One of the main partners of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) in its teaching, research and extension actions is the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). ISD promotes activities and academic practice scenarios in its units, located in Macaíba (RN), for UFRN students from different areas of knowledge.

In order to publicize the main results of this partnership, ISD participated on June 28, 2018 in the UFRN Science, Technology and Culture Exhibition (Cientec), whose theme was the 60th anniversary of the University's founding. With the proposal entitled “UFRN and ISD: Together for a more just and humane society”, the Institute occupied two stands at the Education Pavilion, in the city of Natal (RN).

The stand included institutional and scientific dissemination activities by the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (CEPS) and the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS). Work and workshops in the area of neurosciences were developed in conjunction with the Brain Institute (ICe / UFRN) at the stands of both institutions. Below is a summary of ISD’s activities at Cientec 2018:

Area: Health Education and Research

– Game “Memória Viva”: displayed on a wall, it is a memory game with images of health actions developed by CEPS professionals together with UFRN students.

– “Making a Difference” Gallery: photographs formed a curtain suspended along a partition in the middle of the stand. The images illustrated the scenarios of extramural practices during the years of ISD's partnership with UFRN.

– Dynamics about the Barriguda Project: visitors experienced the role of the preceptor, while team members interpret different types of patients, aiming for the visitor to reflect on cultural competence.

Area: Neurosciences and Neuroengineering

– Oficina Sentidos: activities related to taste, virtual reality, optical box and rubber hand;

– Peripheral Bioelectrogenesis Workshop: demonstration of the electrical activity produced by a sound stimulus when moving a cockroach's paw, in addition to activity with FES/TENS and myoelectric hand.

– Central Bioelectrogenesis Workshop: Zen football, a brain-machine interface in which brain waves moved a ball on a football field; Emotiv Epoc, an activity that allowed the visualization of brain waves and interaction with a virtual robot.

– Neuroanatomy Workshop: activities with anatomical models of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and microscopy.

– Memory Workshop and Drugs Workshop.

For one of the coordinators of ISD actions at Cientec, Manuela Sales Lima Nascimento, this is a unique event for scientific dissemination in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. “Thanks to the intense participation of our Postgraduate students, we bring scientific knowledge to people who normally would not have access, instigating the public's curiosity. This is something that strengthens the mission of the Santos Dumont Institute and gives us the certainty that there is no better way to promote transformation than through education”, comments Nascimento.

Extension work in the area of Nursing is presented at Cientec

Concomitantly with Cientec, the Brazilian Congress of University Extension (CBEU) was held. Extension students from the UFRN nursing course presented reports of their experiences at CEPS:

– Alzira and Gabrielle – 06/28, from 8am to 9:45am at DENF. Title: Experiences of nursing students in the extension project “Teaching-service integration for multidisciplinary care in the maternal and child context”;

– Giulia and Gabriela – 28/06, from 2pm to 3:45pm. Title: Experiences of nursing students in maternal and child health care in a quilombola community: an experience report;

– Vitória Keller – 28/06, from 4pm to 5:45pm. Title: The influence of social determinants on the health-disease process in nursing consultations;

– Tarcísio and Andreza – 28/06, from 4pm to 5:45pm. Title: Nursing performance in the face of anatomo-functional changes in the puerperal period: an experience report;

– Leticia and Hurana – 28/06, from 6pm to 7:45pm. Title: Nurse's role in introducing infants to food: an experience report;

– Jucielly – 29/06, from 2pm to 3:45pm. Title: The importance of nurses in Child Growth and Development consultations.