IRI Brazil also held its 22nd Scientific Immersion Training, welcoming 19 carefully selected leaders from eight states — over half from Pará — for an intensive blend of technical learning at CEMADEN and INPE with interfaith reflection.
Participants have been describing the training as “transformational and unifying.” The program fosters the capacity of faith leaders to interpret environmental data, communicate risks, and promote community-based solutions.
In addition, leaders learned to use datasets from INPE/TerraBrasilis, Fiocruz, MapBiomas, and others, empowering them to ground advocacy in evidence and science.
Scientific Immersion Training
Since 2022, IRI Brazil has organized immersive scientific training programs that bring together religious leaders from diverse faith backgrounds, journalists, digital influencers, and public officials for hands-on learning experiences at Brazil’s leading research institutions — the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN).
The program aims to expand the contribution of faith-based and civic actors to the preservation of climate balance, the conservation and sustainable use of forests, and the protection of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. To date, 26 scientific immersion trainings have been held for more than 600 religious leaders with a combined following of over 4 million people.
