Science Journalism as an ally in the dissemination of research related to the Brazilian marine ecosystem

• Grant number: 23/11820-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Journalism
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Leticia Veras Costa Lotufo
• Grantee: Eduarda Antunes Moreira
• Host Institution: Núcleo de Desenvolvimento da Criatividade (NUDECRI). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Coordenadoria de Centros e Núcleos Disciplinares (COCEN). Núcleo de Desenvolvimento da Criatividade (NUDECRI), Brazil

Abstract

Recently, marine biotechnology has assumed a prominent role with the institution of the Ocean Decade, by the UN, emerging as an important science field for the generation of socioeconomic development through the sustainable, creative, and inclusive use of marine biodiversity, as well as for the promotion of conservation programs for these ecosystems. Brazil, having the second largest continuous coastline in the world, encompasses marine ecosystems of strategic importance, but the sustainable use of resources remains a challenge that is difficult to solve, because of gaps in basic knowledge. Today it is known that one of the greatest difficulties for the protection of environmental areas is the lack of communication between specialists and the public, therefore, finding effective ways to engage changes in human behavior for preservation issues has been one of the main objectives of the modern environmental conservation. An important strategy that can help in this process is Scientific Journalism, through which it is intended to carry out the democratization of knowledge and the mobilization of society in search of collective improvements. With this project, therefore, it is expected to collaborate with education in science and sustainability of the oceans, and with the appreciation of national research, based on the dissemination of projects related to the study of the marine ecosystem, and the collaboration with the Laboratory of Marine Pharmacology (LaFarMar-ICB-USP), whose main objective is the search for new anticancer drugs based on the study of Brazilian marine biodiversity. To this end, journalistic materials will be produced on marine biodiversity and biotechnological potential, and the importance of ocean conservation. The materials - in written (reports), audio (podcasts) or audiovisual (videos) formats - will be published in scientific journalism vehicles (ComCiência, Jornal da Unicamp, Jornal da USP) and on audio and video platforms, in addition to the social media and websites of the research group or its projects. Besides that, they will be presented at scientific dissemination events and/or scientific events related to the topics addressed. Thus, this proposal aims to disseminate the results of scientific projects developed in universities and national research institutes in a serious and critical way, contextualizing the social benefits arising from these investigations.