Mathematics in the "right measure": producing digital narratives to deconstruct myths and attract new talent

• Grant number: 24/00503-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Journalism
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Mathematics
• Principal Investigator: Ali Tahzibi
• Grantee: João Pedro Peres de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação (ICMC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/06463-3 - Probabilistic and algebraic aspects of smooth dynamical systems, AP.TEM

Abstract

This journalistic research will be carried out as part of the actions of the thematic project Probabilistic and algebraic aspects of smooth dynamic systems, under the coordination of the responsible researcher Ali Tahzibi. Since the beginning of 2023, the researcher has developed several activities aimed at the non-specialized public to explain mathematical concepts related to the topics researched in the thematic project, in the context of an extension project entitled Mathematics in the right measure: teaching, research and extension in favor of public communication of science. Actions were carried out in public schools in São Carlos, in addition to five free meetings open to the population at the Center for Scientific and Cultural Dissemination (CDCC) at USP, in São Carlos, in August, September, October, November and December 2023. In these activities, through games and games, the public was encouraged to understand concepts linked to Measurement Theory, Node Theory, Graph Theory and Optimization, for example. An important lesson learned from this journey is the observation that there is greater engagement among younger audiences in these games and games, especially among students who are in elementary school II. Therefore, the Scientific Journalism-1 fellows who will work on this proposal will aim to impact young people who are in elementary school II and who consume a lot of videos through social networks. The proposal is to explain mathematical concepts through short digital narratives, using attractive and accessible language. Another goal of these journalistic productions is to deconstruct the negative view that is usually associated with mathematics, which is still considered difficult to understand and restricted to the most talented.