Valparaíso, pioneer city in university marine research. The case of the oceanographic vessel Explorador

Abstract

Oceanographic research in Chile has a long-standing, especially with the strong impulse it had during the first half of the twentieth century, mainly from the universities based in Valparaíso. The aim of this work is to stand out the role of the port city as a Pioneer place in oceanographic research. It is an initial approximation to some of the most relevant milestones in its recent past, specifically between the 40 ‘and 70’ decades, in relation to the first Marine Biology Station built in South America, by the University of Chile in Montemar, Reñaca. Then, as a consequence of the above, the construction of the first university oceanographic vessel built in Chile between 1959 and 1961. The methodology used, was mainly based on personal interviews, written testimonies, epistolary documents and graphic material that, for reasons of space and pertinence will not be
fully presented in this paper.