Claudio Landim receives the rector of the Fluminense Federal Institute.

The rector of the Federal Fluminense Institute (IFF), Jefferson Manhães Azevedo, met this Tuesday (5) with the deputy director of IMPA, Claudio Landim. They discussed the possibility of expanding the IFF's partnership with IMPA in the Junior Scientific Initiation Program (PIC) and the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools (OBMEP). Currently, four units of the institute host the PIC and OBMEP classes at the school, under the guidance of Alex Cabral, PIC-OBMEP coordinating advisor.

Cabral also participated in the meeting, as did Breno Fabrício Terra Azevedo, director of the Center of Reference in Technology, Informatics and Communication in Education at IFF, and Claudia Vasconcelos, head of the Division of Academic Extension Programs at IMPA.

The rector offered the facilities of the IFF campuses in Northern Rio de Janeiro State (Campos dos Goytacazes, Macaé, Quissamã and São João da Barra), in Itaboraí and Maricá (Metropolitan Region) and in three municipalities in the Northwest Rio de Janeiro State Region: Bom Jesus de Itabapoana, Itaperuna and Cambuci. The objective is to expand the programs, to provide access to more students and teachers.

“One of our main missions is with basic education, in the continuing education of teachers. We cannot give up on this teacher training process. We know that activities beyond the classroom serve as a lifeline for students so they don't get lost in this crisis scenario we are facing,” said Azevedo.

According to Claudio Landim, expanding the partnership with IFF will automatically increase the reach of the PIC program, even in regions without OBMEP medalists.

"This is important because it increases the incentive to participate in the Olympiad and, consequently, the interest in studying mathematics," he added.

The rector of IFF said that the joining of forces between the institutions is essential to "awaken young people's interest in science and technology" and will contribute to the country's future development in both sectors.

As a commitment for 2018, IFF and IMPA will focus their efforts on increasing the presence of PIC and OBMEP in schools in the regions where the Fluminense Federal Institute operates.