Center for Research in Optics and Photonics
Science Outreach and Scientific Dissemination are key components of CePOF-USP’s mission, which for over two decades has been transforming knowledge into inspiration for thousands of people. The Center uses multiple channels and communication formats to make science accessible, engaging, and relevant to everyday life.
The content produced by CePOF goes far beyond the university walls. Through its own TV channel — broadcast on both open digital and cable television — and on platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and social media, the Center delivers daily interviews, lectures, classes, and cultural programs that bring the public closer to the latest topics in science and technology. This extensive programming, broadcast 24 hours a day, includes everything from full courses in physics and optics to series such as Science for Everyone and On the Trail of Scientists.
In parallel, educational bulletins and podcasts are produced for radio and digital media, making access to scientific knowledge even more democratic. Programs with an engaging and curious tone cover topics ranging from advances in biotechnology to simple experiments that can be reproduced at home or in school. This continuous presence in both traditional and digital media ensures that CePOF reaches hundreds of thousands of people each year, including communities geographically distant from major urban centers.
CePOF’s educational initiatives aim to spark curiosity about science among new generations, focusing on students and teachers in public schools. Since 2016, more than four hundred Science Clubs have been created in state schools across the São Carlos region. In these clubs, students and teachers conduct experiments, explore investigative methodologies, and share their projects at science fairs organized by the Center.
The Science Adventures educational kits, developed in partnership with Brazilian universities, allow students to explore concepts in optics, biology, mathematics, and color through hands-on, playful learning. Teachers also receive training on topics such as digital inclusion and educational innovation, enabling them to use the kits in the classroom and integrate science into everyday teaching practice.
These initiatives combine technology, creativity, and social engagement. Whether on television, social media, in schools, or public spaces, CePOF turns learning into an experience — bringing the wonder of science to everyone and reinforcing the idea that knowledge is a collective right and a vital asset for human development.
CePOF is also committed to turning scientific knowledge into direct social benefits. The technological research promoted by the Center covers strategic areas such as cancer treatment and diagnosis, drug development, public safety, and advanced optics. These projects include the development of medical equipment based on lasers and LEDs, optical techniques for early disease detection, and innovative devices for hospital and industrial use.
Semóptica – The Optics Week, held annually by CePOF at the São Carlos Institute of Physics (USP), is a scientific and educational event that brings together researchers, teachers, students, and the general public for lectures, interactive exhibitions, and experimental demonstrations on light, optics, and photonics. The event extends scientific knowledge beyond the laboratories, fostering a closer connection between science and society.