The University of Porto (UP) is the largest education and research institution in Portugal. ICETA is a non-profit institution supporting R&D programs of research groups from UP. It is host institution and core administration and project accounting facility for Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), the representative institution of this network, and the main research centre from InBIO Associate Laboratory. CIBIO/UP’s Science Communication unit aims at improving public understanding of evolution, biodiversity and environment-related areas. FCUP is a certified pre-service and continuing teacher training institution. IBMC/UP is a multidisciplinary research institution aimed at developing research in life and health sciences. IBMC/UP’s Office for Science Communication mediates science education and outreach initiatives, including accredited in-service biology teacher training courses.
These institutes have consistently taken part in an exceptionally diversified range of initiatives to promote scientific literacy with impact at local, national and international levels. CIBIO/UP has hosted the 2011 edition of the FIRST IV workshop, an initiative aimed at reforming undergraduate science education through professional development actions on inquiry-basededucation, and has been engaged in outreach activities to raise awareness about socio-scientific issues in the field of ecology and conservation. FCUP’s leading expertise in initial and continuing teacher education, and outreach activities on biology education stems from two master courses in biology teaching, a doctoral program in science education and communication, and a wealth of summer projects on cutting-edge science topics. IBMC/UP offers certified teacher training workshops on professional development and inquiry-based science education, and has organized meetings and exhibitions, in collaboration with museums and science centres.