External Outreach is one of the four fundamental pillars of the Millennium Nuclei, alongside cutting-edge scientific research, the training of junior researchers, and formal collaborative networking. From this perspective, at Millennium Nucleus ICLAC we understand External Outreach as a strategic tool to connect our academic work with society at large.
Our goal is for the knowledge generated on the impacts of China in Latin America and the Caribbean not to be confined to the academic world, but to actively circulate in public, educational, and cultural spaces. This involves not only communicating our findings in an accessible way but also creating forums for dialogue on the social, economic, and cultural transformations that are shaping the region in the context of its ties with China.
With this conviction, ICLAC has twice been awarded funding from the PME Competition of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), developing projects that combine outreach, artistic creation, and work with local communities.
In 2024, we produced the fiction short film “The Journey of Guan Gong".inspired by historical sources on Chinese migration to Latin America. Through the narrative centered on the figure of Guan Gong—a deity venerated in various Chinese communities—the short film seeks to introduce the audience to a complex and little-known history marked by processes of mobility, religiosity, and cultural integration.
Currently, in 2025, we are implementing the project “Getting to know China from Chile".a series of workshops in regions across the country's north, center, and south. This initiative aims to foster a critical understanding of the history of the Chinese community in Chile, as well as the local impact of commerce associated with the so-called “Chinese malls.” We are committed to creating opportunities for participatory reflection, especially in communities outside of Santiago, where these phenomena are reshaping commercial and social dynamics.