31/03/16
Text and photos: Ariane Mondo – Ascom ISD

On March 29th, the units of Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) from Macaíba (RN) received a delegation of twelve representatives from the system Fecommerce of Rio Grande do Norte, composed of Federation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism of RN, for the National Commercial Apprenticeship Service-Senac and by Social Service of Commerce-Sesc. Also present at the visit were some businessmen linked to Chamber of Retail Directors (CDL) and Businessman's House, both from Macaíba.
The visitors went to the Alfredo J. Monteverde School Scientific Education Center (Macaíba unit) and learned a little about the project's philosophy explained by Dora Montenegro, director of Science Education Centers (CECs) of the ISD. She said that the CECs' science workshops are offered after school hours to students from public schools who are in the second segment of elementary school and also to high school students, in the case of one of the workshops offered at the Natal unit. In Rio Grande do Norte, the CECs have units in Natal and Macaíba, as well as one in Serrinha, Bahia.
Reginaldo Freitas Junior, director of teaching and research at ISD, explained to visitors about the work developed in each of the five units of the Santos Dumont Institute. He spoke about institutional programs, mentioning existing projects and those that are being planned, as well as mentioning consolidated partnerships and support.

The visitors also went to Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (CEPS) and to the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS). At CEPS, the delegation was able to learn more about the types of care provided at this unit and understand that its distinguishing feature is the interprofessional work and ongoing training of health professionals. At the next stop, Edgard Morya, research coordinator at IIN-ELS, spoke about the functioning of this unit, focusing on the lines of research, the master's degree in neuroengineering and also on pioneering studies involving experiments with recordings of brain activity, with the aim of investigating new treatments for patients with spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease, for example.
The president of the Fecomércio system in RN, Marcelo Fernandes de Queiroz, thanked the reception and congratulated the ISD team for the project that he considers “very important for the development of science and technology”. He said he was very happy to see that there are projects like those of the ISD, which contribute to the city of Macaíba and Rio Grande do Norte. Auri Simplício, Secretary of Economic Development of Macaíba, said that the work carried out by the ISD in the state is immeasurable. He spoke about the importance of visits like this so that people can learn about and understand what is done at the Santos Dumont Institute.

The delegation ended the visit at the buildings of Lygia Maria Rocha Laporta Basic Education School (photo at the top) and the future IIN-ELS facilities, both located in Brain Campus, whose work has funding from Ministry of Education and the construction is under the responsibility of Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). After the works are completed, the Brain Campus will be managed by the Santos Dumont Institute.
More about the Santos Dumont Institute: HERE
More about the Science Education Centers: Christmas and Macaíba | Saw
More about the Anita Garibaldi Center for Health Education and Research HERE
More about the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience HERE
More about Lygia Maria Rocha Laporta Basic Education School HERE
More about Brain Campus HERE







