«Young Scientists Without Fear» brings research closer to the public in Faro

The science communication event challenged four participants to share their research topics and personal journeys through short, accessible presentations.

Inspired by the Science Show format developed at Kiel University (Germany), a UAlg partner in the European University of the Seas Alliance — SEA-EU, the initiative aimed to spark curiosity and encourage dialogue between the academic community and the public, making research more accessible.

Elias Ratinho and Fábio Gonçalves, PhD students in Psychology at UAlg, presented «Gamification in Mathematics: What Do Students Think?» and «Mind-Wandering in Children», respectively.

María Esther Ollivier, a PhD student in Marine, Earth and Environmental Sciences, explored «Sustainability for All», while Pedro Duarte, from the Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA) and a PhD student in Science Communication, shared his journey from biology to journalism.

The presentations were followed by questions and discussion with the audience, before closing remarks by Cristina Veiga-Pires, a UAlg academic and Director of the Algarve Ciência Viva Science Centre.

Before these presentations, UAlg Professor Jaime Aníbal, from CIMA, took to the stage with «Star Wars — From Science to Fiction». 

By connecting this fictional universe with scientific concepts, he captured the attention of younger audience members and sparked their curiosity, setting the scene for an afternoon of discovery and participation.

The initiative formed part of the Geração Ciência Sem Medo Festival, which marked Ciência Viva’s 30th anniversary.