USP's CienTec Park Launches Free Interactive Science and Nature Activities for January Vacation
USP’s CienTec Park offers free, interactive science and nature activities throughout January, encouraging family engagement with educational exhibits and immersive experiences.
- • CienTec’s free program runs January 12–31, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM–4 PM.
- • Activities cover astronomy, ecology, physics, and history for all ages.
- • Highlights include the Solar System walkway, Educational Trail, Bee Walk, and Planetarium.
- • New exhibition 'Light and Life' explores the role of light in life on Earth.
Key details
From January 12 to 31, the Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da USP (CienTec) is hosting a broad array of free interactive activities designed to engage visitors of all ages in science and nature. Open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM, the program focuses on themes such as astronomy, ecology, and history.
Director Suzana Ursi highlights the program's goal of fostering connections with nature, especially important in urban environments like São Paulo where access to natural settings is limited. Visitors can explore the Educational Trail to learn about the Mata Atlântica ecosystem, experiencing native flora and fauna firsthand. An outdoor Solar System walkway offers artistic and scientific insights into the sun and its planets.
Additional attractions include the Bee Walk, showcasing Brazil’s native stingless bees and their crucial role in pollination; the Microscopy Laboratory, where microscopic life is examined; and the Geophysics Space explaining Earth's dynamic features like earthquakes and volcanoes. Historical elements are presented on the Historical Walk, featuring the park’s meteorology and astronomy heritage with visits to the historic Zeiss telescope.
The Planetarium features immersive high-definition night sky projections, while new exhibitions such as "Light and Life" explore the essential role of light in biology and physics, developed through a collaboration with USP's Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center and the Institute of Physics. Other interactive experiences include physics experiments demonstrating everyday phenomena and an augmented reality Biomes of Brazil exhibit.
Located at Avenida Miguel Estefano, 4.200, Água Funda, São Paulo, the park offers free entry and parking, encouraging visitors to wear light clothing and bring water. Food and drink are not sold onsite, but picnic areas are available. This initiative offers families a unique, educational break that blends fun with deepening the public’s appreciation for science and the environment.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
