Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre joins National Network of Living Science Centres
Horta
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, signed a protocol today on the island of Faial to integrate the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre as an associate member of the National Network of Living Science Centres.
Alonso Miguel highlighted the work carried out by the Living Science Centres Network to disseminate knowledge and scientific research. According to him, they "are a driving force for scientific and technological education and literacy in Portugal."
"These centres are important platforms to promote interaction and bring citizens and institutions closer to science. They are also essential repositories of knowledge and historical and contemporary information on environmental, cultural and social issues, with important repercussions for the development of our societies," he continued.
According to the government official, ‘the inclusion of the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre in a select group of centres that make up the National Network of Living Science Centres is a very prestigious moment for the Region and the island of Faial in particular."
The Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre joins Expolab, located in the city of Lagoa, São Miguel Island, as associate members of the Living Science Centres Network, and as representatives of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in a group of 21 centres throughout Portugal.
Alonso Miguel recalled that ‘the Capelinhos Volcano represents one of the most emblematic landscapes in the Azores, being the most recently erupted land in Portugal, following the eruption that began on September 27, 1957, and lasted for 13 months."
He continued: "It is a phenomenon that changed the world. It was the first undersea volcano to be properly studied and documented throughout its activity, paving the way for a better understanding of the formation of volcanic islands, which has always aroused the interest of the national and international scientific community."
The Regional Secretary explained that "the Capelinhos Volcano was classified as a Partial Nature Forest Reserve in the 1980s and was later classified as a Natural Monument, as part of the Faial Natural Park." As he added, "It is also part of the Special Conservation Area and the Special Protection Area of Caldeira and Capelinhos, as part of the Natura 2000 Network, and is also recognised as a geosite of international importance in the Azores Geopark, as part of the UNESCO World Geoparks Network."
The Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre, which opened in August 2008, is a space that values scientific and social and cultural heritage. It is both informative and educational.
"This Centre has provided visitors with an interpretive journey that begins with the eruption of the Capelinhos Volcano, from a geological point of view, the alterations to the geomorphology of the island of Faial, as well as the impact it had on the lives of Faial citizens and the Azorean society," he stressed.
Alonso Miguel pointed out that "since its opening, the Interpretation Centre has won several international awards, consolidating its position as an example of excellence in architecture, design and environmental interpretation."
He continued: ‘’The association with the National Network of Living Science Centres, which we have achieved today, represents another important step towards the recognition and dissemination of one of the world's most important geological heritages, renowned as one of the world's top 100 sites of geological interest by the International Union of Geological Sciences."
He stressed that ‘with the integration as an associate member of the Living Science Network this year, when it marks the 67th anniversary of the beginning of the eruption, the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre reiterates its commitment to environmental education, scientific research and the promotion of sustainable tourism this year."
Alonso Miguel concluded that "this is a unique opportunity to consolidate scientific knowledge, through research and environmental education projects, with national and international collaboration, which will deepen the knowledge about this unique ecosystem and promote scientific literacy."
