City Café Inspires Future Generations of Scientists with Joana Bordalo

On Tuesday, February 13, 2025, City Café welcomed Joana Bordalo, Operations Leader at Native Scientists. As a scientist, she keeps at the forefront the imperative of transforming education and access to science in Portugal. 

During the talk, Joana Bordalo highlighted three major barriers that hinder access to science and the spark of interest among young people:

  • Lack of access to science, especially in disadvantaged communities;
  • Stereotypes about scientists, reinforcing the idea that science is inaccessible or excessively complex;
  • Declining interest in science between the ages of 10 and 14, a critical period for shaping future academic and career choices;

“Scientist Returns to School” as a Transformative Action for Science Awareness Among Young People

To address these challenges, Joana Bordalo presented the “Scientist Returns to School” program, based on Circular Education. Its aim is to inspire children through stories and experiences from those who work with science daily. The main goal of this initiative is to ensure that every child in Portugal has the opportunity to meet at least one scientist before entering middle school.

And, in fact, the guest speaker was able to enlighten the audience about the results of the program since 2021, which have been truly impressive:

  • More than 4,000 children have been reached in over 100 schools; 
  • 73% of the children met a scientist for the first time; 
  • 98% greatly enjoyed the experience; 
  • More than 100 scientists participated, with 99% expressing their willingness to return. 

The program uses innovative tools to spark children’s interest in science, including:

  • Interactive workshops with scientists, making learning more engaging and accessible; 
  • A “scientist sticker album”, encouraging knowledge of different scientific fields in a fun way; 
  • Awards and recognition, valuing students’ engagement and curiosity; 

Goal for 2030

The programme has set an ambitious goal: to make Portugal the first country in the world where all children meet a scientist before entering middle school. With initiatives like this, the guest speaker emphasized that the future of science in Portugal looks increasingly inclusive, accessible, and inspiring.

After such an inspiring session, City Café reaffirmed itself as a space for sharing and reflection, offering a critical perspective on the past, present, and future of key topics shaping the evolution of Porto.

Next month, on the 13th at 1:30 PM, we will have a new opportunity, this time to explore the impact of human behavior in the digital age. Register for free here and join us!  

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