Carla Almeida

Controvérsia científica no telejornalismo brasileiro: um estudo sobre a cobertura das células-tronco no Jornal Nacional

In 1998, stem cell research became a subject of heightened controversy. In Brazil, the polemic came to a head in 2008 when the Federal Supreme Court commenced a judicial review of the new Biosecurity Law because it permitted the use of human embryos in research. This study analyzes the coverage of human embryonic stem cell research on the national daily evening news show, Jornal Nacional . A positive tone is observed, marked by a focus on the potential benefits of the research and omission of its limitations and risks. The limited success rate thus far obtained from embryonic stem cell research and the risks of inducing the formation of tumors were omitted, intimating that the only barrier to new treatments and cures was the legislation.In 1998, stem cell research became a subject of heightened controversy. In Brazil, the polemic came to a head in 2008 when the Federal Supreme Court commenced a judicial review of the new Biosecurity Law because it permitted the use of human embryos in research. This study analyzes the coverage of human embryonic stem cell research on the national daily evening news show, Jornal Nacional . A positive tone is observed, marked by a focus on the potential benefits of the research and omission of its limitations and risks. The limited success rate thus far obtained from embryonic stem cell research and the risks of inducing the formation of tumors were omitted, intimating that the only barrier to new treatments and cures was the legislation.

Representações da ciência e da tecnologia na literatura de cordel

A ciencia nao costuma figurar com destaque nas manifestacoes culturais brasileiras. Ainda assim, e possivel encontrar referencias a ela nas formas mais populares de comunicacao, a exemplo da literatura de cordel. Neste artigo, a partir de um corpus de 50 cordeis sobre temas relacionados a ciencia, buscamos compreender, por meio de uma analise discursiva, como o universo cientifico esta inserido e e retratado nesse genero literario. Observamos que os cordeis apresentam, em seu conjunto, uma imagem ambivalente da ciencia, ora exaltando os feitos cientificos e seus autores, ora oferecendo um olhar critico sobre o desenvolvimento tecnologico. Nosso estudo sugere que a convergencia da ciencia e da literatura de cordel tem potencial para aproximar a cultura cientifica da cultura popular, alem de fomentar um pensamento critico sobre as relacoes entre ciencia e sociedade, sendo, portanto, uma ferramenta interessante de educacao e popularizacao da ciencia.

Fayga Ostrower, uma vida aberta à sensibilidade e ao intelecto

The article discusses Fayga Ostrowers contribution to both science and art. Artist, educator, and humanist, Ostrower (1920-2001) devoted her life to art and art education. Between 1948 and 2001, her works were exhibited at numerous museums in Brazil and internationally. She taught at Rio de Janeiros Museu de Arte Moderna for sixteen years, gave classes at Brazils top art institutes, and lectured with charisma, enlightenment, and clarity to students, artists, workers, and businessmen around the world. The article offers a brief biography of the artists life, and describes her main ideas on the relation between art and science, a topic that fascinated her. Many of these thoughts were recorded in her penultimate book, A sensibilidade do intelecto: visoes paralelas de espaco e tempo na arte e na ciencia (The sensibility of the intellect: parallel views of space and time in art and science), for which she received Brazils top literary prize, the Jabuti, in 1999.

Farmers prevailing perception profiles regarding GM crops: A classification proposal:

Genetically modified organisms have been at the centre of a major public controversy, involving different interests and actors. While much attention has been devoted to consumer views on genetically modified food, there have been few attempts to understand the perceptions of genetically modified technology among farmers. By investigating perceptions of genetically modified organisms among Brazilian farmers, we intend to contribute towards filling this gap and thereby add the views of this stakeholder group to the genetically modified debate. A comparative analysis of our data and data from other studies indicate there is a complex variety of views on genetically modified organisms among farmers. Despite this diversity, we found variations in such views occur within limited parameters, concerned principally with expectations or concrete experiences regarding the advantages of genetically modified crops, perceptions of risks associated with them, and ethical questions they raise. We then propose a classification of prevailing profiles to represent the spectrum of perceptions of genetically modified organisms among farmers.

Ciência e teatro: um estudo sobre as artes cênicas como estratégia de educação e divulgação da ciência em museus

portuguesO teatro tem sido usado como estrategia de educacao e divulgacao da ciencia em museus. Neste artigo, analisamos duas atividades teatrais oferecidas pelo Museu Ciencia e Vida, de Duque de Caxias (RJ). Com base em entrevistas e questionarios, verificamos que os visitantes consultados tem familiaridade com o teatro, embora sejam frequentadores esporadicos desses espacos. Aqueles com menos acesso a programas culturais, envolvimento previo com as tematicas abordadas e cujos filhos se engajaram na atividade tenderam a uma recepcao positiva da mesma. Quando a atividade nao atraia a crianca ou a expectativa em relacao a ela era diferente da vivenciada, a tendencia foi de insatisfacao. Independentemente das opinioes colhidas, vimos que as atividades despertaram no publico reacoes que seriam dificilmente provocadas por atividades tradicionais do museu. Por este e outros motivos, defendemos a interacao entre ciencia e teatro como uma estrategia instigante e diferenciada de educacao e divulgacao da ciencia. EnglishTheater has been used as a strategy for science education and communication in museums. In this article, we analyze two theatrical activities offered by the Museum of Science and Life, located at Duque de Caxias (RJ). Based on interviews and questionnaires, we found that the visitors consulted are familiar with the theater, although they are not frequent visitors. Those with less access to cultural programs, previous involvement with the topics addressed and whose children engaged in the activity tended to receive it positively. When the activity did not attract the child in the group or the expectation it raised was different from that expected, the tendency was dissatisfaction. Regardless of the opinions gathered, we observed that the activities aroused public reactions that would be difficult to provoke by traditional museum activities. Thus, we advocate the interaction between science and theater as a differentiated strategy for science education and communication.