Cell Phones as Microscopes

The first edition of Inspira Ciência will have four in-person meetings at the Museum of Tomorrow in May and June. Combining theory and practice, teachers will meet with astronomers, geologists, biologists, and paleontologists to explore fundamental themes in science. They will also experience new educational approaches to these themes in workshops with science education specialists, making use of technology. In one of these activities, for example, teachers will learn how to build low-cost microscopes, using electronic waste and cell phones. During the program, participants will also develop group lesson plans to put their new knowledge into practice in the classroom.

Lucineia Alves, a teacher at the Juan Antonio Samaranch Municipal School in Santa Teresa, is one of those selected for the second edition of the program. She, who holds a post-doctoral degree in Neuroscience and is a specialist in science education, is enthusiastic about the opportunity.

"In the field of science, constant updating is necessary, as is the exchange of experiences and practices with other teachers. That's what we always tell students: knowledge is never too much," she said.

She mentioned that she had visited the Museum of Tomorrow several times before, including with her classes. "But this time it's special. It's for training."

In the two public calls already held, Inspira Ciência received more than a thousand applications, selecting 120 teachers from different regions of the State of Rio. This selection uses criteria that guarantee the program's scope and the representativeness of education professionals from public and private schools, as well as gender and ethnicity. This diversity ensures a vibrant exchange of experiences and proves that the desire to participate in this type of training is not lacking among Basic Education teachers.

Offering opportunities for professional development to teachers is also one of the goals of SDG 4 – Quality Education – of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda and is fundamental to the success of all other goals of this Objective.