Embry-Riddle Academic Conducts International Professorship at USS Concepción

Dr. Francisco Crespo, a researcher at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the United States, participated in an Applied Mathematics Seminar organized by the Teacher Training Program at the Concepción Campus of Universidad San Sebastián.

Dr. Francisco Crespo, a researcher at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (United States), presented the lecture “Modeling and Analysis of Relative Equilibria in Multi-Body Gravitational Systems” as part of the Applied Mathematics Seminar held at the USS Concepción Campus. The activity was organized within the framework of a Fondecyt Initiation Project led by Dr. Jorge Zapata Hernández.

The seminar brought together students interested in expanding their knowledge of applied mathematics, particularly in the areas of dynamical systems and celestial mechanics. During his presentation, Dr. Crespo examined the analysis of complex gravitational configurations and explained how certain systems can maintain coordinated motion under specific conditions.

The lecture provided attendees with insight into the practical applications of mathematics in scientific and technological fields, including space mission design and orbital trajectory analysis. It also created an opportunity for academic exchange on current challenges in mathematical research at the international level.

Yocelyn Parra, Director of the Elementary Education Program and the Teacher Training Program, explained that one of the main objectives of the activity was to “highlight the role of applied mathematics within the context of internationally recognized research, placing it at the forefront of knowledge.”

She added that “Dr. Crespo’s work is situated in highly specialized fields such as Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Systems, which push the boundaries of disciplinary knowledge and generate results with tangible and significant real-world implications.”

Applied Mathematics and Teacher Education

Regarding the impact of the seminar on student learning, Parra emphasized that experiences of this kind strengthen the connection between theoretical content and its practical applications.

“When students realize that concepts studied throughout their teacher education—such as calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, and dynamical systems—are the very tools used to calculate satellite trajectories or assess the collision risk of an asteroid, their relationship with the discipline changes,” she said.

She also noted that understanding the practical relevance of mathematics has a direct impact on future teaching practices.

“When future teachers understand that what they teach has real-world applications, they explain it with greater confidence, purpose, and an enhanced ability to motivate their own students,” she added.

According to Parra, initiatives such as this are expected to become a permanent part of the program’s academic identity, strengthening ties with the international mathematics community and creating new opportunities for collaboration and networking with researchers from around the world.