Doing science in the Semiárido Potiguar for over a decade

The story begins before the platform, and even before the Fair itself: in school visits by car carrying a projector, back in 2007. Celicina Azevedo, professor at UFERSA, together with then PhD candidate Cybelle Barbosa, drove through schools of the 12ª DIRED looking for 2 or 3 curious students per classroom to teach the scientific method. What started as a grassroots effort became a social technology and, years later, the Fair we know today.

2007

The first seed

Celicina and Cybelle drive through schools of the 12ª DIRED with the Metodologia Científica ao Alcance de Todos project. No team, no program — just two people and the conviction that real science could be done in the sertão.

2011

The Fair is born

The initiative becomes the MCAT social technology and gives rise to the 1st Feira de Ciências do Semiárido Potiguar, now with Felipe Ribeiro, Natália Celedônio and Cristiane Moura on the team.

2020

Ten years, three volumes

To mark the first decade, the coordination publishes Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Anais with ISBN. Projects from editions I through X gain official, accessible records.

2024

14th edition

The Fair reaches its 14th edition, organized in Kids, Júnior and Juvenil categories — with 585 projects presented throughout the year.

2025

15th edition

427 projects across the Júnior (225) and Juvenil (202) categories, consolidating the growth of the more advanced age groups.

Founding team and current coordination of the program. Most are still at UFERSA, teaching and supervising the projects that arrive every year.

• Celicina Maria da Silveira Borges Azevedo — Founder · UFERSA professor
• Cybelle Barbosa e Lima — Co-founder · UFERSA professor
• Felipe de Azevedo Silva Ribeiro — Coordination · UFERSA professor
• Cristiane de Carvalho Ferreira Lima Moura — Coordination
• Natalia Rocha Celedônio — Coordination
• Maria Goretti da Silva — Coordination · 12ª DIRED