The Regional Director for Science and Technology stated today that the Government "is contributing to the development of knowledge in the Azores by investing in research centres, the dissemination of science and advanced training."

Nelson Simões spoke on the sidelines of the initiative "Science for All," which featured a series of lectures on "Microorganisms." The event was organised by the Azores Microbial Observatory OMIC) to mark the National Scientific Culture Day in the Azores.

The Regional Director stressed the importance of the actions intended "to disseminate science" in the archipelago, adding that they "encourage students to pursue their studies in scientific and technical areas," apart from broadening "the perspective of people about science."

With regard to the journeys on microbiology and health, Nelson Simões stressed that they addressed "the existing genetic resources in the Azores and their pertinence."

"Furnas is one of the sites in the Azores that evidences a rich genetic diversity in terms of extremophile organism with a huge potential in biotechnology and with application in various fields, including the industry sector, health and cosmetics," said the government official.

The National Scientific Culture Day is celebrated on November 24 and was officially established in 1997 to mark the birth of Rómulo Carvalho, a professor, researcher and author scientific dissemination books.

In the Azores, the celebrations of this day have been extended throughout the month of November with various initiatives organised by the Network of Science Centres, a body created and funded by the Government of the Azores that comprises several scientific dissemination spaces.