Free entry for the general public on 30 May requires prior ticket issuance; student groups will be received on Friday, 29 May
How about spending a whole day exploring laboratories, talking to researchers, and getting to know one of the most advanced scientific infrastructures in the world up close?
On Saturday, 30 May 2026, the campus of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in Campinas (SP), opens its doors to the public for another edition of Ciência Aberta (Open Science). During the event, visitors of all ages will be able to explore the campus, take part in interactive activities, and discover how science is present in many of the technologies and solutions that are part of everyday life.
The gates will be open from 9 am to 3 pm, with activities ending at 5 pm. The visit is free of charge but requires advance ticket issuance, which will be available from 1 April 2026 on the event’s official website.
Throughout the day, the public will be able to explore different areas of scientific research conducted at CNPEM —from biosciences to nanotechnology, from renewable energies to engineering— through demonstrations, experiments, and conversations with scientists working in these fields. The full schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
One of the most anticipated moments of the visit is the opportunity to get to know Sirius, the Brazilian particle accelerator and one of the most advanced synchrotron light sources in the world. This facility allows for the investigation of microscopic structures with enormous precision and supports research ranging from the development of new medicines to the creation of more sustainable materials.
How to secure your ticket
To participate in Ciência Aberta on 30 May, simply obtain a free ticket starting 1 April 2026. Tickets will be made available in batches until the date of the event, subject to maximum visitor capacity.
Each person can issue a ticket for themselves and up to six companions, making it easier for families and small groups to participate. Due to the prominence of the event and its importance in CNPEM’s calendar of attractions, the website may experience slowness and instability during the first few hours after ticket issuance becomes available.
The Ciência Aberta organization encourages visitors to donate 1 kilogram of non-perishable food. The donations, which totaled tons in previous years, are destined for local charitable institutions that handle the distribution.
A full day to explore the campus
Durante o Ciência Aberta, os visitantes poderão caminhar pelo campus do CNPEM e conhecer atividades preparadas pelas equipes científicas e técnicas da instituição.
Para garantir conforto ao público, o evento contará com áreas de descanso, food trucks, pontos de hidratação, sanitários distribuídos pelo campus e fraldários em locais estratégicos. A circulação será feita majoritariamente a pé, com serviço gratuito de van dedicado a idosos, gestantes, pessoas com deficiência e famílias com crianças de colo.
Visitas estudantis
During the Ciência Aberta day, visitors will be able to walk around the CNPEM campus and learn about activities prepared by the institution’s scientific and technical teams.
To ensure the public’s comfort, the event will feature rest areas, food trucks, hydration stations, restrooms distributed throughout the campus, and diaper changing stations in strategic locations. The journey will be primarily on foot, with a free van service dedicated 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. In 2025, the event received over 38,000 visitors from different regions of the country, interested in getting a close look at extraordinary scientific facilities, such as Sirius, and the research and people who are doing cutting-edge science in Brazil. More than just 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. Over the years, it 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 and innovative 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).
