Brazil’s Largest Open Science Event Introduces Thousands to Protein Design with Foldit

For the second year in a row, Brazil’s largest open science event introduced thousands of children and families to protein modeling and design. The event welcomed around 30,000 visitors from May 29–30, 2026, to the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), where they participated in hundreds of scientific activities across various disciplines.

As visitors made their way through the venue, they caught sight of a spiraling, colorful image projected on a large screen that drew them in. The screen displayed Foldit, an educational game that allowed families to interact with protein structures, offering an engaging, hands-on introduction to protein modeling.

Helder Ribeiro, the coordinator for the protein-themed activities, noted the families’ excitement as they learned about the basics of protein science and its societal impact, all while the children had fun playing. “Through Foldit, we introduced people with little or no prior experience in science to the importance of understanding protein structures and designing functional proteins for a wide range of real-world applications,” he said.

“We hope the experience inspired young students to pursue an interest in science so that they can become part of the next generation of researchers,” Helder added. Planning is already underway for the 2027 event.