Uepa Project Brings Female Students Closer to Science Through Interactive Workshops
The initiative promotes biweekly meetings at the Pará Science Center and Planetarium (CCPPA) and presents an overview of different areas of scientific knowledge
Awakening female students' interest in scientific knowledge is the main objective of the project "Astrociência: Girls in Sciences in Pará." The initiative is aimed at students from the 9th grade of Elementary School to the 2nd year of High School, regularly enrolled in public and private schools in the State.
The project promotes biweekly meetings at the Pará Science Center and Planetarium (CCPPA), a space linked to the Pro-Rectorate of Extension (Proex) of the State University of Pará (Uepa). The activities involve themes from various areas, such as: Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Biology, seeking to increase female participation in scientific segments historically dominated by men.
"The goal is to show that girls can occupy any space, build their own paths, and see science as a real possibility for the future," emphasizes the project coordinator, Professor Vania Lobo, who is a faculty member at Uepa and also responsible for the Chemistry space at CCPPA.
Conceived as an extension project, Astrociência began in 2023, linked to the Tainá-Kan Feminine Collective, through an initiative by Uepa professors Bianca Venturieri and Jeane Costa. In 2025, activities began to be developed in May, with an interactive program. "A panorama of different areas of scientific knowledge and the functioning of school visits, which occur routinely at the Pará Science Center and Planetarium, was presented to the students. From there, the agenda was integrated with practical workshops, focusing on playful and participatory learning," details Professor Vania Lobo.
This year, the following workshops have already been held: "Operation and Maintenance of Telescopes"; "Environmental Chemistry: Process of Converting Organic Waste into Energy"; "Electrochemistry in Action: Contribution to Sustainability and Environmental Preservation"; "Chemical Light: Unveiling the Glow of Science"; "Inclusion and Girls in Sciences"; and the most recent, "Pedagogy and Science Museums."
Learning - The last workshop mentioned, which took place on Thursday afternoon (28), focused on reflecting on the museum character of the Pará Science Center and Planetarium, highlighting the importance of the pedagogue in museum spaces and promoting awareness of the need for a science that is increasingly integrated with a humanistic perspective.
"The workshop directly dialogued with the mission of the Pará Science Center and Planetarium, affirming that the place is, in fact, a museum of science and technology. The meeting proposed that science museums, like the Center itself, should be living educational spaces that connect science to society and promote engagement with scientific knowledge in a meaningful and relevant way for people's lives," states Alice Sousa, a pedagogy technician at CCPPA, one of the professionals who conducted the activity.
The pedagogue emphasizes that integrating a more humanistic perspective in science museums transforms the visitor's experience, as it goes beyond the simple transmission of information. "This approach makes learning more meaningful and relevant, and seeks the construction of knowledge and the development of a critical perspective on science and its implications. The experience becomes richer and more inclusive, focused on interaction and discovery," explains Alice.
This is the second year that 9th-grade student Adrya Lohanna has participated in the Astrociência activities. For her, the experience "has been incredible." "I am gaining a lot of new knowledge about the Planetarium and about sciences in general. I decided to continue in the project because I wanted to learn even more from the experiments and other topics in the field of science," comments the participant, who dreams of working in the field of Astronomy.
2nd-year High School student Sabrina Trindade learned about the project through her sister and quickly submitted her application. "I thought it was very good to learn more, so I signed up. It is very rewarding to know that I made it here. I have managed to learn a lot of knowledge and it has been a very good experience. I like the laboratory and I intend to enter the Medicine course," she reports.
Elizabeth Araújo, a 1st-year High School student, started her participation in Astrociência to gain experience and new knowledge. She highlights that the workshop "Chemical Light: Unveiling the Glow of Science" was one of her favorites. In the activity, the phenomenon of chemiluminescence was explored, which occurs when a chemical reaction results in the emission of light. An example is in neon bracelets, which glow when their chemical components are mixed. "When I had contact with the experiment, I already wanted to do it at home to show my whole family. It was really cool."
According to Professor Vania Lobo, more than just workshops, the project has provided "playful and interactive experiences that transform the way girls see themselves and the world, promoting the female youth of the Amazon as protagonists of science."
