Webinar Brings Together Ibero-American Countries to Discuss the Importance of Scientific Initiation in Health Training [1]

Next Friday, May 15, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Brasília Time), the first of five events in the “2026-2028 Webinar Series - Scientific Initiation of Youth in Basic Education and Health Technician Training in Latin America” will take place. The event, which will be broadcast bilingually (Portuguese and Spanish) on the EPSJV YouTube channel, will be coordinated by the Laboratory of Scientific Initiation in Basic Education (LIC-PROVOC) of the Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health (EPSJV/Fiocruz) [4].

The webinar aims to promote dialogue among researchers and professionals who work with the training of youth and health technicians in countries belonging to the Ibero-American Network of Health Technician Education (RIETS). [5] It will help provide an overview of the professionalization of youth in the health sector across different countries, reflect on science education in the qualification of technical health workers, and disseminate its systematic practice. The goal is for the seminars to present everything from a broad overview of the topic to specific case studies, providing references for deeper learning and encouraging interaction among participants.

In this first meeting, discussions will address the potential contributions of scientific vocation programs to health training. The activity coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Scientific Vocation Program (Provoc) at EPSJV [6], a pioneering initiative in Brazil aimed at the scientific initiation of high school students, which has served as a benchmark for spreading scientific initiation in high schools across various research institutions nationwide.

The webinar series, currently being planned with the support of RIETS institutions, is one of the seven activities established in the EPSJV's 2026-2028 Work Plan in its capacity as a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the Education of Health Technicians. [7]

Nesse primeiro encontro, as discussões abordarão as possíveis contribuições dos programas de vocação científica na formação  em saúde . A atividade coincide com o 40º ano de desenvolvimento do Programa de Vocação Científica (Provoc) da EPSJV [6], uma iniciativa pioneira no Brasil, voltada à iniciação científica de estudantes de ensino médio, e que tem servido de referência para a disseminação da iniciação científica no ensino médio em diferentes instituições de pesquisa no país.

About Scientific Initiation

It is widely agreed that scientific initiation (SI) processes, which pair students in training with experienced researchers, not only promote the learning of scientific techniques and methods but also stimulate the development of scientific thinking, creativity, and knowledge production. All of this has contributed to Scientific Initiation becoming a systematic practice over time in undergraduate programs across almost all fields of study and in many countries. However, it is still not fully consolidated in health technician training programs, particularly for mid-level technicians.

Both the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2030 (SHAA2030) [8] and the Policy on the Health Workforce 2030 (CD60/6) [9]highlight the need to "strengthen governance and promote national human resources for health policies and plans" by, among other things, "developing curricular foundations that prioritize the application of science, evidence, and innovation." Furthermore, the systematic practice of Scientific Initiation in health technician training programs can foster future work in multidisciplinary teams and even cultivate respect for the diverse forms of knowledge that arise in a community-based care model working closely with local populations.

Recognizing the central role of science in education for the health workforce, EPSJV has been developing experiences and conducting research on this topic. Its goal is to support PAHO/WHO in disseminating the importance of Scientific Initiation in the training of health technicians and, consequently, in the more systematic implementation of this practice within the curricula of existing programs.

Participants

Claudio Gomes Ribeiro: Holds a degree in Pedagogy and a Master's in Biosciences and Health Education from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (2006). Public Health Technologist at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, she is currently the Coordinator of the Luiz Fernando Rocha Ferreira PROVOC Network. She also coordinates the Scientific Vocation Program, its Advanced Stage in Rio de Janeiro, and the Institutional Program for High School Scientific Initiation Scholarships (PIBIC-EM/CNPq/EPSJV). She is the vice-coordinator of the Laboratory of Scientific Initiation in Basic Education at EPSJV. She represents EPSJV on the Fiocruz Youth Agenda and the Fiocruz Girls and Women Working Group. She has experience in Education, with an emphasis on Scientific Initiation in High School, focusing mainly on: high school scientific initiation, science education, and alumni studies.

Cristiane Nogueira Braga: Holds a degree in Pedagogy and a Master's in Biosciences and Health Education from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (2006). Public Health Technologist at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, she is currently the Coordinator of the Luiz Fernando Rocha Ferreira PROVOC Network. She also coordinates the Scientific Vocation Program, its Advanced Stage in Rio de Janeiro, and the Institutional Program for High School Scientific Initiation Scholarships (PIBIC-EM/CNPq/EPSJV). She is the vice-coordinator of the Laboratory of Scientific Initiation in Basic Education at EPSJV. She represents EPSJV on the Fiocruz Youth Agenda and the Fiocruz Girls and Women Working Group. She has experience in Education, with an emphasis on Scientific Initiation in High School, focusing mainly on: high school scientific initiation, science education, and alumni studies.

Rosa Maria Correa das Neves: Holds a degree in Pedagogy and a PhD in Education from the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ). Public Health Researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, working in the Laboratory of Scientific Initiation in Basic Education at EPSJV. She dedicates her work to studies on science education and the relationships between capitalism, scientific development, and education.

Event Details

• Date: Friday, May 15, 2026

• Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Brasília Time)

• Location: YouTube (@polifiocruz [10])

  • Watch in Portuguese: https://www.youtube.com/live/QHATd7D3KnQ [11]

  • Watch in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/live/qZaAJLN5nr0 [12]