EETEPA Santarém and Ufopa present the project "Air Caregivers" at the Green Zone of COP 30
Panel at the booth of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Pará highlights scientific advances and training of young researchers in the Amazon
On this Wednesday (19), the State Technical School of Pará (EETEPA) in Santarém, in partnership with the Federal University of Western Pará (Ufopa), presented at the booth of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Pará (Alepa), set up in the Green Zone of COP 30, a panel dedicated to the project "Air Caregivers".
The debate brought together Ufopa professors Ana Carla Gomes, Glauce Vitor, and Jefferson Dantas, along with professor Sarah Batalha and professor João Elbio Sequeira, representatives of EETEPA Santarém. Together, they conducted an in-depth discussion about the development of the project and its relevance to the Amazon region.
The research project "Air Caregivers" is an initiative of Ufopa in partnership with EETEPA Santarém and is funded by the Amazon Foundation for Support of Studies and Research (Fapespa). The proposal aims to implement the first air quality monitoring network in the region, focusing on measuring environmental impacts in the atmosphere and understanding how these variations directly affect the lives of the population.
"The Air Caregivers project was born from the urgent need to scientifically understand what we really breathe in the Amazon. Our goal is to produce data that contributes not only to academia but also to society and public managers. The beauty of this project lies in the fact that it is not just research; it is a bridge between the university, the school, and the community," emphasizes professor Ana Carla Gomes from Ufopa.
According to the professor, the project has accumulated robust and reliable data that continues to generate knowledge, driving research in graduate studies and expanding understanding of Amazonian atmospheric dynamics. She highlights that this advancement is the result of integrated work among professors, undergraduates, and high school students from EETEPA Santarém, who were essential in validating the monitoring system and developing tools such as the Kit, created collaboratively and innovatively.
In addition to producing unprecedented data about the Amazon, the research generated by the project contributes to the formulation of environmental policies, strengthening environmental education, and greater social engagement in defense of the environment. The initiative reinforces the importance of science and cooperation among institutions to promote sustainable solutions aligned with the needs of the Amazon territory.
For EETEPA Santarém professor Sarah Batalha, the project is a family built by many hands. "We have already produced more than 30 scientific publications, including international articles, one of which has an impact factor of 8, a very significant result for work developed with such young students. Our students also participated in field activities in the Santarém region, experiencing social and environmental realities that broaden their horizons and strengthen their commitment to the territory. They become multipliers, bringing knowledge to their families, their communities, and their schools," she emphasizes.
Participation in COP 30 reinforces the commitment of the involved institutions to unite research, education, and social impact, showing that the science produced in the Amazon has strength, depth, and transformative potential for the entire country.
