Portugal is a country where being a scientist is still not considered a career by most of its population and it's a place where funding for research comes almost exclusively from government sources. It is believed, among the scientific community, that if the public is more involved in scientific research, it will better appreciate the benefits and, eventually, directly contribute to science.
Instead of just waiting for an unlikely change, a group of young Portuguese life scientists decided to work towards that goal by creating the Associação Viver a Ciência (VaC). Founded in November 2004, VaC is a unique, non-governmental, non-profit organization that seeks to establish itself at the forefront of promotion and fund-raising for science in Portugal.
Since VaC's official launch, it has successfully undertaken various initiatives aimed at attracting private investment for research and at promoting excellence in research by Portuguese scientists. The VaC has created two privately ...
