Three young people from Odemira received the silver medal in the biggest science competition in Milan, Italy – I Giovani e le Scienze, promoted by the Federazione delle Associazioni Scientifiche e Tecniche (FAST) between the 16th and 18th of March.
Ana Ramos, Bruna Matos and Mariana Gonçalves represented Portugal in this science competition with an investigation into the potential of some fungi for the biodegradation of polyethylene.
The scientific project presented by the young women, as students from the Odemira School Group guided by professor Paula Canha, had already been awarded in 2023 in the National Competition for Young Scientists and Researchers, organized by the Youth Foundation, which included participation in the Italian competition.
The study tests some ecologically correct alternatives to solve the accumulation of plastic waste in greenhouses in the municipality of Odemira, such as biodegradation through fungi, instead of traditional disposal.
The 2024 edition of this Italian competition for young scientists took place in Milan, between the 16th and 18th of March, and received 35 scientific projects from Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Luxembourg, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and Tunisia.