Plano Pilotto promotes the regional phase of the 13th Scientific Circle

Plano Piloto, the third largest Regional Educational Coordination (CRE) of the Federal District Education Department (SEEDF), held on Friday (27), the regional phase of the 13th Scientific Circle. The best projects from local science fairs were submitted to 69 platforms. With more than 2,000 attendees, the event also featured nearly 800 exhibitors, including staff, students and mentor teachers, coming from all 112 schools and 17 CRE daycare centers in Plano Piloto.

Booths containing innovative projects from Sebrae, the Supervisory Authority for Urban Cleaning (SLU), the Zoo and the Institute of Biosciences of the University of Brasilia were also invited. The government’s Education Minister, Helvia Barañagua, attended the event and spoke during the opening ceremony.

The Regional Stage at Plano Pilotto has 69 pavilions featuring the best projects from local science fairs | Photos: Jota Castro/SEEDF

“I am very happy, because the Science Circuit is a very important event. This is the time when even the little ones start to connect with scientific upbringing and become champions, inside and outside the classroom.”

This year’s students’ creative proposals addressed the theme of Biomes in Brazil: Diversity, Knowledge and Social Technologies, many of which sought to meet the environmental requirements of the local community. Projects range from early childhood education, including day care centres, to secondary education, covering all stages and types of teaching.

Sandra De Brito, coordinator of the Plano Piloto School District, praised the projects presented on the regional scene. “There is no better way to learn than through research, where they make these discoveries through their own experiences. The schools we have here today do a beautiful job.”

The coordinator also believes that the science circle stimulates students’ curiosity and social interaction. “We need to encourage these children to put down their mobile phones for a while and participate and discover new knowledge, in an environment different from the classroom. Awaken their curiosity for experiments, at the same time as they communicate and interact with their classmates,” thought Sandra.

Inflation

The balloon project explained the science behind the hot air mechanism that makes a balloon float

One of the surprises of the party was the huge balloon brought by the region’s education department, on which the words science, knowledge and peace were written in the school. “The goal of the balloon project was for children to understand how a balloon flight works, and the science behind the hot air mechanism that makes the balloon float,” explained Joseel Ortiz, Head of the Basic Education Unit (Unieb) of the school district.

Gann Elementary School (CEF) science teacher Adriana Araujo presented a scientific and creative learning project with the Steam Maker methodology with the students. The new program was implemented at the school in May this year, where students conducted various researches in the makerspace using a 3D printer.

“We promoted a printer course and then started implementing everything the boys had seen in math and science in the classroom into the makerspace. It is a space where they have complete freedom to create and develop research,” said Adriana.

The students took the 3D printer to the regional theater and demonstrated how it works. Among the various projects that the students implemented on a pilot basis was an automated irrigation system equipped with a soil moisture sensor.

Student Sofia Lopez, 14, talked about how she conducted this research. “Automated irrigation prevents the problem of wasting water. Here in Brasilia, we have experienced more than 150 days of drought, and water is very important for everyone’s daily life. The irrigation device allows the use of water without surplus, which strengthens the economy of this natural resource of the vital Cerrado region,” explained the young scientist.

*With information from the Ministry of Education