FLAD's and Native together for inclusive science education

For the last five years, the Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD) worked alongside Native Scientists, to expand science education opportunities

Today, we are celebrating our 5-year long partnership with FLAD, a private, independent Portuguese institution that promotes Portugal's development through ties with the United States. Since 1985, it has supported academic and scientific mobility through scholarships, awards, programs, and events. 

Since the launch of the Same Home Town (SHT) programme in 2021, FLAD has been an  impactful partner.  Through our common values and mission, we expanded science education opportunities for more than 600 children. We also mobilized 15 scientists thanks to direct funding and the Foundation’s transatlantic connections, facilitating the participation of Portuguese scientists working and living in the USA.

The first ever workshop run with FLAD took place in the municipality of Praia da Vitória, in the Azores islands, in May of 2022. Since then, they committed to ensuring that the Azores islands, a strategic point for the luso-american alliance, become the first archipelago where every child moves to Year 5 after having met a scientist.

Besides the archipelago, this collaboration has allowed for the implementation of the programme in the mainland. Through the Grants USA@PT, the SHT programme was able to reach the municipalities of Sintra, Figueira da Foz and São João da Pesqueira.

The anniversary reinforces the long-term value of this partnership, the importance of sustained investment in science education, and the measurable impact of collaborative programmes.