The Brain and the Senses

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Outreach volunteer (2014)

Summary: "The Brain and the Senses" aims to disseminate basic knowledge in neurosciences to primary and secondary school students — an area very restricted to the academic community and little publicized to non-expert audiences — especially with regard to the brain and senses, enabling meaningful learning. To achieve this, it uses alternative teaching methods, creating a more interactive and fun environment to help consolidate this knowledge. Presentations are made with theoretical information about the 5 senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell) alternating with practical and interactive interventions.

Experience:

• Workshop Facilitation: Delivered engaging, hands-on sessions combining theory with practical activities about the five senses.

• Science Communication: Translated neuroscience concepts into fun and accessible experiences for young learners.

• Learning Environment: Helped foster an atmosphere of curiosity and interactive discovery.

Neuroscience Biomedical Academic League

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Founder; Vice-President (2016 – 2018); Director of Neurophysiology Commission (2016 – 2018); President (2018); Collaborator (2019 – present)

Summary: The Neuroscience Biomedical Academic League aims to equip its members with knowledge on Neuroscience and share it with other students and the public. It holds meetings and presentations on scientific papers; acts as an intermediary between undergraduate students and Neuroscience laboratories; provides undergraduate students with better knowledge of Neuroscience laboratories and their research; establishes partnerships and contact with academic departments within undergraduate and postgraduate programs linked to the area of Neuroscience. The league also has presence on social media, creating posts about Neuroscience concepts, facts and papers, as well as media that features topics of interest in Neuroscience. Finally, it also organises events on Neuroscience topics both for the academic and non-academic public.

Experience:

• Founding and Management: Helped establish the league from the ground up, defining its mission, structure, and long-term strategy.

• Leadership: Served in multiple capacities — including President, Vice-President, and Director of the Neurophysiology Commission — providing guidance, coordination, and oversight for academic and outreach activities.

• Academic Engagement: Organised journal clubs, research presentations, and facilitated connections between undergraduate students and neuroscience laboratories.

• Science Communication and Public Outreach: Led and contributed to science communication efforts, including social media posts, public events, and educational content aimed at diverse audiences.

• Institutional Collaborations: Fostered collaborations with departments and research groups in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, strengthening the league’s academic impact.

Nucleus for Research, Teaching, Dissemination and Extension in Neurosciences

Institutions: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Roles: Outreach volunteer (2017 – 2018); Collaborator (2019 – 2022)

Summary: The project aims to integrate actions developed by lecturers of Neurobiology and Neuroscience involved in scientific dissemination, in order to popularise Neurosciences in the community of the State of Rio de Janeiro. To this end, it proposes organising research, teaching, dissemination and university outreach actions, as well as the development of teaching tools that provide support for the development of knowledge of Neurosciences.

Experience:

• Outreach and Education Contribution: Supported the planning and delivery of public science communication initiatives related to neurobiology.

• Educational Resource Development: Collaborated on the creation of educational materials and resources for use in community engagement.

• Science Popularisation: Helped expand access to neuroscience knowledge through accessible and inclusive activities.

Science, Art and Society

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Outreach volunteer (2018 – 2019)

Summary: The objective of this project is to take the university beyond its own walls, promoting visits to partner schools where teaching materials made by university students will be offered, as well as discussions on science topics and experimentation. Visits to the Fluminense Federal University's Biomedical Institute and Biology Institute will also be organised for elementary school students from the city of Niterói to learn about their spaces and laboratories. In this way, the project aims to assist in the scientific training of both public and private school students by making STEM themes contextualised and meaningful, which largely contributes to the construction of knowledge.

Experience:

• School Outreach: Participated in visits to local schools, using teaching materials to spark discussion and curiosity.

• STEM Advocate: Helped make science topics meaningful by tying them to real-world experiences and student interests.

DescartUFF — conscious disposal of medicines

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Funding: Fluminense Federal University (UFF)

Roles: Founder; Project manager (2018 – 2021); Outreach volunteer (2018 – 2021); Collaborator (2022 – present)

Summary: The project seeks to inform the population about the disposal of medicines - unused and expired - as well as their packages, with a focus on the legislation and environmental impacts involved in these activities. To engage its audience, DescartUFF conducts several online and offline activities, such as events in universities, demonstrations in public spaces, social media posts, videos, podcasts and games, ultimately aiming to show the impacts of the inadequate disposal of pharmaceuticals on the ecosystem, human and non-human health.

Experience:

• Event Organisation: Helped plan and deliver in-person and online educational activities, including workshops and university-hosted events.

• Digital Content Contribution: Created content for social media and the project website to amplify reach and impact.

• Media Representation: Participated in interviews to raise awareness and communicate safe practices around pharmaceutical disposal.

• Founding and Leadership: Co-founded the initiative and shaped its core mission, goals, and operational structure. Oversaw project planning, team coordination, and long-term strategy to ensure impactful public engagement and sustained community outreach.

• Project Management: Acted as project manager, leading a multidisciplinary team of volunteers. Facilitated collaboration across communication, event planning, and educational content creation, while mentoring new members and supporting their growth within the project.

Academia in School

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Collaborator (2020)

Summary: Academia in School is a initiative focused at continuing professional development for school teachers, producing educational resources with a social and regional focus, in order to improve quality of teaching and student learning. The main objective is not only to improve content, but also boost both students' and teachers' motivation. This project also intends to strengthen an inter-institutional partnership by investing in interventions at partner schools.

Experience:

• Educational Resource Development: Helped design contextually relevant teaching materials for partner schools.

• School Outreach: Participated in on-site interventions aimed at motivating both teachers and students.

• Partnership Building: Contributed to strengthening collaboration between schools and academic institutions.

Disease Prevention and Awareness Cycle

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Collaborator (2020 – 2021)

Summary: This programme carries out, once a month throughout the year, a transdisciplinary action - including events at the university and social media posts - on different topics related to the nervous system, following the calendar of global awareness days for different neurophysiological or pathological conditions. The cycle of events will also allow integration between undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers and non-specialist audiences, disseminating knowledge and allowing the exchange of experiences between groups with the aim of mutual growth.

Experience:

• Science Communication: Helped translate complex topics related to the nervous system into accessible formats for non-specialist audiences, especially through engaging social media posts.

Science and education walking together

Institutions: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil) and Niterói City Hall (Brazil)

Funding: Fluminense Federal University (UFF) and Niterói City Hall

Roles: Collaborator (2021)

Summary: The project is a partnership between the Fluminense Federal University and the Niterói City Hall (sub-secretariat of education). Activities are carried out in public schools in Niterói by Fluminense Federal University lecturers and include classes, conversation circles and experimental practices in the areas of cell biology, neuroscience, histology, embryology, immunology, parasitology, entomology, marine biology , geochemistry/environmental conservation, physics, among others. Other actions occur at the university itself, such as visits to laboratories and conversations with female scientists from the Biology Institute. The project also includes the disclosure - and actions that reduce its harmful effects - of two brain phenomena that affect certain groups (such as women, black people and people with vulnerable socioeconomic conditions): stereotype threat and implicit bias. The project prepares materials for practical activities in schools, as well as presentations, with the aim of making school students feel that they can belong to university and believe they can aim for professional training. 

Experience:

• Classroom Facilitator: Delivered hands-on learning experiences in biology, neuroscience, environmental science, and related subjects.

• School Outreach: Led experimental practices designed to engage diverse student groups.

Brazilian Union of Neuroscience Academic Leagues

Institution: Brazilian Society for Neuroscience and Behaviour (Brazil)

Roles: Founder; Director of Research (2020 - 2023)

Summary: The Brazilian Union of Neuroscience Academic Leagues (UBLAN) seeks to bring together, represent and coordinate actions between Brazilian academic leagues that work in areas of neuroscience. The main objectives are to stimulate the creation, maintenance and growth of academic neuroscience leagues throughout the country. The programme also aims to coordinate joint activities between the leagues and promote the dissemination of the work carried out by these projects.

Experience:

• Founding: Conceived and co-founded a national network aimed at strengthening the presence and coordination of neuroscience academic leagues throughout Brazil.

• Research Leadership: Led the development and implementation of research initiatives that supported league activities and helped document neuroscience outreach efforts.

• Collaborative Strategy Leadership: Oversaw partnerships and coordinated joint events to promote the sharing of resources, scientific knowledge, and best practices among leagues.

• Visibility Advocacy: Helped amplify the impact of local league activities through national dissemination and collective communication efforts.