Native Scientists and Portuguese National Reading Plan bring reading and science together

Native Scientists and the Plano Nacional de Leitura (PNL) announce a partnership to foster the link between science and reading. The two entities will bring, through scientists and their stories, reading and science to schools. The initiative highlights the common objectives of promoting scientific literacy, higher education, social cohesion and active citizenship in Portugal.

Regina Duarte, commissioner of PNL, says: “Reading books about science allows youth to have a greater knowledge of the world, broadens their horizon and helps them develop critical points of view, based on facts and not on opinions. Enjoying flying doesn't take away our curiosity about how wings work. For Plano Nacional de Leitura, the collaboration with Native Scientists aligns with our priority to improve literacy levels - namely the more complex reading skills. Taking scientists and scientific reading to schools develops critical thinking, curiosity and promotes the need to ask questions. Associating reading and science breaks down stereotypes that oppose literature to science and imagination to the scientific method.”

Regarding this partnership, Joana Moscoso, director of Native Scientists, says: “There is such an obvious connection between reading and science that we don't talk about it enough. The partnership with PNL reinforces its prominence and visibility. It will materialise in various ways through Cientista Regressa à Escola, a nationwide science outreach educational program. The objective is, on the one hand, to encourage the habit of reading among school-age children in Portugal, and on the other hand, to encourage reflection and debate on the importance of reading for science and scientific literacy for society.”

The partnership will start on the 10th of February, in Funchal, Madeira, with the reopening workshop for the programme Cientista Regressa à Escola. In this workshop, Prof Nuno Nunes, engineer at Instituto Superior Técnico, will return to his local primary school to deliver a hands-on workshop about his work and will share his favourite book from when he was a child as well as leave a science book reading suggestion.

About Native Scientists

Founded in 2013, Native Scientists is an award-winning pan-European non-profit organisation connecting underserved children with scientists. It exists to broaden children’s horizons, promoting scientific literacy and reducing inequalities through science outreach educational programmes.

About Plano Nacional de Leitura

The National Reading Plan (NRP), launched in 2006, was the institutional answer to the concern with the levels of literacy of the Portuguese population, in general and, in particular, of young people. Throughout 15 years it has implemented a set of measures aimed at developing competences and reading habits, with a special focus on the school community.