In underserved rural areas such as Armamar, a village nestled among the hills of Portugal’s Douro Valley, in Portugal, limited access to science restricts students' exposure to scientific knowledge and their interactions with scientists. This gap reduces scientific literacy within the community, limiting students' ability to understand how science can address local issues, or supporting a future science career aspiration. To address these gaps, the Armamar School Cluster (AEGT), in collaboration with ARMA-Sci/GOMA, launched the Tapas de Ciência initiative in 2024. Its main goals were to promote scientific literacy and encourage students to see science as a means to solve daily challenges. Specific objectives included promoting positive attitudes towards contact with scientists and careers in science, and broadening their understanding of different scientific fields.

The initiative was a scientific speed dating, featuring five researchers from different scientific fields—Food Science, Medicine, Literature, Chemistry, and Evolutionary Biology/Education—each positioned at a distinct 'Science Table' with objects, images, or materials representative of their work. AEGT students (n=70) from the 9th (n=44) and 12th (n=26) grades were organized into small groups of 4-5 and rotated through each table in ten-minute sessions. At each station, researchers gave brief introductions and engaged students in interactive discussions, allowing them to ask questions about daily routines, career paths, and research passions in a welcoming, visually engaging environment.

Students rated their agreement on a 1-5 scale for four claims: interest in science, attitudes towards contacting scientists, discovering new science areas that they can pursue, and understanding science's practical applications, and a keyword selection for the program.

The initiative was well-received by students and was ultimately successful in achieving its primary goals. Among the highlights: 88.5% of 12th-grade students and 93.2% of 9th-grade students reported an increased interest in learning more about science; 80.8% of 12th-graders and 81.8% of 9th-graders developed positive attitudes towards approaching scientists from different fields; 96.2% of 12th-grade students and 88.6% of 9th-graders stated that the program helped them understand how science can address everyday issues relevant to their lives. Additionally, 76.9% of 12th-graders and 97.7% of 9th-graders discovered new scientific fields they might consider pursuing. The word cloud analysis underscored this enthusiasm, with the terms "interesting" and "incredible" emerging as the dominant keywords.

These findings highlight the efficacy of targeted science outreach initiatives in reducing the accessibility gap in rural areas, particularly in Armamar. By sparking curiosity, encouraging students to engage with scientists, showcasing the diversity of scientific fields that these may use or pursue as career option, and demonstrating the relevance of science to everyday challenges, initiatives like Tapas de Ciência empower students with the scientific literacy needed to make science meaningful in their personal lives and impactful within their communities.

Keywords: Rural territories, Science Literacy, Science Education.