The free event requires prior registration; student groups and the general public must register via the official website
Have you ever imagined visiting one of the most advanced research centers in Brazil, exploring state-of-the-art laboratories, seeing up close Sirius, the Brazilian particle accelerator, and discovering how science is present in our daily lives? On May 29 and 30, 2026, the campus of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in Campinas (SP), will once again open its doors to the public for the 8th edition of Ciência Aberta (Open Science).
One of the world’s leading science outreach events, CNPEM’s Ciência Aberta offers programming designed for all ages, with interactive activities, visits to scientific facilities, educational initiatives, and experiences that bring science closer to people’s daily lives. The full schedule will be available on the over the next few weeks.
The event is free of charge.
The event will take place over two days, with distinct audiences
As in previous editions, the Ciência Aberta 2026 will take place over two days, with different formats:
- Friday, May 29: dedicated exclusively to student groups and excursions, subject to mandatory pre-registration;
- On Friday, student groups will be able to access the campus between 9 am and 12 pm. Departure will be at 3 pm.
- Saturday, May 30: open to the general public;
- On Saturday, the gates will be open between 9 am and 3 pm, with the event closing at 5 pm.
How to participate on May 29: student groups
Educational institutions interested in bringing student groups to Ciência Aberta must pre-register between March 2 and 15, 2026, through the event’s website. This step is mandatory and will be a requirement for completing the final registration.
Final registration will be available from March 17, exclusively for groups that correctly complete the pre-registration. Spaces are limited and may fill up quickly –- in 2025, slots were completely filled in less than five hours.
After registration is confirmed and supplementary documentation is submitted (liability waiver and list of underage students), the group leader will receive a unique QR code, valid for all group members. See details of the student group program.
How to participate on May 30: general public
The 2026 edition brings an important new feature: visiting the campus on Saturday will also require prior ticket issuance. Registration for the general public will open on April 1, 2026, with tickets being released in batches until the day of the event, respecting the event’s maximum capacity. Each registered person can issue tickets for themselves and up to six other people, facilitating access for families and small groups.
The ticket will grant access to the campus and allow participation in the activities offered throughout the day. Learn more about the individual visitor journey.
Scientific programming, infrastructure, and public reception
During the Ciência Aberta 2026, visitors will be able to get a close look at Sirius, the Brazilian particle accelerator and one of the most advanced in the world, as well as explore activities developed by CNPEM’s research units in the areas of biosciences, nanotechnology, biorenewables, engineering and technology.
The event will feature rest areas, hydration stations, restrooms distributed throughout the campus, and restrooms with diaper-changing facilities in strategic locations. Getting around campus will be done primarily on foot, with a free van service dedicated exclusively to the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and families with infants.
About Ciência Aberta
Held since 2016, Ciência Aberta has established itself as one of the largest science outreach events in the world and as one of the main showcases of Brazilian science. By 2025, the event had received over 38,000 visitors from different regions of the country, interested in getting a close look at the facilities, research, and the people who are doing cutting-edge science in Brazil. More than just CNPEM opening its doors, Ciência Aberta has established itself as a space for dialogue between science and society, committing to making scientific knowledge more accessible to people’s daily lives.
Held annually, Ciência Aberta is a free event that expresses CNPEM’s commitment to sharing enthusiasm for science and strengthening the active participation of society in the exploration of knowledge. Over the years, the event has become a major science festival, sparking curiosity, forming new audiences, inspiring vocations, and reinforcing the role of national science as one of the pillars for a more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive future.
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).
