Abstract:

The researches about Public Understanding of Science, for a long time, were based on a narrow perspective to what properly means Science and the supposition that between what is diffused by the science communicators and the audience there is a gap, an obstacle of ignorance or contempt towards that subject. Jasanoff (2014) points out that in this context Science is considered a world apart, as a subject of study or as a work in the laboratory, always isolated from the audience and misunderstood by it.

From a new concept of Science Representation, which means Science not seen as something static, but as an object of representation and interpretation, we hope to rethink the role that Science plays with different audiences and clarify the untrue stigma that the lay public is hostile to science topics. In this perspective, this paper aims to understand how Ponto UFMG Itinerant Museum, as a space of Science Communication, perpetuates notions and representations of Science to its audiences, and how these visitors rearrange those cues using their previous knowledge and their cultural background in order to achieve personal goals.

In the hope of understanding the Science notions diffused by the Museum, we will use specific visitant questionnaires for teachers and students from scholar groups; video recording of mediated visits and observation of handling the exhibit and use of Science communication materials produced by the Museum (such as experiments signs, handbooks and pedagogical materials); analysis of the guides’ speech; the objects of the exhibit; the information available in the visitor supportive material and inside the Museum Forward Plan.

The present paper aims to improve the scientific speech that supports all the work performed by Ponto UFMG Itinerant Museum, by making the visits to this particular space even more rich and relevant to its audience, especially by giving more opportunities to understanding the scientific cues approached, and also the connection between different areas of knowledge.

Keywords:

Public Understanding of Science, Museum, Primary School, Science and Technology.