Words from PIBi-UENF
The periodical “Conhecendo a Ciência”, as a vehicle for disseminating the work of Scientific and Technological Initiation scholarship recipients and volunteers at UENF, has interviewed many students to talk about their work and their trajectory at the University. In each issue, the periodical gives voice to the students who tell us their story, share results, and show that UENF undergraduates are agents in the country’s scientific development. The satisfaction of being part of research groups at one of Brazil’s best public universities is stamped in the words of the students portrayed in the periodical’s issues. Thus, we want to stimulate other students and future entrants to the public university to be part of this instigating universe.
In this special issue, we want to go further. With an innovative proposal, we will present papers written during an English language workshop, by students awarded in 2020 at the Meeting of Scientific and Technological Initiation at UENF, which takes place within CONFICT (Fluminense Congress of Scientific and Technological Initiation). This is an annual scientific congress where CI and IT students present their work, which are judged by evaluation committees. Since 2016, we have dedicated space in the periodical for the Congress and the award winners, and now we will dedicate an entire volume to present the papers developed in this workshop, which was the award received by the authors of the best papers.
Although the year 2020 has been very challenging, mainly because of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many innovative ideas have emerged as well. A partnership between the Institutional Program for Scientific and Technological Initiation (PIBi-UENF) of the Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação (ProPPG-UENF) with the International and Interinstitutional Advisory Services (ASSAII-UENF), made it possible to hold this workshop to train students in technical-scientific English. This initiative opens one more path for the high qualification of undergraduates and future scientists graduated by UENF. Thanks to the effort and competence of Humberto Fernandes, PhD candidate in Sociology at IESP-UERJ, and volunteer Teaching Intern at ASSAII-UENF, the partnership of Prof. Angela Pierre Vitória with the ProPPG, the enthusiasm and dedication of the students, the careful supervision of their advisors, and the hard work of the previous and current staff of the periodical, we have reached this excellent result.
This material shows, above all, the high quality of human resources within UENF, which is constantly seeking to overcome barriers to achieve excellence in technical, intellectual, academic, scientific, and human development.
Congratulations to those involved, and happy reading, everyone!
