The temperature dropped, doing justice to the name of the program: “Science and Art in Winter Holidays”, “CAFin 2018”. But in the auditorium of the Faculty of Medical Sciences there was music to warm up the freezing morning at the opening ceremony. The string camera from the Primeira Nota project, a partnership between Campinas City Hall and Unicamp's Institute of Arts (IA), performed an eclectic repertoire, including an encore.
In the audience were more than ninety elementary school students, selected from 25 schools in the Campinas municipal network. Until July 18th, students participate in various activities at Unicamp, involving all areas of knowledge, full-time. They are supervised by professors and researchers from the University and the main objective of the program is to awaken students' interest in scientific research and artistic activities.
The workshops take place at the Chemistry Institute (IQ), Computing Institute (IC), Arts Institute (IA) and Biology Institute (IB); in addition to the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM), Faculty of Physical Education (FEF), Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Planning (FEEC) and Center for Environmental Studies and Research (Nepam). In each activity, participants will learn a little about how research is carried out at a university.
CAFin is organized by the Dean of Research (PRP) in partnership with the Municipal Department of Education. Representing the dean of research Munir Salomão Skaf, advisor Benilton de Sá Carvalho asked the students to use the opportunity to reflect on the importance of research in the lives of each person present. He cited improvements that science has provided in people's lives.
Undergraduate Dean Eliana Amaral represented Dean Marcelo Knobel at the ceremony. She commented on Unicamp initiatives aimed at secondary or elementary school students, such as Unicamp de Portas Abertas (UPA) and the Higher Interdisciplinary Training Program (Profis). Amaral also drew attention to the number of public school students at the institution. “We have to respond to the needs of our community. It is important that the public network occupies the spaces of the public university”, she highlighted.
The students’ expectation is just to learn more and more. As well as making new friends. Giovana Galvão, from the Violeta Doria Lins school, in the Vila Rica neighborhood, was excited about the possibility of getting to know Unicamp and perhaps one day returning as an engineering undergraduate student. Yasmim Letícia, from the same school, also exchanged vacations at home for vacations at university. “I want to learn a lot of things,” she said. Professor Solange Villon Pelicer, municipal secretary of Education, highlighted that students who participate in the program return as multipliers to their schools. “They are enchanted by the university and feel like they can be here one day.”
