The final session, titled «The Anthropocene as a New Geological Epoch?», was delivered by Professor Doctor Orfeu Bertolami, Full Professor of Physics at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. The event took place at the Main School of the Agrupamento de Escolas de Valdevez.
The Councillor for Education, Marlene Barros, highlighted the importance of the initiative for promoting scientific knowledge, environmental education, and community awareness of climate change challenges. The conference was part of the Autumn School, within the «Making Peace with the Earth» program.
The «Mitigating the Anthropocene» program, promoted by the Municipality, aimed to strengthen climate literacy and encourage more informed, critical, and participatory environmental citizenship. It included public debates, accredited training for teachers, awareness activities for students, the Autumn School, and an International Conference on the role of local authorities in responding to climate change.
The initiative brought together national and international researchers from various fields, fostering dialogue between science, education, culture, and citizenship, and encouraging reflection on environmental challenges and the role of local communities in building sustainable solutions.
Through this program, the Municipality of Arcos de Valdevez reinforces its commitment to environmental education and sustainability, valuing community knowledge and participation in addressing climate challenges.
