"90 Segundos de Ciência": eight years and almost 2000 scientists
Oeiras, 21 November 2024
Today, November 21st, the radio show “90 Segundos de Ciência” marks its 8th anniversary, having showcased the voices and work of almost 2000 scientists in Portugal and abroad, every weekday on Antena 1.
Are there enough scientists in Portugal to ensure a daily radio show for months, even years? And can science be accessible and engaging in… 90 seconds? Eight years ago, the team of ’90 Segundos de Ciência’ accepted this challenge, leading to an eight-year successful journey.
Produced by ITQB NOVA and Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas (NOVA FCSH), the programme has reached 1,889 episodes, amounting to over 2,800 minutes of science on national radio. Supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), it has become a repository of the scientific research carried out in Portugal, offering insights into diverse fields — from natural sciences to humanities, sports to arts, space sciences to history — and showcasing scientific projects from all regions of the country, and from the Portuguese diaspora.
Over the years, 90 Segundos de Ciência has been recognized with the PODES Prize, the Prémio Acesso Cultura, the Gulbenkian Knowledge Award, and an honorable mention at the Prémio Nacional de Jornalismo de Inovação.
“This programme is an excellent example of the kind of ideas and initiatives that can emerge from the Master’s in Science Communication. It is truly inspiring to see this spin-off thrive year after year”, says Ana Sanchez, co-coordinator of "90 Segundos de Ciência" and of the master's programme, Vice Dean of ITQB NOVA.
Producer Adriano Cerqueira explains the process: “Each episode is recorded in person at each interviewee's institution and then edited to fit into 90 seconds. Always first-hand and in the voice of the scientist."
You can listen to new episodes of "90 Segundos de Ciência" from Monday to Friday on Antena 1. All episodes are available online, here. One thing is certain: many more scientists and scientific projects wait to be discovered.
The program is coordinated by António Granado, Joana Lobo Antunes, Ana Sanchez and Paulo N. Vicente.
