UNIPLAC’s Scientific Exhibition: 18 Years of History

Abstract

This study was developed at Universidade do Planalto Catarinense—UNIPLAC, an university established since 1954, located in the city of Lages State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. The city of Lages has approximately 160,000 inhabitants. In 1997, the Planalto Catarinense University (UNIPLAC) created the Scientific Exhibition (Mostra Científica), intended to disclose scientific works brought about by their faculty, researchers and students. The goal is to identify UNIPLAC’s scientific output from 1997 to 2012 in the Scientific Exhibition. A survey of existing reports on the exhibition was executed. 3237 scientific works have been published since the creation of the event in 1997 until 2012. Initially, the Scientific Exhibition was intended for the presentation of degree requirement works and was extended to works of research and extension developed within UNIPLAC and other institutions. There was a considerable increase in the number of works presented along the years of Scientific Exhibition, and therefore there was also a greater integration between the university and the community. The exhibition motivates students to submit their ideas, writings and findings. The young scholar shows greater motivation towards his studies. Academic exchange operates in several ways: between teachers and students of an institution and towards colleagues from other institutions. The scientific and technological advancements of a nation depend on the quality of its researchers, on the awareness of its science and the interaction between industry and science.