O perfil do pesquisador em educação ambiental: elementos para um estudo sobre a constituição de um campo de pesquisa em educação ambiental

Abstract

Based on the characterization of the first profile of the environmental education researcher, by means of his/her education and professional and scientific acting, we have sought to recognize some elements which might serve as references for studying the establishment of a research field in environmental education. We have considered as subjects of this research all people participating and involved in the First Research Meeting on Environmental Education (I EPEA, in Portuguese), an event marked by its specificity regarding the discussion of the environmental issue focusing the research in environmental eduacation. The necessary data for the characterization of these people were obtained through the application forms filled in by the event participants and through the curricula - available at CNPQ's Lattes database - of all people involved in the I EPEA. By using these data, we have sought to recognize some correspondences between them and the themes identified in the works presented at the event. The analysis of the data obtained in the research was made taking into consideration both methodological approaches, quantitative and qualitative ones, and having as references some studies about the environmental educator's profile. As a result of such analysis, we have identified diversified profiles related to the environmental education researcher, a consequence of non-linear paths, what brings special attention to the multiplicity and variety concerning the subjects and the educational and acting contexts. Based on the application of Bourdier's categories, it was possible to recognize a research field in environmental education being formed, a consequence of the confluency of different fields such as: the environmental, the educational and the scientific ones. Other configurations regarding this establishing field were also discussed, and so some perspectives were pointed out for incoming studies.