The initiative will develop an interactive multilingual periodic table incorporating the names and meanings of elements in the Tenetehara Indigenous language, promoting diversity and cultural inclusion in chemistry education.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has awarded funding through its Inclusion and Diversity Fund to support the Tenetehara Periodic Table project, led by Dr Felipe Fantuzzi at the University of Kent. The initiative aims to create an interactive and multilingual periodic table that integrates scientific, linguistic and cultural perspectives by presenting the names and meanings of chemical elements in the Tenetehara language, spoken by Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon.
Developed in collaboration with educators and Indigenous representatives, the project promotes inclusivity in science communication by celebrating the coexistence of scientific and ancestral knowledge systems. Beyond documenting native terminology, the interactive resource will also include phonetic recordings, cultural interpretations and pedagogical materials co-created with local teachers and students.
The Tenetehara Periodic Table represents a step toward broadening access to chemistry education and fostering intercultural dialogue between Western science and Indigenous heritage. The RSC’s support recognises the project’s contribution to embedding diversity, equity and cultural awareness within chemical education and outreach—linking science with linguistic preservation, community engagement and global citizenship.