The Regional Director for Science and Technology highlighted in Ponta Delgada the Regional Government's investment during 2017 in "measures to support the organisation of scientific meetings as well as in actions and events for the dissemination of scientific culture and publication of scientific editions. As he revealed, the Government "supported more than sixty projects amounting to 230 thousand Euros."
 
Bruno Pacheco spoke at the opening session of the 11th Ibero-American Biology Olympiads. According to him, this is a "very important educational moment" in students' learning process as they have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities that "contribute to the development of their cognitive, social and communication skills."
 
The Regional Director stressed the importance of the Ibero-American Biology Olympiads for the "construction of intercontinental bridges," defending that they "strengthen ties between participating countries and foster cooperation, understanding and exchange of experiences."
 
According to Bruno Pacheco, the organisation of this type of event "meets the Azorean Government's commitment to the development of the "Citizen Science" concept, adding that the Government of the Azores is committed to promoting and supporting this type of project."
 
The government official highlighted the support to the Biology Olympics and to the Physics and Astronomy Olympiads, held in the Region, also mentioning the support to CANSAT project and, more recently, to T.O.P.A. project; the latter aims to foster digital skills in schools.
 
Under the same line of action, Bruno Pacheco emphasised the support to the activities developed by the Azores Science Centres, focused on the promotion of scientific culture, taking into consideration their role as "informal learning spaces that promote the importance of education for science."
 
"The promotion of education for science and the development of experimental education is one of the Government's priority," the Regional Director said, stressing "the importance of scientific culture in building a society of knowledge and democracy."
 
The 11th Ibero-American Biology Olympiads will take place on island of São Miguel, involving the participation of about 50 students and 25 teachers from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Spain , Guatemala, Mexico, Portugal and Peru.