As a result of the partnership between Instituto TIM and the Museum of Natural Sciences of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), an even larger number of public schools in Paraná will be able to take part in the Ciência vai à Escola (Science goes to School) program – which, since 1997, has shown children and young people from 8 to 17 years old different forms of science. The program is an initiative by the Museum in partnership with the Department of Genetics at UFPR and the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science in Paraná, with Instituto TIM being the first and only private sector enterprise to support it.
In 2014, for the first time, schools along the coast of Paraná will take part in the Ciência vai à Escola program, whose activities begin in May. It is expected that around 120 students will visit it in the first month of the program. “Currently, we are liaising with the districts of Colombo, Rio Branco and Antonina,” explains the vice-coordinator of the program, Fernando Sedor. “By the end of the year, we estimate an average of 1700 participants,” he adds.
The aim of the program is to make the teaching of science more popular, whilst making a contribution to the studies of students in Junior and Senior High School in Paraná (mostly coming from the public sector). Museum monitors will go to partner schools or receive students at the museum to explain about science in mini-courses on Genetics, Paleontology and Zoology. There will be workshops and itinerant exhibitions on Paleontology, amongst other initiatives. “The workshops take place during the children’s school hours, ranging from 2 to 5 hours in duration,” points out Fernando.
Ciência vai à Escola takes place each year, from April to November. “This is the most intense period because of classes. Many activities are offered because we receive considerable demand. In 2013 alone, we served 43 municipalities”, explains the vice-coordinator. The program also welcomes, on occasion, students from Kindergarten, undergraduate and graduate courses. With support from Instituto TIM, Ciência vai à Escola has already reached 1,052 children from 16 municipalities in Paraná.
