Associação Viver a Ciência

Associação Viver a Ciência (VAC) is a Portuguese non-profit association founded in November 2004 by a group of young scientists. Its mission is to strengthen the relationship between science and society, involving citizens in the promotion of scientific research carried out in Portugal. The association is based at UPTEC Baixa in Porto and operates primarily in Portugal. VAC organizes initiatives, events, and actions that highlight the quality and international competitiveness of Portuguese scientific research. It also supports the development of research careers by promoting private fundraising actions. Notable projects include Simbiontes, which brings together different sectors of society to create original artistic materials for fundraising; the Crioestaminal Prize, an annual €20,000 award for biomedical research projects in Portugal; and the photography competition and exhibition "Laboratório de Imagens." The association has also published books such as "Vidas a Descobrir – Mulheres Cientistas do Mundo Lusófono" and "Profissão: Cientista. Retratos de uma geração em trânsito," and organized events like "A Ciência e o Parlamento" to foster science advice to policymakers. VAC's activities span science communication, public engagement, science education, and advocacy. It has received recognition, including an award at the international science communication competition Ciência en Acción for the book "Vidas a Descobrir" and honorable mentions for other projects. The association continues to run programs such as Neuropal, Neuroquiz, and A Menina do Mar, and maintains a science video library.

Associação Viver a Ciência (VAC) was founded in November 2004 by a group of young scientists with the aim of involving citizens in the promotion of scientific research in Portugal. The association emerged from the conviction that science and technology are engines of modern, developed societies. In its early years, VAC organized various initiatives, including two prizes for life scientists funded exclusively by private sponsors, and public science communication events targeting the general public, politicians, journalists, and scientists. One of its early successes was the photography competition and exhibition "Laboratório de Imagens," which toured to the Centro Cultural de Belém, the Algarve, the Azores, Figueira da Foz, and Santo Tirso. The project "A Ciência e o Parlamento" revived debate on science advice to policymakers, bringing examples from the UK and Australia to Portugal. VAC also published "Profissão: Cientista. Retratos de uma geração em trânsito," a booklet profiling 14 young Portuguese scientists, accompanied by a radio program on TSF and later a book and documentary on RTP2 ("Geração Cientista"). In June 2009, VAC published "Vidas a Descobrir – Mulheres Cientistas do Mundo Lusófono," edited by Temas e Debates/Círculo de Leitores, featuring biographies of ten women scientists from the Lusophone world. The book won an award at the international science communication competition Ciência en Acción in October 2010, and two other VAC projects received honorable mentions: "Sair da concha: à descoberta das ciências da vida no jardim-de-infância" and "A Menina do Mar – conhecer a vida marinha a partir de um conto infantil." The Simbiontes project involved children in outpatient care at IPO Lisbon, a marine biologist, and a visual artist from Ar.Co, producing paintings that were auctioned. The proceeds funded the Prémio Simbiontes, worth €10,000, awarded in December 2010 to Miguel Godinho Ferreira of the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência. The initiative also led to the children's book "Os Amigos da Menina do Mar" by Raquel Gaspar and Ângelo Encarnação. VAC has also organized workshops to improve how scientists communicate with journalists and non-technical audiences, and open days at scientific institutions (project Comunicar Ciência). The association continues to operate, with activities such as Neuropal, Neuroquiz, and a science video library.

• 2016

  Prémio Crioestaminal awarded to Bruno Costa-Silva.

• 2010

  Prémio Crioestaminal awarded to Luísa Figueiredo; Prémio Simbiontes (€10,000) awarded to Miguel Godinho Ferreira in December; "Vidas a Descobrir" wins award at Ciência en Acción in October.

• 2009

  Prémio Crioestaminal awarded to Lars Jansen; publication of "Vidas a Descobrir – Mulheres Cientistas do Mundo Lusófono" in June.

• 2008

  Prémio Crioestaminal awarded to Lino Ferreira.

• 2007

  Prémio Crioestaminal awarded to Mónica Bettencourt Dias.

• 2006

  Prémio Crioestaminal awarded to Hélder Maiato.

• 2005

  Prémio Crioestaminal awarded to Sandra Macedo Ribeiro (first edition).

• 2004

  Founded in November by young scientists.

Non-profit association promoting science-society engagement and supporting research careers in Portugal.

• Prémio Crioestaminal

  Annual €20,000 prize for biomedical research projects to be carried out in Portugal.

• Projeto Simbiontes

  Fundraising project uniting different sectors to create original artistic materials for scientific research.

• Laboratório de Imagens

  Photography competition and touring exhibition of scientific images.

• Vidas a Descobrir – Mulheres Cientistas do Mundo Lusófono

  Book profiling ten women scientists from the Lusophone world, published in 2009.

• Profissão: Cientista. Retratos de uma geração em trânsito

  Booklet and radio program profiling 14 young Portuguese scientists.

• A Ciência e o Parlamento

  Project to foster science advice to policymakers.

• Neuropal

  Educational project (details not specified in sources).

• Neuroquiz

  Educational project (details not specified in sources).

• A Menina do Mar

  Educational project based on the children's story by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen.

1. 1Inícioviveraciencia.org
2. 2Associação Viver a Ciência - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Associação Viver a Ciência - Wikipedia (Portuguese)pt.wikipedia.org