What immediate challenges does society need to resolve? And how can universities contribute to their knowledge production? Several proposals aimed at intervention on socio-environmental, economic, political and cultural problems should be raised during the 1st Unicamp Extension Meeting.
Together with representatives of public authorities and society, universities can act, for example, in the search for solutions to problems such as unemployment, dengue epidemics, urban mobility, water source contamination, among others.
The event, organized by the Dean of Extension and Community Affairs (Preac), takes place on the 22nd and 23rd of February at the Unicamp Convention Center. To the inscriptions, free of charge, can be done until February 20th.
In addition to a workshop to prepare intervention proposals integrating extension, teaching and research, the meeting will feature a day of lectures and round tables. There will be the participation of extension representatives from Unicamp, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Federal University of São Carlos (Ufscar) and Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (Puc-Campinas).
“We already have 160 registered. The expectation is to surpass the 200 mark. In addition to promoting the sharing of experiences and raising proposals for intervention with society, this event will discuss the next steps that Unicamp's extension will take. At Unicamp, all bodies and units do extension work, it is an inseparable activity of teaching and research”, highlighted the pro-rector, João Frederico da Costa Azevedo Meyer.
Two way street
The university itself can benefit from dialogue with society to increase its teaching and research. According to Professor Rafael Dias, advisor to Preac and one of the organizers of the event, this contribution can happen more easily when extension activities are worked on from the perspective of dialogue with society and respect for different forms of knowledge.
“This is the concept we have followed in Unicamp’s extension activities. It is necessary to think of extension as a fundamental activity also for the production and circulation of knowledge at the University.”
