31/10/2023

Dion Villar is honored during Science and Technology Week.

Dion Villar e Luana Meneguelli Bonone

IMPA's multimedia coordinator, Dion Villar, was one of eight honorees during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Science and Technology Week (SNCT) , which took place from October 16th to 22nd in Brasília. The event, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, recognized professionals who have made significant contributions to the success of science popularization and the SNCT. "Those chosen were considered icons and who, in some way, represent the collective, the group that makes the SNCT a success," highlighted the website of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

“I feel very happy and honored to have been working on this National Science and Technology Week project for 20 years and to have been chosen among numerous employees and staff of the Ministry – including Professor Ivo Leite Filho, Douglas Falcão, and Ildeu de Castro Moreira, who are top-notch in terms of scientific dissemination. It is an honor to be among them and among the eight honorees. It means that I have to share this award and thank all the directors of IMPA, all the employees who have always encouraged me, all my colleagues in the ministry, and my family,” said Dion.

Dion, who has been at IMPA since 1987, has participated in every edition of the National Science and Technology Week (SNCT) since 2004 in Brasília, as well as other events held in Rio de Janeiro. Luana Meneguelli Bonone, general coordinator of Science and Technology Popularization, who presented the award, highlighted the importance of IMPA at the event. "Every year the IMPA stand is full of intriguing mathematical games that challenge us and teach us about one of the most feared basic sciences among young people: Mathematics. The work of the IMPA multimedia coordinator shows that science can be fun and stimulates new talent."

The other seven honorees at SNCT were:

– Francisca Lúcia Barbosa dos Santos, employee of MCTI since 1986;

– Leda Cardoso Sampson Pinto, astronomer and head of the Division of Dissemination and Popularization of Science and Technology at the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (IBICT);

– Ivo Leite Filho, chemist and general coordinator of Science Popularization;

Denise Coutinho de Alcântara Costa, assistant in Science and Technology at CBPF, has been involved in organizing the Week since its first edition in 2004;

– Gilberto Lacerda Santos, professor at the Faculty of Education of UnB, regional secretary of SBPC/DF and winner of the Young Scientists award;

– Douglas Falcão Silva, physicist and senior technologist at MAST;

Ildeu de Castro Moreira, physicist and honorary president of the SBPC (Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science), winner of the José Reis Award for Scientific Dissemination.

Event in Brasilia

This year, the 20th edition of the National Science and Technology Week (SNCT) had as its theme "Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development". The event is annual and promoted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MTCI).

With the slogan: “There’s Science in Everything”, the week aims to “mobilize the population around the importance of science as a tool for generating value, innovation, wealth, solutions to national challenges, social inclusion and improving quality of life”, highlights the MCTI page.

IMPA's booth at the event told the story of the institution, its mission, and its contribution to science in Brazil. In addition to videos and information about the institute's projects, the space featured a "mathematical chair," the Spun armchair. Molded from polyethylene, the chair allows for balanced rotations. Logic games and toys, aimed primarily at children and young people, were also presented to the public. The goal was to demonstrate that teaching mathematics can be playful and engaging.

: Fotografia: Ana Luisa de Sousa Machado