Galileu da Silva Pires

Professor Galileu da Silva Pires is an award-winning Brazilian Biology teacher whose transformative work in the Amazon has reshaped expectations of what public-school science education can achieve. Since 2016, he has taught at public schools in Manacapuru, Amazonas, pioneering scientific research, sustainability initiatives, and technological innovations with his students—many of whom have gained national and international recognition.

Arriving in schools with outdated science laboratories unused for over a decade, Galileu fought institutional resistance to secure laboratory access for students. Despite facing professional isolation, family challenges and scarce resources, he committed to proving that young people in the Amazon could excel in global STEM innovation. Through STEM, STEAM, PBL and problem-based learning, he built a culture of scientific protagonism, inspiring students to solve ecological, technological, and social problems.

His students’ achievements grew rapidly:

Solve For Tomorrow National Winner (2019) for “Cotton Fibers from Fish Scales,” a world-first sustainable natural fiber used for eco-paper and medical applications.

Multiple National Top-10 placements for innovations addressing climate change, sustainability, and health—including the Hybrid Stove, Kanguru Mask, and AC-19 Anti-Covid System, developed during the pandemic.

International recognition (2024) for the groundbreaking Jaci Women’s Health Indicator, the world’s first sanitary pad capable of measuring menstrual pH to help detect women’s health conditions—an innovation combating menstrual poverty and promoting dignity in schools.

By 2025, Galileu and his students embarked on developing a first-of-its-kind oral hearing device, enabling deaf individuals—including babies using a pacifier version—to hear without surgery or traditional hearing aids. Early tests have shown 100% success in children, positioning the Amazon as a birthplace of global assistive technology.

Beyond the classroom, Galileu has led a multitude of community efforts:

A free pre-university program (2016–2019) supporting disadvantaged youth.

Free robotics programs for rural, urban, and Indigenous students, and organizing Manacapuru’s Robotics Championship with inclusive participation of students with disabilities.

Free music classes that provide cultural enrichment and community engagement.

His leadership has also elevated the teaching profession. As the Amazon’s representative at the STEM Tech Camp Brazil (USP/US Embassy), he became a multiplier of STEAM training statewide. Since his first national win, 70% of his colleagues now participate in scientific competitions due to his mentorship. His students' success rate is equally remarkable—90% of those involved in his projects have entered university.

Galileu defines global citizenship through action: tackling climate change, promoting women’s health, supporting technological inclusion, and transforming waste into innovation. His projects have involved 212 students over nine years, many now contributing positively to society across cultures and borders.

If awarded the Global Teacher Prize, Galileu plans to invest in expanding the oral hearing device, establishing a Hearing Rehabilitation Center, and supporting his doctoral studies—continuing a mission rooted in equity, science, and hope.