This month, CERENA researchers participated in different outreach activities. On 12th May 2026, Gustavo Paneiro visited Agrupamento de Escolas Madeira Torres, where he presented the formative offer on Mining and Energy Resources Engineering. Gustavo highlighted the work carried out at CERENA, where he demonstrated the importance of Mining Engineers by engaging students in a practical activity. The students had to find out the necessary minerals to produce objects we use in our daily lives.
On 18th May 2026, CERENA received a group of second-grade students from Escola Pedro Nunes. Miguel Silva, master student of Ricardo Araújo, and Vera Pires promoted activities in the Geosciences Museum. The students explored the minerals in the museum and were engaged in a game to understand what daily life objects require mineral resources to be produced.
On 19 and 20th May 2026, CERENA researchers Beatriz Bento, Gonçalo Pereira, and Pedro Meixedo, participated in the Vila do Conde Science and Technology Fair, organized by the Vila do Conde Ciência Viva Centre. Over the two-day event, more than 2,000 visitors attended, including students, teachers, families, and members of the general public, creating a dynamic environment for interaction and scientific outreach.
The CERENA stand stood out for its strong interactive and educational component, featuring several educational games focused on mineral resources, sustainability, and the circular economy. Among the activities presented was an interactive game exploring the relationship between minerals and everyday objects, as well as the games "The Circular Challenge" and "Green Treasure Hunt", developed under the ValorWaste and Risbriefcase projects (EIT Raw Materials).
"The Circular Challenge" game invited participants to take on the role of CEOs of mining companies, challenging them to manage resource extraction, comply with waste management regulations, and implement circular economy strategies. The "Green Treasure Hunt", a board game aimed at younger audiences, aims to raise awareness of responsible mining, recycling mining waste, and circular economy principles through a fun and educational approach.
Participation in this initiative helped bring scientific research closer to the community, promoting scientific literacy and raising awareness of the importance of mineral resources and sustainability in the development of modern society.
On 20th May 2026, Paula Falcão Neves went to Escola E.B 2,3 Santa Iria da Azóia where she engaged with a seventh-grade and an eighth-grade class, about the importance of mineral resources and mining exploration.
On 23rd May 2026, Orquídia Neves participated in “Experimenta o Futuro”, an activity from Universidade de Lisboa that aimed to showcase the research done at the University with hands-on activities. On this occasion, Orquídia demonstrated how different waters present different mineralization characteristics and how these characteristics correlate with the soil.
