Research Capacity Development Benefits for International Partners

We discuss the Chilean participation in SDSS, emphasizing the impact both on research infrastructure and on the culture of scientific multi-institutional collaboration in Chile, which until 2013 was still in developing nation status. The creation of a team comprising astronomers, physicists, and engineers, and the involvement of seven Chilean universities, represented a change from traditional more isolated practice. Never before have such a large number of Chilean universities and scientists spanning multiple disciplines joined to achieve the same scientific goals. In addition, the Las Campanas Observatory continues as a major research infrastructure capacity for the future of Chilean astronomy. The presenter serves as a member of the SDSS Chilean Participation Group.