Lubango: Conducting a mapping of physics in the Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP), focusing on infrastructure, human resources, and research capacity, is among the main recommendations from the VI CPLP Physics Conference, which closed Friday in the city of Lubango. This information was provided by the president of the Union of Physicists of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, S³nia Semedo, while summarizing the meeting that brought together researchers, teachers, and students from various Portuguese-speaking countries.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the survey will allow for a more accurate understanding of the reality of physics in the PALOP, identify challenges and potential, and create a basis for more structured scientific cooperation. The initiative aims to gather information on laboratories, equipment, research projects, educational institutions, and the number of professionals linked to the area, contributing to the definition of scientific development strategies.
S³nia Semedo stated that the proposal emerged during the debates held throughout the conference, having garnered consensus among the participants, highlighting that knowledge of the installed capacity in each country will facilitate the creation of collaborative networks and the sharing of resources between academic and scientific institutions.
In addition to mapping, the conference recommended promoting physics olympiads as a way to encourage young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, and Mathematics. Participants also advocated for strengthening cooperation between universities and research centers to develop joint projects likely to attract international funding.
According to S³nia Semedo, future projects should be geared towards solving local problems, with a direct impact on communities. The president of the Union of Physicists of the CPLP stressed that physics can contribute to addressing challenges related to health, energy, the environment, and technological development.
She also considered that the strong participation of the conference attendees and the high level of interaction recorded during the training sessions demonstrated the growing interest in science in the Portuguese-speaking world. "Much more than a physics conference, it was a conference for the community that will have an impact on the future," she said.
The 6th CPLP Physics Conference took place at the Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of Hula (ISCED-Hula), bringing together experts from various countries to discuss education, scientific research, medical physics, and the role of science in sustainable development.
