Brazil Advances Community Science Engagement with Pint of Science Festival in Manaus and Maker Labs in Pernambuco
In May 2026, Brazil advances science engagement with Manaus hosting Pint of Science festival and Pernambuco inaugurating maker labs in public schools to promote innovation in communities.
- • Pint of Science Brasil festival held May 18-20 in Manaus with diverse science topics at bars and restaurants.
- • Festival aims to connect academia with society, focusing on local environmental and health issues.
- • Programa Mais Ciência na Escola inaugurated two new maker labs with advanced technology in Pernambuco's Sertão schools.
- • Fifteen maker labs planned to enhance student creativity, problem-solving, and align with national education policy.
Key details
Brazil is making strides in community engagement with science and technology through two key initiatives in May 2026. The Pint of Science Brasil festival is being held from May 18 to 20 in Manaus, bringing science discussions out of laboratories and into informal venues like bars and restaurants. The festival features talks on environmental monitoring in the Amazon by Sergio Duvoisin Junior, cancer detection, snakebite treatments, quantum computing, and the societal role of science particularly relating to local issues such as climate and public health. Organizer Jacqueline Sachett emphasized bridging the gap between academia and society and extending access to marginalized communities.
Simultaneously, the Programa Mais Ciência na Escola launched two new maker laboratories in Pernambuco’s Sertão region, equipped with 3D printers, robotics kits, and laser cutters. The labs, at Escola Municipal Catalunha and Escola Municipal Eduardo Henrique Aciolly Campos, aim to foster student engagement, creativity, and problem-solving with local challenges. Coordinators Fabiana Dantas and Pablo Leal highlighted the transformation of empty school spaces into centers of innovation and learning, with 15 labs planned in total. This initiative aligns with Brazil's national educational policies and seeks to strengthen digital literacy in rural areas.
Together, these projects demonstrate Brazil’s commitment to making science accessible and relevant to broader communities, encouraging citizenship through informed public engagement and hands-on technological education.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
