Regional Government reiterates commitment to scientific and technological dissemination
The Regional Director for Science and Technology stated in Ponta Delgada that 2019 will be the "year of scientific and technological dissemination" inasmuch as the Government will virtually implement various programmes under the Action Plan for Scientific and Technological Culture (PACCTO), including "Science at School," "Citizen Science," "Science and the Media," "Researchers and Public Dissemination of Science" and "Science and Society."
Bruno Pacheco spoke Tuesday at the presentation of MacaroNight - European Researchers' Night, which will take place at Alameda das Portas do Mar (Gateways of the Sea) next Friday, September 28. The event will be organised simultaneously in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
The Regional Director stressed that this event "allows us to recover our memory through traditions, demonstrating that the future is also built through the science on which our tradition is based."
In this regard, he added that the initiative includes several activities focusing on topics such as the science behind fermentation, early agricultural methods in the Azores, whale hunting, pottery, navigation and orientation, among others.
Bruno Pacheco highlighted "the strong educational component" of the European Night of Researchers insofar as it will disseminate "what research centres do, what the Network of Science Centres of the Azores (RECCA) does and what it is like to be a researcher."
For the Regional Director, the dissemination and promotion of scientific culture is regarded by the Azorean Government as a "public obligation." In this regard, it will increasingly require the creation of networks and partnerships, such as RECCA network, where centres are managed by private entities.
"This is a successful model for holding the civil society accountable in the pursuit of the goals set by these centres as true promoters of science," said the government official.
Bruno Pacheco pointed out that science centres in partnership with the Regional Fund for Science and Technology are the "great mentors of the MacaroNight. This initiative is funded by the European Commission through the Horizon 2020 programme in the Marie-Curie Actions, involving the participation of several partners from the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
"The Regional Government is strongly committed to supporting and promoting initiatives aimed at raising public awareness for science, research and innovation, especially in fields where the Region has exceptional performance and results," said the Regional Director.
According to Bruno Pacheco, "there is an urgent need to develop more and better actions with entities such as museums, art centres and preforming art centres in order to show young people that culture goes hand in hand with science, while arousing their interest in science and the desire to do science.
MacaroNight - European Researchers' Night is an initiative that "is in line with the measures set under PACCTO." According to the Regional Director, it "stimulates and promotes the experimental teaching of science, the relation between science, citizens and society, public communication of science and the activities carried out by regional science centres."