On Tuesday (June 19), young people from five countries took part in a video conference to discuss sustainable development at the Debating Arena, in the Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Area, at Pier Mauá. It was held by the International Association of Science Centers and Museums, in conjunction with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz / MS), UNESCO, the Museum of Life, the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)) and the Institute of Contemporary Art and Botanical Gardens (Inhotim).

The presentation was collaborative, with simultaneous translation, and each group from around the world showcased their questions and studies. The Brazilian members of the project also showed other countries and the people in the arena what they have done to research and try to improve problems faced in Rio de Janeiro. "People around the world want to engage and be part of this. They really want to, worldwide," said the director of international relations at ASTC, Walter Staveloz, speaking about the engagement shown by the students in the project.

Besides the five groups of students attending virtually, three young Danes, also taking part in the Engagement of Science Centers and Rio+20 (CEnaRIOS), were at the MCTI's Arena. Among other authorities, the event was also attended by the president of Fiocruz, Paulo Gadelha.

In Brazil, CEnaRIOS is taken part in by 16 to 19-year-olds who are public high school students, and residents of the surroundings of Fiocruz in Rio de Janeiro.

The Museum of Life, in Rio, collaborates with the Paulo Samuel Kankhomba Secondary School in the city of Lichinga, Mozambique. The young people visited the regions they live in, in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, to diagnose the social and environmental problems faced there and to photograph them, to create a geo-referenced map and get information on the situation experienced by the residents.

                                                                                         Text: Rômulo Almeida - communications officer at the MCTI