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Working at ESO
Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..
The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.
ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor (home to ALMA), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.
At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world's largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA. On Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.
ESO's Department of Communication (COMM) is inviting students from Chilean universities to participate in our program:
Internship in Museography and Science Communication
Santiago
Deadline 25/06/2024
ESO's Department of Communication (COMM) comprises more than 20 staff with a range of complementary expertise ranging from astronomy, writing, image processing, video production, publishing, web production, social media and design to event organization, and it is responsible for all aspects of internal and external communication for the organization.
During Q3 2024, COMM will start developing a renovation proposal for the ESO's Paranal Observatory Visitor Center (PAO VC). This proposal considers integrating content and modules mainly from the ESO Supernova, a planetarium, science museum and Visitor Centre at ESO's headquarters in Germany, but also from relevant partners institutions in Chile, like Fundacion Cielos de Chile and Centro Interactivo de los Conocimientos, (a complex that brings together the Museo Interactivo Mirador and the Museo Interactivo de Astronomia, among other spaces). These contents will be adapted and complemented together with new content especially created for this project. Thus, the winter intern associated to this project will work on the technical feasibility of the content adaptation to the PAO VC reality, giving input about how to better adjust modules, prints, and relevant content, considering a congruent narrative for the flow of visitors during the visit, while participating in the brainstorming process for new materials. This project considers a theoretical exercise of concept development, as the development and production of the new modules and content will take place during 2025. The internship considers a partnership with Centro Interactivo de los Conocimientos, who will facilitate visits to their exhibitions, workshops and Museography School, and supporting with expert feedback to the intern's proposals.
Main duties and responsabilities:
- Participate in the team's brainstorming for new content and/modules for ESO's Paranal Observatory Visitor Center (PAO VC).
- Explore the PAO VC spaces to evaluate the available infrastructure and propose the suitable changes, within the boundaries defined by COMM.
- Review selected content from ESO Supernova (only available digitally), Fundacion Cielos de Chile and Centro Interactivo de los Conocimientos to give advice about adaptation of modules, prints and information for the PAO VC spaces.
- Visit the Centro Interactivo de los Conocimientos workshops to evaluate which materials could be developed there during the implementation of the renovation.
- Attend COMM Team meetings and coordinate content production and strategy execution with the team.
- Submit progress reports for feedback every two weeks.
- Develop a dossier with the selected materials (new and adapted) with the technical advice for its implementation and create a digital visualization of the new proposed displays at the PAO VC, as a final deliverable for the internship.
Key Competences:
Ability to work in teams and to communicate effectively in an international environment, interacting and collaborating with people from different countries and cultures; creative, proactive, open and friendly attitude; good organizational skills and comfortable working to deadlines.
Qualifications:
Candidates currently studying a University degree in Design and Architecture are eligible. Proficiency in graphic design, layout design, and exhibit design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign); strong creative thinking skills to develop innovative and interactive exhibit proposals. Coursework or experience in museums, visitor centers or similar is also desirable. The candidate should have interest in communicating astronomy and other physical sciences to the public. A suitable candidate must be fluent in English and Spanish both written and oral, have strong MS Office applications skills (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
We offer
ESO offers a special allowance during the period you are performing your internship with us. During Winter 2024, it is expected that the project will be performed remotely, with availability to visit the Vitacura offices twice a week and travel to the observatories if requested.
Application
We invite students from Chilean Universities in an advanced stage of their career to apply. The apprenticeship should be supported by the University and therefore covered by the accident insurance (Law 16.744).
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment, you are invited to apply online at http://recruitment.eso.org/.
Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivational letter and CV.
Closing date for applications is 25 June 2024.
Interviews are expected to start after this date.
ESO Values
An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.
The ESO values are:
ESO strives for excellence through innovation.
ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.
ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.
ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.
Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.
Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.
Diversity
ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Please visit https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/ for further details.
Nationality
No nationality is excluded, however non-Chilean applicants must have a pertinent working permit, according to Chilean regulations, at the time of the application. The post is equally open to suitably qualified candidates irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.