The University of Marília (UNIMAR) is honored to present, from November 3 to 7, 2025, the 16th Symposium on Scientific Initiation and the 12th Graduate Meeting, which this year has as its central theme “Plural Science for a World in Transformation.” This event is one of the most significant moments in the institution’s academic calendar, as it integrates teaching, research, and extension in a space of dialogue, collaboration, and innovation.

The symposium aims to bring together elementary, middle school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as faculty members, researchers, and professionals from various fields, promoting an environment rich in the exchange of experiences and reflections. The plurality of perspectives is what makes the event unique: each paper presented, whether in the form of a short abstract or an extended abstract, contributes to broadening the understanding of the challenges and solutions that science can offer to contemporary society.

The activities will take place in person, at the UNIMAR Sports Gymnasium, and also online, in virtual rooms specially prepared for distance learning students and external participants, ensuring that everyone can take part in an accessible and inclusive way. Approved papers will be published in the Abstracts Proceedings (ISSN 2176-8544), ensuring visibility and recognition of the participants’ scientific production.

The official opening will be held on November 3, at 7:30 p.m., at the Block 09 Auditorium, with live streaming on UNIMAR’s official YouTube channel, and the awards ceremony will take place on November 7, at 8:00 p.m., at the Rectorate Auditorium, also broadcast live. In addition to awards by thematic area, participants will be able to compete for the Plural Science Award, which recognizes the most innovative and interdisciplinary work, and the Social Media Award, intended for the group that most stands out in promoting the event on social networks.

More than a space for the presentation of academic results, the symposium is an invitation to transformation and dialogue. In a constantly changing world, science can no longer walk in isolation. True innovation arises from the union of different areas of knowledge, the sharing of perspectives, and collective construction.

Participating in this event means not only presenting research but also joining a network of knowledge that values creativity, critical thinking, and social commitment. Each participant, whether author, co-author, advisor, or attendee, contributes to strengthening science as a tool for positive impact, capable of generating real solutions and shaping professionals who are not only specialists but also true agents of change.