SICOAQ 2024: Launching the First Colombian Astrochemistry Symposium in Bogotá

The First Colombian Astrochemistry Symposium (SICOAQ), held in Bogotá in October 2024,brought together 98 participants, including 23 speakers, to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in the rapidly growing field of astrochemistry. The programme featured engaging lectures, courses, and discussions on a wide variety of topics, extending from chemical processes in planet-forming discs and the astrochemical conditions influencing planetary habitability to the complex astrochemistry of the interstellar medium in distant galaxies. The symposium underscored the importance of gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), providing a platform for empowering women in science. It facilitated national and international collaboration, strengthening scientific networks, and advancing astrochemistry research and education across Latin America. Following its success, the second edition is planned for 2027 at the University of Valle in Cali, Colombia, where efforts to promote astrochemistry through education and research will be extended further.