The Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture announced today the opening of several applications to support measures for the scientific community in the Azores amounting to over 340 thousand Euros under the "ProScientia" incentive scheme. The application period will run during the first half of 2014.

Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the Volcanological and Geothermal Observatory of the Azores in Lagoa, Luiz Fagundes Duarte revealed that the applications for the participation and organisation of scientific meetings as well as for membership to the international scientific organisations and networks will be open in March; the global amount of support being of 100 thousand Euros.

In May, the Government will launch the applications to support the publication of scientific issues, operation of research centres and the hiring of five grant holder whose grants end in 2014," added the Regional Secretary.

Luiz Fagundes Duarte also revealed that the Regional Government has planned for this year the implementation of a support programme to the development of experimental teaching activities in schools.

The importance of disseminating this type of knowledge in schools was emphasised by the Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture. According to him, "it is fundamental that students have access to information in a more accurate language."

While visiting the Volcanological and Geothermal Observatory of the Azores in Atalhada, Luiz Fagundes Duarte stressed "the value of knowledge." This topic is depicted in an exhibition under the title "Evolution - response to a changing planet" that will be open to the public, starting today.