Biological Evolution In School: An Experience Of Communication And Dissemination Of Scientific Culture

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to report the experiences of an extension project that aimed to stimulate the interest of high school students by the theory of biological evolution, popularizing the key concepts of the ideas promulgated by Charles Darwin (1859). The project’s actions were: (1) known, by means of questionnaires, the perception that high school students and their biology teachers have on science and the theory of biological evolution; (2) promote science exhibitions by offering workshops and short courses in public schools. The results indicate that the perceptions of students and teachers of basic education in relation to science and theory of biological evolution, are optimistic and positive, and personal beliefs do not seem to influence in their positions on the subject. The study of the perceptions of students and teachers provided information on the definition of “what, for whom and how to communicate” scientific subjects at school. So was followed by the second stage of this project – the development and implementation of workshops for students of basic education – which resulted in new opportunities for those involved, to rebuild the relationship and assign values to science.