Brazilian Municipal Schools Drive Innovation with Science and Sustainability Programs
Municipal schools in Gaspar and Jundiaí are enriching education with innovative science, technology, and sustainability projects involving active student collaboration and public-private partnerships.
- • Gaspar's program integrates science, art, and engineering for active learning involving 42 sixth graders.
- • Jundiaí students excelled at the Siemens Science Fair with sustainable and social innovation projects.
- • Both cities emphasize collaborative and transformative education fostering scientific thinking and student leadership.
- • Public and private partnerships underpin these initiatives, enhancing educational impact.
Key details
Municipal education systems in Gaspar and Jundiaí are advancing innovative science and technology education through collaborative programs that integrate creativity and real-world problem solving.
In Gaspar, a partnership between the City Hall and FIESC via SESI/SENAI has enabled an active learning initiative that blends scientific inquiry with art and engineering. The 'Insetos em Ação!' project at Zenaide Schmitt Costa School involves 42 sixth-grade students conducting field trips, microscopic analyses, and creating Lego models to study insects. Education Secretary Andréia Symone Zimmermann Nagel emphasized that these methods aim to spark curiosity and meaningful engagement across five municipal schools including Belchior and Mário Pederneiras.
Meanwhile, Jundiaí’s municipal students stood out at the 2nd Siemens Science Fair through the Conexões STEAM initiative—a collaboration among Siemens, the Jundiaí city hall, Siemens Foundation, and the University of São Paulo. Fifteen projects from local schools addressed sustainability and social innovation, exemplified by proposals to mitigate flooding and promote fabric bags to reduce plastic waste. Education Secretary Priscila Costa highlighted the lasting influence such experiences can have on children's futures, while Siemens Brazil's Luis Mosquera linked youth engagement in education to national development.
These initiatives underscore a broader commitment within both municipalities to foster scientific thinking, creativity, and sustainability. By promoting student leadership and collaboration, these programs enrich educational experiences and prepare young learners to contribute innovative solutions to community challenges.
Together, Gaspar and Jundiaí’s efforts illustrate the dynamic role of municipal education in Brazil in inspiring future generations through hands-on science and technology integration with strong public and private partnerships.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.