Another year of Native’s workshops
The 2026/27 school year took off celebrating the World Science Day for Peace and Development.
This November, the classrooms welcomed, once again, Native Scientists’ educational programmes. Both the Same Home Town and Same Migrant Community began in the week of the World Science Day for Peace and Development celebration. A day, the 10th of November, officialised by UNESCO to highlight the crucial role science plays in society and the need to engage the general public in scientific discussions.
On the 7th of November, the Same Migrant Community programme launched in La Hulpe (Belgium) and in Belvaux (Luxembourg) for its 14th edition. The children had a chance to explore topics ranging from chemistry and physics to immunology, health and ecology.
At La Hulpe, children made a balloon inflate on its own using an acid-base reaction while learning how gas pressure and volume work, built terrariums to explore how living things interact within an ecosystem (and each group took theirs home), and discovered how our bodies defend themselves in the activity “Antibodies on the attack”. At Belvaux, the children used yeast and warm water to inflate balloons, then tracked their own stress and movement levels with a wearable watch, and acted out cartwheels, somersaults and dance moves while talking about the importance of physical exercise.
These workshops were only possible thanks to our coordinators Rafaela Policarpo and Catarina Andrade, as well as the volunteer scientists who gave their time to share their expertise and enthusiasm for science: Catarina Cruz, Cláudio Costa, Filipa Brito, Berta Portugal and Pedro Fontes. We are equally grateful to the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) for funding both workshops, and to the Camões Institute, our partner in organising them.
On the 10th of November, the 6th edition of the Same Home Town programme was launched in Rabo de Peixe (Ribeira Grande, Azores, Portugal). César Andrade, a scientist that studied in the same school, met with children from the Year 4 classes for the first time. Supported by the Caixa Social Award, César’s workshop explored volcanic eruptions, a fitting topic on São Miguel, and the different materials they release. Along the way, he also took time to challenge stereotypes about who can be a scientist.
A few days later, on the 13th of November, children from Cinfães met scientist Tereza Almeida to explore the immune system of sharks and how viruses evolve and cause disease. That same day, children from Braga closed this busy start to the school year with scientist Bernardo Nogueira, discovering what atoms and molecules are and what chemistry is all about. Portugal Inovação Social (PIS) Norte funded both workshops, together with the “la Caixa” Foundation, Sonae and Braga City Council.
With these first workshops alone, the programmes have already reached 156 children. For this school year, around 204 more workshops will take place across Europe, bringing children and scientists together in classrooms and communities.
If you are interested in participating, apply for the Same Migrant Community programme or for the Same Home Town programme.
About Native Scientists
Founded in 2013, Native Scientists is an award-winning, pan-European non-profit organisation connecting children and scientists in underserved communities. It exists to broaden children's horizons through meaningful science education, promoting scientific literacy and reducing inequalities.
