MEC hosts the 4th National Science Fair Exhibition

Consisting of 32 projects by students from basic education and federal institutes, from 20 states and 39 cities, the 4th National Science Fair Exhibition – promoted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTIC), in partnership with the National Forum of Coordinators of Fairs and Scientific Exhibitions – was received this Thursday (14) by the Ministry of Education (MEC).

The initiative aims to allow the presentation of projects developed by students, in addition to the exchange of experiences and greater integration between participants.

When visiting the exhibition to learn more about the innovative projects, the executive secretary of the MEC, Izolda Cela – accompanied by the secretary of Basic Education, Kátia Schweickardt and the general coordinator of Integral and Full-Time Education at the department, Raquel Franzim – did not hide her satisfaction at participating in the initiative: “I am an enthusiast of scientific initiation activities in schools, to promote and strengthen this bond between children and young people, many here very young, but already engaged with scientific research, with the search for problem solving real. This makes learning, knowledge and study much more meaningful.”

In partnership with MCTIC, MEC has funding lines for scientific initiation practices, as a way of calling on attention of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) to strengthen these networks throughout the country.

The executive secretary of the MEC goes further, stating that the exhibition ‘goes in the direction’ of the MEC’s comprehensive education policy. “Many of the initiatives that stand out in schools throughout Brazil have a direct or indirect relationship with the perspective of integral education, not necessarily full-time, but an education that works on themes transversally, among many disciplines that have the footprint of scientific practice”, she stressed.

In Izolda's assessment, the projects on display gained prominence by revealing the talent and power of the students, including indigenous people and those with some disability. “They are already looking at their future career. So, this scientific initiation in basic education forms a kind of scientific spirit and has a lot of potential to give quality to learning processes and boost students’ life projects”, she comments.

Excellent opportunities for students to have access to meaningful learning. This is how the general coordinator of Comprehensive and Full-Time Education at MEC, Raquel Franzim, classified the importance of science fairs and exhibitions. “Scientific thinking, curiosity, analysis methods, teamwork and a lot of creativity to solving problems of the most diverse orders are some of the learnings we see in the work here exposed. We need to support that more schools and students have, through scientific projects, the guaranteed right to a quality comprehensive education”, highlighted Raquel.