The scientists and their contribution to science education in Rio de Janeiro countryside schools

Abstract

The objective of this work was to promote a closer relationship between students who never had contact with a scientist. Two simple questions were selected to be answered experimentally in the school laboratories: How important are the pigments in plants? Which molecules make up the food? Two Scientists from UFRJ, who research in these areas, participated in the real-time experimental activity, by video conference. Then, the scientist and the students talked freely, whose goal was to know both the school and science in daily reality. A semi-structured interview was conducted with students before and after the experiments. We perceived two anchors in the discourse of them: i) the humanisation of the scientist and ii) science driven by questions. The facts strongly suggest the need for direct interventions in the school environment and the offering of a rapprochement between university–scientist–school for the implementation of effective science education.