PS 9-78
Scientific-cultural exhibitions: University extension promoting inclusion and social development
University extension is an educational, cultural and scientific process that articulates teaching and research to develop actions to achieve specific social demands. The diffusion of information using scientific-cultural exhibits represents the socialization of knowledge generated by the academy through an accessible language to society in general. The importance of this involves the appropriation of scientific knowledge by society which can be used for its own benefit in the solution of problems that compromise their quality of life. In addition, even indirectly, the socialization of knowledge contributes to overcome social inequalities. The Research Nucleus in Limnology, Ichthyology and Aquaculture (Nupélia) of State University of Maringá (UEM), Brazil, through the University Sectorial Library and the Graduate Program in Ecology of Inland Aquatic Environments (PEA), promoted an informal education exhibit with the purpose of to promote the interaction between academic knowledge and knowledge and social practices of the community through photographies, memorial of Nupélia and PEA activities and scientific-cultural information. The exhibits consists in to show the research activities of 22 laboratories that develop ecological research from molecular genetics, going through all trophic levels of aquatic organisms, to social, economic and technological aspects of the riverine population that inhabits the study area.
Results/Conclusions
The exhibits "Paraná River: living in harmony" and "Artisanal fisheries in the Itaipu Reservoir, and its environment", along with the memorial exhibit "The Upper Paraná River Basin: nature and environmental monitoring" were visited by a great number of members of the academic university community (students, professors and staff). The exhibits "The Upper Paraná River Basin: landscape and environmental monitoring" and "Your river as you have never seen: Scientific-Cultural Exhibition UEM - Porto Rico" were directed to the local community in general, such as residents and public, private and rural elementary schools. These events allowed the community to explore different ecological, social, cultural and economic environmental aspects in an interdisciplinary perspective. Visitor comments such as "This is all ecology?", "Wow, I did not know all of this is needed to preserve the environment!", "This was studied all in our rivers?", and "I did not know what life was like for a fisherman!" demonstrate the deficiency and necessity of scientific translation to the community. Based on this experience, we conclude that attendance of such activities that popularize the sciences and environmental education create a sense of social responsibility for the citizen, helping to enable the non-scientific population to transform their social reality.