For almost two decades, Science Mornings was a tool of the Environmental Education Program in Pontal do Paranapanema, in the far west of the state of São Paulo. Implemented by IPÊ and coordinated by educator Maria das Graças de Souza, better known as Gracinha, the mornings aimed to establish a channel of communication between IPÊ and the community, talking to people about the science practiced by the Institute’s researchers in the region. The initiative began in 2003, with monthly 3-hour morning meetings, with specific themes related to biodiversity conservation issues, and lasted until 2015, during which time 30 meetings were held. The experience served as inspiration for the ARR Corridors for Life Project, focused on the carbon market, a partnership between IPÊ and Ambipar, which in 2023, began to hold “Fridays with Science”, aligning environmental education, information and community engagement, this time under the responsibility of Aline Souza, training coordinator for IPÊ projects, also in Pontal do Paranapanema.
Check some of the highlights from these meetings
Maria das Graças says that Science Mornings provided a space where IPÊ researchers could present their research on flora and fauna in natural areas such as Morro do Diabo State Park to the community in a clear and objective manner. There were numerous events, but according to her, two of them left a deep impression on the participants. “One of them was led by researcher Fernando Lima, who explained the behavior and ecology of the feared jaguar, a carnivorous animal that feeds on wild animals such as capybaras, tapirs, deer, among others. When he stressed the importance of keeping the forest standing, the habitat of the jaguar’s food chain, people understood that the animal only invades the fences of private properties due to the devastation of native forests. In another meeting, Cristiana Martins presented results from the Conservation Program for the Black Lion Tamarin, a species endemic to the Atlantic Forest in the interior of the state of São Paulo. She demonstrated that the species feeds on fruits and helps in the planting of new trees, since the seeds that pass through the digestive tract of these animals are dispersed in their feces,” she explained. She then continued: “After listening to the researchers, people understood why it was important to conserve biodiversity and what their role was in the environment,” Gracinha pointed out.
“Fridays with Science“ 2025 starts with an event for women
On the 28th, the 1st edition of the Fridays with Science of the year 2025 will be held with the theme “They Restore: Women, Forests, Equity, and Female Leadership in Restoration.” This event will be aimed at women with a methodology based on SWOT analysis, a management tool that will help identify the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats, regarding women involved in the forest restoration chain. The method will be applied by Aline Souza and Vanessa Stamberg, project analyst, at Ambipar.
The choice of the theme, according to Aline, is related to a combination of facts, such as “International Women’s Day”, celebrated on the 8th; and the reality of the ARR Corridors of Life project, which has 28% of jobs, out of a total of 229, occupied by women, based on data collected in the 2nd half of 2024. Although women occupy almost a third of the number of jobs generated by the project, one positive point, according to Aline, is that they are represented in the three fronts of forest restoration work: technical team, community nurseries and planting and maintenance companies.
The event is expected to bring together women who work in the area of forest restoration and for this space to be a stage for exchanging experiences, strengthening networks and empowerment, thus contributing to gender issues based on the UN’s SDG 5 – Gender Equality.
“This initiative is essential to ensure that this important group is heard, since women are present in a significant number of places throughout the forest restoration chain. Meetings like this provide guidance and help build a fair work environment where gender is not a limiting factor for professional development,” said the IPÊ researcher.
In 2025, we will hold three more events in June, September and November, and the themes of the meetings are still to be defined.
