Science in action at the Oeiras Campus with the National Science on Stage 2025 Festival

On October 25 and 26, the Oeiras Campus of the Instituto Superior Técnico hosted the National Science on Stage 2025 Festival (SoS2025), an initiative that brought together dozens of school teachers from across the country to present and share best practices in teaching STEM subjects — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

For two days, the campus was transformed into a space for scientific and pedagogical sharing, with workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations, and presentations of projects developed by teachers and students in schools from the north to the south of the country. Participants had the opportunity to show their work to a national jury, responsible for selecting the projects that will represent Portugal at the next European Science on Stage Festival, to be held in 2026 in Lithuania.

Clarice Ferreira, a 7th-grade Natural Sciences teacher at Quinta do Marquês High School, brought to the event a practical example of STEM methodology applied to Geology – “Geology Everywhere.” The teacher explained that the initiative “is a way to revolutionize the teaching of Natural Sciences, encouraging students to create their own projects.”

Based on STEM and Inquiry-Based Learning methodologies, the project involves five stages, which explore Geology applied to different everyday contexts — from medicine and civil construction to jewelry and technology. “One of my students created a kinetic sand beach to measure a dinosaur’s footprint and calculate the animal’s size and speed. These activities allow them to think critically, solve problems, and discover science in a practical and fun way,” she added.

Another of the projects highlighted at the event, having been one of those selected to represent Portugal, was “Prairies Aren’t Just On Land,” presented by Teresa Ribeiro, a biology and geology teacher at Escola Secundária Dom Manuel Martins, who brought to the festival a project on the ecological importance of seagrass beds and their importance for mitigating climate change.

“We wanted to show that prairies are not only on land—they also exist in the sea, and are essential for absorbing carbon dioxide and serving as a nursery for many species,” she explained. The students analyzed environmental factors such as pH, salinity, and temperature, and created bioplastics and biocomposites from natural materials such as eggshells, coffee grounds, and banana peels.

“Participating in this festival is a way to share experiences, step out of your comfort zone, and learn from other teachers. Science is also done this way, in community”, Teresa emphasized.

The festival featured dozens of projects from across the country and provided opportunities for teachers from various disciplines and levels of education to exchange experiences and collaborate. At the end, the seven projects that will represent Portugal in the 2026 European edition were announced, reinforcing the quality and diversity of scientific teaching practices developed in Portuguese schools.

The seven selected projects:

  • Between Sound and Shadow – Art, Light, Sound, and Science in Preschool Education — by Cátia Sousa and Nuno Guimarães – Colégio Novo da Maia, Maia – Porto
  • Home Weather Kit — by Sérgio Bastos – A. E. de Freixo, Ponte de Lima
  • Prairies aren’t just in land — by Isadora Girio, Maria Teresa Ribeiro, Sandra Lima, and Lívia Marques – E. S. Dom Manuel Martins, Setúbal
  • Scientific Visit to the Garden — by Paulo Torcato – A. E. Professor Agostinho da Silva, Casal de Cambra
  • Seeds of Memory, Seeds4Future — by Maria Celestina Henriques – A. E. Bartolomeu de Gusmão, Lisbon; Mónica Maia-Mendes – A. E. de Ermesinde; Ilda Moreira – A. E. de Valongo
  • STEAM on the move — by Elisabete Marques – A. E. Dona Filipa de Lencastre, Lisbon
  • Teach English with Science. Why? — by Sandra Vasconcelos – A. E. Pedro Eanes Lobato, Amora, Seixal

The National Science on Stage Festival was organized by NUCLIO – Interactive Center for Astronomy and Innovation in Education, with the support of Engineering for All, a project of Instituto Superior Técnico and INESC-ID, and the Municipality of Oeiras.

The European Science on Stage Festival will take place from May 28 to 31, 2026, in Klaipėda, Lithuania.

More information.

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