The sience communicators

FILIPE PIRES

I have a degree in Physics / Applied Mathematics – Astronomy branch by the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto (FCUP). Since 1994 I work at the Centro de Astrofísica da Univseridade do Porto, first as a monitor, later as coordinator of the Outreach Center and now as Director of de Porto Planetarium – Ciência Viva Center. Since 1998, with the beginning of the activities of the Porto Planetarium – Centro Ciência Viva, a large part of my time is dedicated to developing and implementing the activities of the Planetarium. I believe that working with elementary school children is the most rewarding and stimulating thing. To talk to the children, it is necessary to go down to their level, we have to sit on the floor and play with them.

RICARDO REIS

I have a degree in Astronomy from the FCUP. I am currently a member of the Science Communication Group of the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA), where I am involved in the strategy of promoting scientific culture, through the production and presentation of sessions for the Porto Planetarium  – Ciência Viva Center, production of press releases about IA research, presentation of observation sessions with telescope and orientation of practical activities.

ELSA MOREIRA

I have a degree and a master in Astronomy from the FCUP. I have been part of the Science Communication group at the IA, since January 2018. As a member of this group, I am involved in promoting scientific culture, presenting planetarium sessions, implementing astronomical observations with telescopes and guiding activities, such as laboratories. I was a monitor at the Junior University between 2012 and 2016 and a monitor at the Espinho Planetarium between 2016 and 2017.

HILBERTO SILVA

I have a degree in Astronomy from FCUP. I am currently attending the 2nd year of the Masters in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the same Faculty. Professionally linked to teaching for more than 10 years as an instructor, I was outreach technician, at the Planetário do Porto – Centro Ciência Viva, when CoAstro started. I’m still connected to astronomy in the areas of Cosmology and Fundamental Physics.

JOSÉ DANTAS

As a child, when I went on school holidays to my grandmother’s village in Celorico de Basto, I was fascinated by starry sky: I could see many more stars than in the city of Porto, where I was born, grew up and always studied. From a very young age, I started reading astronomy/science books, which also sparked my passion for physics.
In 2001, I completed a degree in Physics – educational branch, at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and, after about three years, a master’s degree in Astronomy Teaching, at the same faculty. Following on from the work I did during my master’s degree, I collaborated for about a year with the Planetário do Porto – Centro Ciência Viva / Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto to obtain, process and analyse spectra using the Planetário’s astronomical instruments.
Since 2000/2001 I have worked as a Physics and Chemistry teacher in more than a dozen schools, teaching all levels of education from the 3rd cycle of primary school to secondary school.
I have now returned to the Planetário do Porto – Ciência Viva Centre as an employee of the Outreach Centre, now on statutory mobility.

ADRIANA SILVA

I have a degree in Physics from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP). I have been part of the Outreach Centre of the Planetarium of Porto – Ciência Viva Centre (PP-CCV) since 2022, guiding hands-on activities. My duties also include the PP-CCV ticket office and supporting the administrative services of the Astrophysics Centre of the University of Porto (CAUP). I recently embarked on the adventure of doing some research in science communicaton and science education.