“Bullying is a trend that we must break in schools,” says Tomas Nersessian Baracat, a high school student in the Dual Diploma program at Mizzou Academy and Colegio Dante (São Paulo, SP). Tomas has just completed a semester of action research–a qualitative methodology of learning through cycles of observation, action, and reflection–on this important topic and has illustrated how bullying is an issue that directly impacts the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education. His poster, Breaking Bullying, was one of 28 student research projects celebrated at the Mizzou Academy Poster Showcase: The United Nations SDGs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, on December 13, 2024, at Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing (ESPM).

ESPM is an esteemed Business College and higher education leader in Brazil in the fields of Communication, Marketing, Consumer Management, Creative Economy, and Technology. Mizzou Academy began collaborating with them in May of 2024 and was thrilled to work together on this significant event.

Mizzou Academy Executive Director Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver said hosting such an event has been her long-time dream. “I believe in the power of student leadership and student research,” says Fishman-Weaver. “I wanted to invite young people to present on projects that matter.” 

These projects do matter. Understanding the value of being seen and heard, Tomas worked compassionately with vulnerable students to learn more about bullying, healing, mental health, and inclusion. Through action research, Tomas and many other students formulated plans to implement positive change. They evaluated what they could learn from the community and their progress toward achieving one of the SDGs. As they did, they considered the benefits, risks, and possibilities of using technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to accomplish change. 

Dr. Fishman-Weaver says that action research can “help democratize research methodology. So often, we think of research as something that only happens in labs or universities. Action research shows us that community research matters. It reminds students that they are often the best-suited leaders to impact change in their school and local communities.” 

The United Nations SDGs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The nearly 60 high school student researchers who presented work at the Mizzou Academy Poster showcase developed projects on the theme of The United Nations SDGs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Earlier in the week, the Mizzou Academy team hosted a teaching and learning conference with teachers and coordinators on the same theme. 

Renata Vaccari, Director of Brazil Operations, said she “loved the way this theme took the students out of their comfort zone and made them excel in ways that they might not even have thought they could.” 

One such student is high school junior Isaac Silva. Isaac focused on water scarcity in the rural community where he studies at Colegio IEPROL and lives—Itabuna, in northeastern Brazil. The issue is personal for his family, who work in agriculture, and Isaac wants to help. He believes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can help farmers improve water management and automate irrigation. Through interviews with a focus group of Itabuna farmers, Isaac learned that the community did not know much about many of the new open-access technology tools available and that they distrusted information from AI sources. Isaac began a campaign to help demystify this technology and support farmers, including his grandfather, in accessing new tools. He plans to expand his project to include more automated irrigation solutions to reduce water waste and increase sustainability.

Local Impact, Global Connections

Mizzou Academy student researchers traveled across Brazil to participate in the Mizzou Academy Poster Showcase: The United Nations SDGs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. The event welcomed students from the following three states and eight cities: 

• São Paulo, SP 
• Guaratinguetá, SP
• Lorena, SP
• Itabuna, BA
• Santo André, SP
• São José do Rio Preto, SP
• Ponta Grossa, PR
• Campinas, SP

High school students Bárbara Malacarne Campagnoli and André Sumikawa study in southern Brazil at SEPAM in Ponta Grossa, PR. They share a passion for climate action and marine biology. 

Through their research, they hope to create “a citizen science AI tool” derived from existing sources, including the ProFRANCA public whale sightings page and the Australian Institute.

Lisa Decastro, Mizzou Academy Elementary Coordinator, and Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, Executive Director, were impressed by the creativity and critical thinking demonstrated in this project. They commended the student pair on their originality, interdisciplinary connections, and out-of-the-box thinking.

Positive Change and Professionalism 

At the closing ceremony, Stephanie Walter, Director of Teaching and Learning, congratulated the researchers on their courage and poise. She also presented a special professionalism award to high school researchers Giulia Lacerda and Vinícius Lacerda from Colegio Drummond for their project on Potential AI Solutions in Healthcare. The duo focused on reducing critical wait time for patients. 

In addition to this special award, Dr. Fishman-Weaver presented eight committee-selected awards for excellence in action research, connection to the showcase theme, community impact, and creativity and critical thinking. She was struck by the camaraderie of the student community, which she said “were quick and enthusiastic in congratulating their peers.”  

At the close of the event, Jane Freitas, Director of Intelligence and Communications for ESPM, asked Dr. Fishman-Weaver if it had lived up to her “dream expectations.” 

“100%!” said Fishman-Weaver, beaming. “The student work speaks for itself. Our young people are the leaders our world needs. This event gave them a platform to present impactful ideas and innovative solutions. I am so proud of every student who shared their work today, and I’m grateful to the ESPM and Mizzou Academy teams who made this event possible.” 

Freitas smiled and said she couldn’t wait for the showcase next year.