Testimonials:

Learning about Ilum and CNPEM was very impressive for our students. This school is innovative for proposing learning methodologies that encourage (among other things) the development of competencies like teamwork, creativity, and enthusiasm for research, with the work guided by a highly qualified teaching staff. The laboratories are also very eye-catching, because of the modern equipment that permits hands-on learning in tune with the needs of the modern world.

Overall, we can reaffirm that Brazil conducts scientific research of the highest quality in a wide array of public institutions, which shows the importance of investment in institutes like Ilum that allow students to work more independently to carry out interdisciplinary studies based on the scientific method.

On behalf of the Rosa Perrone Scavone State Technical School, I wish to express our thanks for the chance to visit, and I hope to return soon with a new group of students. We believe that public school students need to know that they can study at a cutting-edge scientific institution like Ilum, where they will get a solid, high-quality education with good prospects for their professional and personal future.

The dream of many young people begins to come true: being scientists, researchers, taking an active role in their own education. Ilum, an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in science, technology and innovation at CNPEM, emerged to provide an opportunity to these future scientists. With an innovative model, active teaching methodology, emphasis on group work, and classroom and hands-on teaching by trained educators who encourage students and equip them to find answers to the questions they formulate, this free and top-flight school deserves acclaim from the entire population. Its importance in the undergraduate educational scenario cannot be measured, since this is where answers emerge, where curiosity meets creativity. I’m very grateful to all the teachers, to those who came up with the idea for this institution, and I wish all the best for Brazil’s future scientists. Congratulations to each “young Ilum,” for their achievements every day! May the light that guides you be ever stronger. “The world needs curious and questioning minds” (Ilum).

Science is extraordinary, and through it we seek to understand and in many ways even transform the world that surrounds us. Ilum appeared on the Brazilian scene as an incredible proposal where every day interdisciplinary studies, research, practice and experience shape future scientists who will be able to take the lead in well-founded actions to address the countless and varied challenges that society faces at all levels. This initiative is extremely valuable, considering that beyond strengthening our young people, it shows the importance of science and education for development. Congratulations, Ilum, the world thanks you!

Science is about nature, and uses a math as a language. What brings the two fields together are experiments, which describe phenomena via quantitative measurements, opening the doors to mathematical modeling. Traditionally, bachelor’s students in various sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) focus on learning from the models and measuring techniques in a certain discipline. Today, solving the problems we face is essentially multidisciplinary, and scientists learn to converse with other areas after their training. Ilum makes it possible to train scientists who already have contact with different disciplines, with an infrastructure that allows state-of-the-art experiments, facilitating contact with scientists in multiple areas. It is a cutting-edge idea, built on a solid foundation that will result in a unique education for the scientists that graduate from the school: they will make a difference in the places where they eventually work.

Brazilian undergraduate science education has a new star: Ilum. A model in which the student is more than just a player, they take the leading role in their own development. A model in which students don’t just talk about research, they conduct research. A model in which students want to learn, because they use what they learn. A model which, I hope, over time will strongly influence the Brazilian undergraduate education system.

If I were in school right now, I would be going nuts to get into Ilum. We live in a world that is so disruptive that transformations are very frequent. What will make this leap possible for Brazil to increase competitiveness is technological development. Training professionals who have the scientific know-how and an entrepreneurial and innovative mentality, for inter-entrepreneurship or to create new disruptive businesses, requires training. This is Ilum’s big contribution: challenging students to work more effectively on projects to develop new technologies, approaching innovation as a whole, seeing the development chain for new knowledge as a way to generate more benefits for society.

The Ilum School of Science was born with an innovative and modern educational concept to meet Brazil’s need to train scientists that are well qualified in science and technology. The students begin their academic career focused on the learning needed to solve future problems in the areas of the environment, energy and health. They will have contact with groundbreaking methodologies to understand the subject matter, from theory and computational methods up to practice and their interactions in the world. Through immersion in the scientific and technological environment at CNPEM and the national laboratories, Ilum students experience how modern scientific problems are faced and can correlate this with their course content. As a result, I am fully confident that Ilum students will be able to work in the job market to drive Brazil in the area of scientific and technological growth, and potentially become the future intellectual leaders in our next generation of scientists.

In my opinion, one of the essential requirements for a scientific life is courage. Courage, curiosity and caring. Ilum, and the students who dedicate their lives to this idea, represent pure courage: courage to make it happen and then become part of the process so that everyone learns together. It’s like building wings when you’re already in the air, but with the best plans and instructors. The physical structure of this school is inspiring, it reminds me of the early days at LNLS, and the library archive that was created is impressive, as are the learning spaces. I also donated a number of books, since I think nothing compares to the contact and caring that a book can transmit between generations. Books serve as portals, and at Ilum these individual deep dives into reading are essential. As the LNLS ambassador to Ilum, I have had opportunities to interact with the students and facilitate their access. They have the opportunity to visit laboratories, attend lectures, and learn more about everyone’s work, and will also have time to participate in research and innovation projects. Students will be able to directly interact with researchers at CNPEM as a whole, which sharpens their curiosity and requires courage and caring from everyone involved.

Since its founding, CNPEM has carried a strong tradition in the scientific training of young talent through its schools and internship opportunities, such as the summer scholarship program. Going even farther and creating an interdisciplinary higher education program in science, technology, and innovation with an innovative teaching model seemed audacious and extremely challenging, but its founders made their dreams a reality and overcame the first major hurdles. They began a real revolution in the way that science, technology, and innovation are taught, with the country’s best infrastructure for this training and innovative educational methods that allow us to dream big for the future of this new generation of scientists. The contacts we’ve had with Ilum’s first generation of students show that the admissions process was also brilliant, and the future is promising.

Ilum offers a unique learning environment where students take an active role. The curriculum was carefully planned to shape professionals qualified to carry out the science of the future. Instead of conventional expository teaching, the content is presented through interactive activities that involve debate, problem solving, and digital resources. Hands-on classes use laboratories that are very well equipped and organized, and are based not only on demonstrating equipment and methods but solving scientific problems. Students also have a complete and up-to-date library available to them, as well as access to periodical portals and individual laptop computers.