National Week of Science and Technology Showcases Innovative Public Engagement Across Brazil
Brazil's National Week of Science and Technology highlights diverse public engagement initiatives, including school projects, scientific exhibitions, and mobile planetariums, promoting science accessibility nationwide.
- • Students in Brasília present water-focused science projects, including participants from the prison system.
- • Embrapa's exhibition in Bahia combines science and art, showcasing local agricultural innovation.
- • Paracambi hosts a mobile inflatable planetarium providing free, interactive astronomy sessions.
- • The events emphasize democratizing access to scientific knowledge across diverse Brazilian regions.
Key details
The 22nd National Week of Science and Technology (SNCT) in Brazil continues to foster public engagement and scientific accessibility through diverse activities nationwide. In Brasília, students from public schools and the prison system participated in the 14th Circuit of Sciences, centering their projects on the theme "Water For What?" aligned with SNCT's emphasis on ocean culture and climate change. Over 120 specialists evaluated the district stage projects, acknowledging the dedication of students, especially those with limited resources and in incarceration, who were represented by their teachers. This event served not only as a competition but also as a celebration of knowledge and innovation, highlighting the transformative role of youth in Brazilian science (ID 113023).
Meanwhile, in Caetanos, Bahia, the Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura team took part in the Second Scientific Exhibition, part of the SNCT celebrations in the region. Their project spotlighted fruit and medicinal plants typical of the Caatinga biome, integrating science with art through student-created paintings and a musical poem about childhood memories linked to the umbu tree. Embrapa experts also presented advanced agricultural technologies such as micropropagation techniques for bananas and cultivation methods for pineapples and cassava, illuminating local scientific advancements (ID 113031).
Further enhancing access to science, Paracambi in Rio de Janeiro hosted a mobile inflatable planetarium from the Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (MAST). This portable dome with a digital projector recreated the night sky, providing interactive, educational sessions for all ages. The initiative aimed to democratize science accessibility in areas lacking permanent planetarium facilities, with free public sessions held outside the Fábrica do Conhecimento (ID 113034).