International Workshop in Brasilia - Visits by Science Communicators - Science and Society - Science

Science and Society



		Visits by leading UK scientists


		Visits by science communicators

	Stuart Monro 2005


	Planning the setting up of the first Science Centre & Museum in the city

It is becoming clearer each day the role of advancements of science for the improvement of the conditions of life on the earth. In their interaction with schools, science centres and museums can give children and young people a better understanding of nature and encourage them to choose scientific careers. With this in mind, the British Council has decided to build partnership with several Brazilian institutions in the area of science dissemination, such as the Ministry of Science & Technology, the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science, the Brazilian Physics Society and others and support the creation of science centres and museums.

The BC has recently contributed to the International Workshop for the Implementation of Science Centres and Museums that took place in Brasília, Brazil, from 14 to 16 February, an important step towards the creation of a science museum in Brasilia. For three days, heads of museums in Brazil and other countries shared their experience and made presentations to an audience of some 100 key players in the area. At the end, the Ministry of S&T and the University of Brasilia signed an Memorandum for the creation of the museum, which will be located on the university campus.

Rodrigo Rollemberg, Under Secretary of S&T for Social Inclusion represented the Minister and opened the event. The British Council Director in Brazil, David Cordingley, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brasilia, Timothy Mulholland, and his Deputy, Edgard Mamiya, sat at the high table at the opening.

The BC brought from the UK the Head of the interactive areas of the Science Museum of London, Karen Davies, who gave a wide-ranging view of the London Science Museum and concentrated more specifically on management issues, sustainability and outreach, and the ex-Director of the same museum, Gillian Thomas. The Ministry of S&T brought to Brasilia the Diretors of the museums of Barcelona, Santiago (Chile), Caracas (Venezuela), the Fiocruz Research Foundation in Rio, the Casa da Ciência, also in Rio, and the Espaço Ciência, in Recife (Brazilian NE region).