For a more comfortable experience, this year’s open house is limited to visitors who pick up their tickets ahead of time
On May 29 and 30, the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) will host the 2026 edition of the Ciência Aberta open house, one of the country’s largest scientific dissemination events. Last year there were nearly 40,000 participants over the two days of the event. To provide guests a more organized and comfortable experience, this year visitors must pick up their tickets ahead of time in order to participate.
The agenda includes over 100 activities distributed over nine major areas at CNPEM: Biorenewables, Biosciences, CNPEM Connection, Engineering and Technology, Nanotechnology, Synchrotron Light, the Ilum School of Science, Partners, and Orion. The complete list of activities can be found at Ciência Aberta 2026 – Schedule of activities.
The visit includes a guided tour through Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in Brazil to date and one of the most advanced particle accelerators in the world. There will also be an interactive space dedicated to the Radical Innovation in Health program, a kiosk showcasing the Orion laboratory complex, and two food courts.
The activities involve topics on the cutting edge of science, such as artificial intelligence applied to health, robotics and nanotechnology, as well as dozens of activities related to physics and engineering on themes like accelerators and X-rays. Biotechnology and health are also represented with attractions on DNA, CRISPR, biopharmaceuticals, cancer and proton therapy, including the kiosks for Orion and the Radical Innovation in Health Program. Sustainability and clean energy appear in activities on green hydrogen, bioenergy, biodiversity and the circular economy.
“Ciência Aberta is more than just a celebration of CNPEM’s work. It is a way of recognizing the collective efforts of people who believe that Brazil can go farther through science, technology and innovation. Each advance presented to the public carries with it the work of generations that believed in knowledge, cooperation and in building the future. Science is a collective human effort built on persistence, trust and long-term vision, and for this reason it must be valued, disseminated and recognized by society. This is how we inspire new talent, strengthen our institutions and reaffirm the strategic role of Brazilian science in constructing a better future,” said CNPEM Director General Antonio José Roque da Silva.
For visitors coming by car, there is limited free parking available at Escola SABIS (located at Av. Giuseppina Vianelli di Napoli, 555). Those arriving by taxi, bus or rideshare app should use the entrance at Rua Giuseppe Máximo Scolfaro, 10.000.
Students
Tickets for school groups ran out in less than 24 hours during the registration period in March. Between 15,000 and 20,000 students are expected to participate in the event. For approximately 60% of these students, it will be their first visit to CNPEM.
The 344 registered student groups are coming from 9 Brazilian states and the Federal District; most schools are in the state of São Paulo, accounting for 88% of the registered students. As for the educational institutions, 53% are public, representing municipal, state and federal schools.
Most of the registered groups are comprised of high school students (65%), followed by students in middle school, technical high schools, undergraduates, elementary school, graduate students, and adult education students.
A thirst for science
Alongside the interactive activities in the laboratories and exhibit areas, the event will also include Sede de Ciência [“A Thirst for Science”], a space for debates and conversations with researchers and guests speakers.
On Friday (29), the agenda will be specifically dedicated to teachers and educators, with roundtables and discussions on scientific dissemination, artificial intelligence in education, and training opportunities available at CNPEM. There will also be an open conversation between researchers and visitors, with coffee for participants.
On Saturday (30), Sede de Ciência will be open to the general public, with discussions on particle accelerators, quantum technologies, fossils analyzed using Sirius, Amazonian biodiversity and rare earths. Visitors will be able to interact with researchers, and draft beer will also be available in this area.
Finally, the Center’s Director General Antonio José Roque will participate in a conversation on the new health innovation center led by CNPEM in partnership with the federal government. The discussion will address initiatives related to domestic production of vaccines, therapies and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that are strategic for Brazil’s national healthcare system (SUS).
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
