As part of the celebration of World Sleep Day, the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra (CNC-UC) and the UC Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva of the University of Coimbra, are promoting the launch of the series of animations for hemispheric projection (360º), 'Um bom sono sob as estrelas’.

World Sleep Day, celebrated annually on the Friday before the spring equinox, will be celebrated in 2024 on March 15, under the slogan 'Quality sleep, for all, for better global health' developed by the World Sleep Society. This annual celebration aims to raise public awareness of the importance of sleep in human health because, according to the World Sleep Society, "there continue to be clear differences in sleep hygiene among the world's population, creating additional challenges and accentuating inequalities in terms of health".

Seeking to reinforce the importance of good sleep hygiene among the Portuguese population, the launch of this series of hemispheric projection animations will take place in three different cities: at the Planetário do Porto on March 15 at 2pm, at the UC-Exploratório in Coimbra on the same day at 6pm and at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento in Lisbon on March 16 at 4pm.

At the three Ciência Viva Centers, the premiere of these animations will be accompanied by a round table with different experts who will discuss social and scientific issues related to sleep. This structured set of five animations for hemispheric projection (360º), entitled 'Um bom sono sob as estrelas', was coordinated by researchers from CNC-UC with the participation of the Associação Portuguesa do Sono and directed by award-winning Portuguese illustrator Cristina Sampaio. At each of the centers, admission to this event is free and does not require prior registration. This project was funded by the Resmed Foundation and Gasoxmed.

Hemispheric projection animations: 'Um bom sono sob as estrelas'
Coordination: Ana Rita Álvaro, Bárbara Santos, Catarina Carvalhas, Cláudia Cavadas, Elza Rocha, Laetitia Gaspar, Raquel Duarte, Sara Amaral; Participation: Portuguese Sleep Association; Scripts, illustration and direction: Cristina Sampaio; Animation: Marta Cutileiro; Sound design: Philipe Lenzini; Voice-over: Rui Andrade; Voice capture: Marta Anjo; Production: CNC-UC and UC Exploratório
 

For more details on this event in each of the locations, see the posters below.