On February 24, the Center for Research on the Biology of Bacteria and Bacteriophages (CEPID B3) took part in the Welcome Weeks at the Institute of Chemistry (IQ) and the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB) at the University of São Paulo (USP), presenting its research, innovation, and outreach activities to students entering in 2026. The initiative introduced first-year students to the Center’s main areas of work and highlighted opportunities for involvement available from the very beginning of their undergraduate studies.

At the Institute of Chemistry, the Center’s director, Shaker Chuck Farah, presented CEPID B3’s mission, team structure, and the main techniques used in its research. He also outlined the Center’s core research lines and ongoing projects, including “Phages for Phage Therapy,” developed in partnership with the Hospital das Clínicas of São Paulo, which investigates the use of bacteriophages as an alternative approach to combating bacterial infections.

In addition to research initiatives, the program featured presentations of outreach projects led by the Center. Beny Spira, Bruna Rodrigues, and Carolina Nastaro introduced the #Adote Project and Micromat, shared results achieved in recent years, and invited first-year students to take part in the activities, reinforcing CEPID B3’s commitment to academic training and science communication.

At the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, incoming students had the opportunity to learn more about the #Adote Project and its main initiatives. The team presented key actions developed over the past few years and explained how students can engage in project activities from the early semesters of their degree programs.

Among the highlights was the screening of the musical parody “Adote Já,” inspired by the song “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. Created and recorded by the project team, the parody serves as a playful and accessible way to promote its activities. The presentation captured the attention of the new students and demonstrated, in practice, how science, creativity, and social impact can be combined.

By participating in the Welcome Weeks, CEPID B3 reaffirmed its commitment to training new researchers and strengthening the connection between the university and society, inviting students to join initiatives that integrate science, innovation, and outreach from the very start of their academic journey.