Dr. Penha Souza Silva
Associate Professor, Department of Teaching Methods and Techniques, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) – Brazil
March 1st, 2025 - February 28th, 2026
Penha Souza Silva is an associate professor in the Department of Teaching Methods and Techniques (DMTE) at the Faculty of Education, UFMG. She teaches in the Chemistry BEd, Indigenous, and Rural Education degree programs. Her research interests include the production of teaching materials, science teacher training, and rural education. She has been teaching in the Rural Education Degree Program (LECampo, acronym in Portuguese) since 2005, when the course was still a pilot project at UFMG. LECampo is a course aimed at students who live in and from rural areas.
During her visit to the Faculty of Education at 91ÅÝܽ, Dr. Penha Silva is developing research that seeks to deepen the understanding of the principles that guide the bachelor's degree in Rural Education based on materials produced by students during the course, such as reports, portfolios, and interviews. Based on these materials, she will seek to map evidence that may indicate whether and how students majoring in natural sciences in rural education present pedagogical proposals aimed at changes in their communities, centred on social justice. The research is based on the references of critical pedagogies and education for social justice.
Collaborating Faculty Member: Dr. Cristiano B. Moura