases the latest in national academic research by leading scientists and academics from different disciplines and universities. This programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) and its Inca Garcilaso Cultural Centre in order to support the visibility and internationalisation of our researchers.
The Foreign Ministry's project plans to collaborate with different private and public universities throughout the country. In that sense,the MRE contacted the PUCP and we became the first university to cooperate with this programme. "This is a great opportunity which, at the same time, is part of the University's internationalisation initiative," says our Vice-Rector for Research, Dr. Aldo Panfichi. "We chose PUCP in the first place because of its prestige and outstanding position in national and world rankings," says Ambassador Rómulo Acurio, Director General of Foreign Policy Studies and Strategies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President of the Bicentennial Working Group.
The first episode of Mentes del Perú is about our Humanities Department professor Dr. Roberto Zariquiey, who narrates his work on Amazonian indigenous languages. " The PUCP welcomed the initiative in a very enthusiastic way and the videos he produced exhibit a very high quality of production and content, which will enhance the international reach of this content," says Acurio.
The decision as to which PUCP researchers would be included in this first batch of episodes was discussed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Panfichi points out that it was difficult, due to the large number and quality of specialists we have, but finally psychologist Dr. Lennia Matos, physicist Dr. Alberto Gago and biologist Dr. Norma Salinas were selected. It is worth noting that the Mentes del Perú episodes are subtitled in English to increase their reach.
"The intention is that, with this audiovisual material, our embassies can make contact with research centres around the world and inform them of the state of Peruvian research. On that basis, we want to foster contacts for academic exchanges and joint research," says Rómulo Acurio.
After the universities send in their audiovisual production, as PUCP did in the first episode,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will disseminate the material as widely as possible. Acurio explains that, firstly, there will be direct contact with researchers, institutions, study centres and faculties previously identified and related to the discipline covered in the video. Likewise, a more general public will be reached through the social networks of embassies and consulates. The ultimate goal is that all of this will have an impact on improving national research.
"We know, for example, that Dr. Zariquiey has a network of contacts in Europe and the United States. The idea is that through this project he will multiply his possibilities for interaction and collaboration with other partners he doesn't know and who are interested in the linguistic studies he is carrying out," says Acurio.
About the importance of appearing in this programme for our University, Dr. Panfichi mentions: "Making PUCP internationally visible as a partner to develop research, innovation and creation in different fields of knowledge is a strategic commitment that will also allow us to continue advancing in international rankings. In this way, we seek to ensure that the PUCP is considered one of the most important universities not only in Latin America but in the world.
