معرفی
Graça S. Carvalho is a Full Professor at the Universidade do Minho (Portugal) affiliated with the CIEC Research Centre on Child Studies. She has held this position since October 1994 and remains actively involved in academic research and teaching.
Her research focuses on health education, child development, science education, and biodiversity education. She has led multiple EU-funded projects such as the SHE4AHA (2022-2024) and Co-Creation Welfare (2016-2019), emphasizing community health promotion and educational interventions. Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to address public health challenges through school-based programs and culturally sensitive teacher training.
Key contributions include developing the 'Planning Health in School' program to improve children's nutrition and physical activity, and analyzing educational materials' portrayal of biodiversity. She has also explored students' and teachers' conceptions regarding microbiology, vaccination, and evolutionary biology, advocating for improved science communication and literacy.
Her grants include European Commission contracts (e.g., Health Programme 20121204, FP7 65224) and national funding from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. She collaborates internationally with institutions in Brazil, Mozambique, and other European countries.
She advises on health-promoting schools initiatives and has contributed to policy recommendations on active aging and community co-creation strategies. Her work bridges educational theory and practice, emphasizing child well-being and evidence-based health interventions.