Ministers applaud ITQB NOVA’s work with Oeiras Clubes Ciência Viva
The launch of the 2nd call for the “Clube Ciência Viva na Escola” program took place last Wednesday, 20 October, at the high school Luís de Freitas Branco (Agrupamento de Escolas de Paço de Arcos). The Minister of Education, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, the Minister of State and the Presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva, and the Secretary of State of Science, Technology and Higher Education, João Sobrinho Teixeira, the Secretary of State of Education, João Costa, visited the school and got to know the work developed by the science club. During the ceremony, students, former students, and teachers of the school and researchers of ITQB NOVA presented the work done within the partnership between the two institutions through the Ciência Viva science club.
The success of the collaboration was highlighted as a role model for this 2nd edition. The Minister of Education, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, remarked that the idea is that "schools can say 'we want to be' like that school in Oeiras, which has a Ciência Viva Club, where teachers talk enthusiastically about what happens there and former students come back and say that it was the best school in their story". This initiative is an opportunity “to give all students what we have seen here today: a proximity to science that can shape their future”, highlighted the Minister of State and the Presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva.
Science club activities range from the participation in ITQB NOVA initiatives, such as the Open Day or the European Researchers Night, a mentorship program which allows school classes to work side by side with researchers, and the implementation of activities by older students in primary schools. “It is part of our mission as researchers and educators to go "outside the box" of our institutions and move towards society”, pointed out Cláudio M. Soares, dean of ITQB NOVA.
The president of the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture - Ciência Viva, Rosalia Vargas, quoted Mariano Gago to say scientific institutions cannot ignore schools just across the street. She praised the partnership between ITQB NOVA and local schools, highlight our institution’s role as an associate of Ciência Viva. Pedro Patacho, City Councilor for Education in Oeiras, also took part in the visit, and later shared the importance of such initiatives within the municipality’s Science and Technology Strategy 2020-2025 and the “Ciência Aberta a Oeiras” programme.
The Ciência Viva Science Clubs at School are open spaces of contact with science and technology, promoting the experimental teaching. This network started in 2018, and is expected to grow from 237 to 650 clubs within this call.
ITQB NOVA is partner of the Oeiras network of “Clubes Ciência Viva”, supporting all four clubs: AE Paço de Arcos, AE São Julião da Barra, Quinta do Marquês, and AE São Bruno. Students, teachers, researchers and the community are working side by side to stimulate scientific literacy, and create a long lasting impact in society.
