DILI, 30 november 2021 (TATOLI) – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) engage students in science and mathematics to build a better future for Timor-Leste.
To engage students in science and technology, UNESCO-INCT organized a national science and match exhibition for students from different schools and universities across the country to demonstrate their innovative work on science, technology, and innovation (STI) to commemorate the World Science Day for Peace and Development.
Secretary Executive of Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO (TLNCU), Francisco Barreto informed that to celebrate the World Science Day for Peace and Development, UNESCO and INCT organized a national completion on science, technology, and innovation: “72 groups from 15 different schools submitted 86 topics on their work on science, technology, and innovation. We also have 14 groups from local universities submitted their topics on science, technology, and innovation.”
“Out of these groups, more than 20 groups were selected as the winners of the competition for their outstanding practical work. These groups include Annur Secondary Highs School (Making mini projector), São Jose Operario High School (making projector), Fatumeta Junior High School (making Simple Escalator, circuit testers, simple traffic lights, angel clock, measuring the nutritional quality of agricultural production and making simple a clothes dryer), Mathematics Department of UNTL (Solving a Rubik’s cube), São Paulo High School (irrigation design), 4 de Setembro High School (making simple hologram, osmoregulation, and manual project using a mobile phone), São Pedro High School (identification of coloring in rice, making marmalade from banana skin, matches sulfur testing, and making manual dispenser), the faculty of Medical Science of UNTL (F75 and F100 for malnutrition in children, and soya bean milk), and Chemistry department of UNTL (making compost from diapers),” Barreto made the comments, in Dili, on Tuesday.
He said these young students play a crucial role in promoting science, technology, and innovation in society to build community resilience towards climate change and natural disasters.
“Engaging students in science and technology is important to solve some of the current issues facing the nation, for instance climate change, natural disasters and so on,” said Barreto.
At the same time, the Representative of the UNESCO Jakarta, Hans Thulstrup stressed that science is key to making all societies more sustainable by creating new knowledge, improving education, and increasing the quality of life.
He said that it is important to bring science closer to society by highlighting the key scientific aspects for possible solutions provided by science, technology, and innovation to the major global challenges facing society today.
“Climate change becomes an ever-growing threat to our lives, to our planet, and this celebration highlights the importance of building climate-ready communities,” Thulstrup said.
In Secretary-General’s statement on the conclusion of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26, he stated that G20 nations account for 80% of global emissions. Their leadership is needed more than ever. The decisions they take now will determine whether the promise made at Paris is kept or broken.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
