At the beginning of year 2002, the "Gobierno Regional de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena", altogether with the "Universidad de Magallanes", the "Instituto de Fomento Pesquero" and the "Instituto Antártico Chileno", was united around an initiative that the “Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego-Patagonia y Antártica- CEQUA” (CEQUA) under the ceiling of the Regional Program of the "Comisión Nacional Científica y Tecnológica" (CONICYT).

In year 2005, the CEQUA as convert in a Foundation of private right for charity, with the goal to fortify the development of science in the Region of Magallanes and to extend its bows with all the actors of the community of the XII Region.