The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) is preparing for significant participation at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio +20, to be held on June 13 to 22, in Rio de Janeiro.

Addressing the theme for Rio +20 - "Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication" - the ministry will organize a series of activities open to the general public. The schedule includes the presentation of programs, projects and actions undertaken by research institutes, social organizations, and agencies under the ministry.

The MCTI is the Brazilian organizer, in partnership with Academia Brasileira de Ciências – ABC (the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, of the Science, Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development Forum, which will be held at the Pontifical University (PUC), between June 11 and 15. The event’s international organizer is the International Council for Science (ICSU). The MCTI Minister, Marco Antonio Raupp, will give talks at the opening and closing of the event.

The main events for the MCTI and its institutions are concentrated in two areas of Pier Maua, in the port area of Rio, and will be open to the public. Warehouse 3 will host an exhibition on Innovation for Sustainable Development, organized by Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos – FINEP (Study and Project Finance Body), an agency under the ministry. Warehouse 4 is hosting the Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Space, with three areas open to the public: the MCTI Space, with interactive activities (e.g. Carbon Free Tree), the Multisensory Biomes of Brazil Exhibition, and the Popularization of Science Space, featuring debates and a variety of attractions.

The institutions under the Ministry which have confirmed they will take part in the conference are:

• Agência Espacial Brasileira AEB - (Brazilian Space Agency) 
• Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas CBPF – (The Brazilian Physics Research Center) 
• Centro de Gestão e Estudos Estratégicos –CGEE – (Strategic Management and Study Center) 
• Centro Nacional de Monitoramento e Alertas de Desastres Naturais –Cemaden - (National Natural Disaster Monitoring and Warning Center) 
• Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer – CTI - (Renato Archer Information Technology Center) 
• Centro de Tecnologia Mineral –Cetem - (Mineral Technology Center) 
• Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos –FINEP - (Study and Project Finance Body) 
• Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia –IBICT- (Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology) 
• Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá –IDSM - (Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute) 
• Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada IMPA - (National Pure and Applied Mathematics Institute) 
• Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia -INPA - (National Amazon Research Institute) 
• Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE - (National Space Research Institute) 
• Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia – INT - (National Technology Institute) 
• Instituto Nacional do Semiárido –INSA - (National Semi-arid Institute) 
• Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica – LNA - (National Astrophysics Laboratory) 
• Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins –MAST – (Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences) 
• Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi –MPEG - (Emílio Goeldi Museum of Para) Observatório Nacional –ON – (National Observatory)
• Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa –RNP- (National Network of Education and Research)
  

Representatives of the Ministry will also take part in events such as the debates promoted by the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change (FBMC). The MCTI website will soon provide specific information on the open agenda and the schedule for representatives.

Also in Rio de Janeiro, other conference-related activities will address the issues of science, technology and innovation, such as the World Youth Congress, organized by the Conference of Youth for Rio +20, and science-related images will be shown at the Copacabana Fort.

Visit the websites on the event hosted by the Brazilian government and the United Nations in Brazil.