Delegate: Portuguese Sleep Association (APS) and Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra (CNC-UC), Portugal
Affiliation: Portuguese Sleep Association, Portugal Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Coimbra, Portugal
Short Bio: The Portuguese Sleep Association (APS) aims to promote action on research, development, investigation and dissemination of topics related to sleep and sleep disorders. Bringing together clinicians and other health professionals, investigators, and educators, APS looks for a multidisciplinary evolution in order to promote an improvement in technical and scientific knowledge as well as an enhancement of professional and public awareness about the importance of sleep in all its aspects.
The Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra (CNC -UC) is a scientific institute that fosters high-level biomedical and biotechnology research with societal impact, promotes multidisciplinary graduate training, and provides specialized services to healthcare institutions and the entrepreneurial community. As a modern research institution where novel scientific and social challenges arise, the center is also strongly committed to science communication, including awareness on the importance of a healthy sleep. CNC-UC has actively engaged in science communication initiatives aimed at enhancing literacy, promoting dialogue between scientists and society, disseminating CNC-UC’s findings through various media channels, ensuring public accountability, and nurturing a culture of scientific inquiry.
Activity: APS and CNC-UC join forces every year to carry out a campaign with various activities in order to raise public awareness about the importance of sleep and its impact on health. This year, a large-scale national campaign was conducted based on the slogan “Make Sleep Health a Priority”, comprising the following activities:
1. Launch of the book “Uma Viagem Ilustrada ao Mundo do Sono” – Desenhos e quadras de jovens artistas sobre a importância do sono. This unique book brings together short poems and illustrations by young Portuguese students — from primary school through secondary school — representing schools from across the country, north to south. It takes readers on a creative and educational journey through the fascinating world of sleep. Two launch events took place on the afternoon of March 14th: one in Porto, with two classes from lower secondary school whose students contributed to the book, and another in Moita, with operational staff from the Moita City Council.
Audience: 95 (children and adults)
2. Launch of the song “O Sono”, a song that reminds us of the importance of sleeping well to live better. As of March 14th, it has officially become the anthem of the Portuguese Sleep Association:
https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/1069653393/rendition/2160p/file.mp4?loc=external&signature=8c98fff7fb81c131923284cb142062eb28aa58495c6b5a80f5743fd28a6b51a0
3. World Sleep Day Ambassadors Campaign. Several public figures and prominent entities on social media were invited to become ambassadors for World Sleep Day, helping to better disseminate the most important messages about sleep and health.
4. Sleep awareness initiatives in schools and hospitals. During March, members of CNC and APS promoted many awareness initiatives in schools and hospitals across Portugal that included drawing exhibitions, animations, performances about sleep by the RED NOSES (some recordings available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UrCGkdm1W3kgCp3s4UiLsd03qYOQAWk0?usp=sharing), and featured discussions highlighting the importance of healthy sleep:
– Unidade Local de Saúde de Gaia (Gaia), during March. Audience: patients at the hospital
– Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte – Unidade Local de Saúde Santo António (Porto), March 10-11th and March 14th. Audience: children at the hospital and 40 students from 3rd and 4th grades from Escolas Básicas da Torrinha e da Bandeirinha (Porto)
– Escola Secundária D. Maria (Coimbra), March 11th. Audience: 25 high school students
– Escola EB 2,3 Martim de Freitas (Coimbra), March 18th. Audience: 137 students from the 7th grade
– Planetário do Porto (Porto), March 25th. Audience: 65 students from the 1st grade and 11 participants who were part of APPACDM (Portuguese Association of Parents and Friends of People with Intellectual Disabilities)
5. Awareness campaign on social media. From March 10th to 14th, an awareness campaign was carried out on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, featuring the creation and sharing of several informative posts highlighting the importance of sleep for everyone’s health. Various aspects related to sleep were addressed, along with practical tips, reinforcing the message that sleeping well is essential for living a healthier and more balanced life. Outreach: 27287 people
6. Media Campaign (tv, radio, newspapers) about the importance of sleep (more than 90 news):
. Interview for the News Agency “Lusa” (March 13): https://www.lusa.pt/article/2025-03-13/44571670/ins%C3%B3nia-nas-crian%C3%A7as-tem-aumentado-pais-devem-priorizar-aconselhamento-m%C3%A9dico-associa%C3%A7%C3%A3o-c-%C3%A1udio
– Interview for the News Agency “Lusa” (March 13): https://www.lusa.pt/article/2025-03-13/44571692/mais-de-24-das-crian%C3%A7as-partilham-quarto-com-pais-e-18-5-dormem-na-mesma-cama-estudo-c-%C3%A1udio
– Interview for the TV channel “TV Europa” (March 17): https://recordeuropa.com/videos/fala-portugal/dia-mundial-do-sono-17-03-2025-263624
– Interview for the TV channel “Porto Canal” (March 14): https://portocanal.sapo.pt/um_video/4888887253 (min 22 – 36)
– Interview for the TV channel “Porto Canal” (March 15): https://portocanal.sapo.pt/um_video/1406427335 (min 43 – 54)
– Interview for the TV channel “TVI” (March 14): https://tvi.iol.pt/noticias/videos/filhos-nas-camas-dos-pais-pode-ser-um-problema-o-sono-de-todos-e-perturbado-e-existem-questoes-de-seguranca/67d3f3f40cf28cf88767d411
– Interview for the TV channel “SIC”, “Primeiro Jornal” show (March 14)
– Interview for the TV channel “SIC Notícias”, “SIC Notícias Manhã” show (March 14)
– Interview for the Network channel “News Farma TV” (March 14): https://player.vimeo.com/video/1065559286
– Interview for the radio stations “Rádio Comercial” and “M80” (March 14)
– Interview for the radio station “Rádio Renascença” (March 13)
– Interview for the radio station “TSF” (March 13)
– Interview for the radio station “Íris FM” (March 15): https://irisfm.pt/noticias/pais/amanha-e-o-dia-mundial-do-sono-entrevista-a-dra-daniela-ferreira-presidente-da-associacao-portuguesa-de-sono-com-sons/
– Interview for the radio station “Rádio Regional do Centro” (March 14)
– Interview for the journal ”Diário de Notícias” (March 13): https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/portugueses-dormem-mal-e-correm-o-risco-de-ter-mais-doen%C3%A7as-como-avc-diabetes-obesidade-ou-cancro
Location: All over Portugal
Date of Activity: March 1st – March 31st, 2025
Submitted by: Laetitia Gaspar
