The “Criar Saberes” project started over 20 years ago, and its evolution and recognition result from the integration of different scientific areas of secondary education and its constant adaptation to the curricular programmes and the innovation of the activities carried out.
It is aimed at students in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, across different scientific areas of secondary education, and offers students a range of practical activities in the areas of Chemistry, Biotechnology, Environment, Genetics, Medicine, and Management.
The project collaborates with the Faculty of Engineering and the School of Psychology and Life Sciences of Lusófona University and with the Ribeiro Sanches School of Health, which organise laboratory-based activities in various fields of knowledge.
The sessions last two hours for each group of 15 students, totalling four hours for a class with a maximum of 30 students.
Indoor air quality - Biological risk for humans
Professors Responsible - Professors Dr. Cândida Manuel and Kalina Samardjieva
Description: Did you know that the main polluting source of indoor air is humans? This activity is extremely important for students, as they spend most of their time at school or at home, so it is very important for them to understand the parameters of indoor air quality, the main pollutants, and the good practices to adopt.
- Activities: A brief presentation on indoor air quality will be given, followed by the collection of air samples to determine bacteria and fungi in a room and the external environment. Inhalable particles, temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration will also be measured.
Embryonic Development of the Sea Urchin: Fertilisation and the First Cellular Cycles
Professor Responsible: Professor Dr. Kalina Samardjieva
Description: Students will be able to observe and practise the method of collecting eggs and sperm from the sea urchin themselves and then observe their samples under the microscope, in a single drop of water, with the living material. Next, they will directly observe the fertilisation process under the microscope, with the following steps:
- a. Identification of unfertilised eggs;
- b. Addition of a droplet of semen to the seawater containing these eggs;
- c. Observation of sperm reaching the area of the drop where the eggs are located;
- d. Recognition of sperm attachment to the egg's plasma membrane;
- e. Observation of the formation of the fertilisation membrane around the fertilised egg and estimation of the time elapsed between the previous step and this one.
Students will also observe various stages of embryonic development resulting from previously fertilised eggs that illustrate the following steps:
- a. Formation of the morula;
- b. Morula cavitation;
- c. Formation of the blastula;
- d. Beginning of archenteron invagination;
- e. Formation of the gastrula;
- f. Beginning of independent movement of the blastula;
- g. Completion of archenteron formation;
- h. Formation of the pluteus larva.
Embryonic Development in the Chicken: Basic Vertebrate Organisation
Professor Responsible: Professor Dr. Kalina Samardjieva
Description: Students will witness the opening of fertilised chicken eggs at different stages of development, observing the method of isolating the embryo from the yolk. The images of these living embryos, once placed in Petri dishes for better viewing, will be projected onto a high-resolution monitor so that all participants can distinguish the following phenomena:
- a. Heart differentiation;
- b. Beginning of heartbeats;
- c. Blood circulation through the surrounding membranes;
- d. Beginning of brain development;
- e. Differentiation and growth of the three compartments of the embryonic brain;
- f. Beginning and development of mesoderm segmentation into somites.
Electromagnetic Fields
Professor Responsible: Professor Dr. Cândida Manuel
Description: Electromagnetic fields are used almost every moment by humanity, and without them, living conditions would be very different. The magnetic forces generated in electromagnetic fields are present in the functioning of various devices used, such as microwaves, computer disks, bank cards, telecommunications, high-speed trains, among many others. In fact, without their knowledge and use, it would not be possible to produce electricity far from cities, as its transport would not be feasible. In the field of Health, current imaging techniques, such as X-ray machines, MRI, and bone densitometry, operate with the application of electromagnetic fields. This experimental demonstration activity of electromagnetic fields and their applications can be incorporated into the various secondary school Physics programmes.
- Activities: The proposed activity consists of a multimedia theoretical presentation followed by an experimental demonstration. The initial theoretical presentation aims to teach/revise the theoretical principles necessary to understand this activity, focusing on the following topics:
After this presentation, an experimental demonstration will be held with active participation from the students on magnetic force, magnetic field lines, magnetic circuits, and Faraday and Lenz's laws of induction.
Projectile and Rocket Launching
Professor Responsible: Professor Dr. Cândida Manuel
Description: Students will be able to put into practice what they have studied about horizontal and oblique launches in the Physics-Chemistry course. They will also learn why planes fly and will build sustainable rockets. Will yours fly the furthest?
Dynamic and Static Friction
Professor Responsible: Professor Dr. Cândida Manuel
Description: Students will be able to apply in practice what they have studied about dynamic and static friction in the Physics-Chemistry course. Friction is the resistance force to movement when two objects in contact are moving relative to each other. Static friction (or adhesive friction) occurs between two objects that are not moving relative to each other or that have the same movement. It is due to static friction that an object does not slide on an inclined plane until a certain angle is reached. When a force is applied to an object and it does not move, it is because this force is less than the static friction force. As the applied force increases, the static friction force will increase, counteracting the effect of the force, and the object remains stationary. Once the maximum static friction force is reached, if the applied force increases, the object will start moving and the friction will be dynamic.
Photosynthesis – Let’s Create Plant Submarines!
Professor Responsible: Professor Dr. Kalina Samardjieva
Description: In this activity, students will be able to apply concepts learned in class about the process of photosynthesis. Students will carry out an experimental task where they will assess the importance of the availability of carbon dioxide and light for the process of photosynthesis and the production of molecular oxygen.
Environmental Microbiology – Microorganisms Are Everywhere!
Professor Responsible: Professor Dr. Kalina Samardjieva
Description: Microorganisms are found in the soil, water, air, and are part of the microbiota of animals and plants. Microorganisms play an essential role in the different ecosystems they inhabit, such as oxygen production, decomposition of organic matter, and symbiotic associations with animals and plants, among others. In this activity, students will have the opportunity to investigate the microbial world they inhabit. This activity will begin with a brief introduction to the theoretical concepts necessary to understand the practical work, followed by its execution. Students will be provided with Petri dishes containing solid culture medium and sterile swabs. They will form workgroups and determine which compartments of the surrounding environment they wish to sample. They will prepare the plates and proceed with sampling using the swabs. The plates will be incubated and observed in a second session, where microorganisms will also be observed under a microscope.
Control of Microbial Growth – who washed their hands? Antibiotics and much more!
Responsible Professor: Professor Kalina Samardjieva, PhD
Description: The presence and growth of microorganisms can be controlled by chemical and physical agents such as antiseptics, antibiotics, temperature, ultraviolet radiation, among many others. In this activity, which takes place over two sessions, the effects of various methods to control the growth of microorganisms will be demonstrated, from the use of soap to wash hands, to antibiotics and ultraviolet radiation.
Schedule
- October to May – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Timetable:
2 daily sessions
- 1st Session - 9:30 am to 11:30 am
- 2nd Session - 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
