Perceptions about scientific dissemination activity by Center for Functional Materials Development members

• Grant number: 17/08909-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education
• Principal Investigator: Adilson Jesus Aparecido de Oliveira
• Grantee: Tárcio Minto Fabrício
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Within the Center for the Development of Functional Materials (CDMF), the objectives related to the diffusion of scientific and technological knowledge are fulfilled not only by the realization of processes and products of dissemination and scientific education, but also through investigations that seek to produce knowledge about the methodologies adopted for those purposes. Currently, CDMF already has a partnership with the Open Laboratory of Interactivity for the Dissemination of Scientific and Technological Knowledge (LAbI) of the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), which results in a well-established platform for the production of audiovisual and textual materials aimed towards scientific knowledge dissemination, structured mainly on the contribution of professionals in the area of Communication. Within the scope of this research project, the objective is to extend this possibility of realization also to the set of researchers of the Center, through the collection and systematization of data regarding their perceptions and expectations about the dissemination activity, since we believe that the knowledge about these perceptions and expectations is fundamental to the understanding of the potential and possible limitations to this practice. In addition to the specific context of the CDMF, the expectation is that such reflection and research may contribute to the increase of dissemination activities in general, considering that they are one of the main lines of action of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (Cepids) financed by Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo (Fapesp).In order to do so, the first activity planned is the revision of the literature on the theoretical and methodological framework that has been guiding the reflection and practice of diffusion in the CDMF: the conceptual framework and the integrative perspective between formal and non-formal educational activities of Educating Cities, in its possible interfaces with the perspectives of the interrelationship between Science, Technology and Society (STS). From this review, which aims to update the already adopted references, the empirical phase of the research will be initiated, with the structuring of a research instrument (questionnaire) to be applied to the group of researchers linked to the CDMF, in order to verify their perceptions, expectations and difficulties in relation to the diffusion activity, as well as, more specifically, in relation to practices associated with the concept of Educating Cities and STS relations. Initially, pilot questionnaire will be used to identify inconsistencies, inconsistencies and other needs for change and / or improvement, for later application on a larger scale. The systematization of these results will, in turn, support in-depth interviews with a smaller group of researchers, made up of local and general leaders of the CDMF.As the research is proposed as action research, the results obtained will be discussed with the participants, during a seminar of training in practices of diffusion of knowledge. The training will also cover the planning and production of scientific dissemination materials by the researchers themselves, with the support and supervision of the scholarship holder, at which time, as well as training and the preparation of these materials, we aim to obtain research data that may complement the information obtained previously through the questionnaires and interviews.