Science Days arrives at Vicintin Foundation

Unprecedented International Cooperation provides Space and STEM activities in Brazil 

In order to popularize science, the Michaelis Foundation for Global Education took the largest American space and STEM themed itinerary fair in Brazil to the Vicintin Foundation, in Belo Horizonte. The event that took place on Monday (21) in partnership with the U.S Embassy Branch Office in Belo Horizonte, ​​reached more than 60 young students between 14 and 17 years old.
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Hope was the word used by teenager Yasmin Azevedo (17), to describe what the experience gave her. For her, the opportunity to hear the testimonials shared by the speakers present at the event, was essential to generate a feeling of identification and representation. “I believe we all have a role in the universe, and I think they came here to show us that we can go wherever we´d want to be,” she affirmed.

The initiative took place after Science Days visited the cities of Sorocaba, São José dos Campos and Belo Horizonte, in its sixth edition of activities in Brazil. Dr. Kumar Krishen (former senior researcher at Johnson Space Center), Patricia Feingold (director of Maxar Technologies), Gabe Gabrielle (Formerly employed by AECOM under the Institutional Service - Contract as an Engineer II for Kennedy Space Center/NASA) and José Carlos Filho (country manager of KSCIA operations in Latin America) were just some of those invited to speak at the event, which was also attended by Jacob Grant from Troy University.

For student Isabelle Pimentel, this direct contact with professionals in the field opened the door to an important teaching-learning process. “It awakened in me this huge curiosity about space”, revealed the 15-year-old girl. The young woman also highlighted that the activity of sending a personalized postcard aboard Blue Origin's Rocket New Shepard was her favorite. “It's a brilliant idea and I'll have something special to remember it by” she announced, referring to the “Flown in Space” label that will be designated to those who participated in said activity.
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Science Days is an international initiative by the Michaelis Foundation, with the goal of improving the Global educational system through hand-on activities that arouse the interest of new generations in science.
For more details on this edition of Science Days, visit the Instagram profile @sciencedaysoficial.

Special thanks to Patricia Feingold with Maxar Technologies, Engineer Gabe Gabrielle Formerly employed by AECOM and Dr. Kumar Krishen, former Chief Technologist for Johnson Space Center (JSC).

​- Luma Keily