SCIENTIFIC LITERACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: EXPLORING JATAÍ BEES IN A SCIENCE EXHIBITION

Abstract

This article is an excerpt from a doctoral research carried out in the Graduate Program in Agricultural Sciences of the Federal Institute of Goiás, Rio Verde Campus, whose general objective was to promote the popularization of science and develop a methodology based on scientific literacy, integrating basic education with higher education in the area of Agricultural Sciences. The main focus of the research is on food production in vertical farming systems, with an emphasis on the use of light quality and pollination by meliponas. The research involved scientific popularization activities centered on the study of Jataí bees (Tetragonisca angustula), with educational actions carried out with 70 basic education students. In this excerpt, whose objective is to analyze the impacts of the science fair on the promotion of literacy and environmental education through the study of Jataí bees (T. angustula), data regarding pedagogical intervention practices will be presented, with the elaboration of an action plan that included activities in the classroom, in the Complex of Laboratories in Plant Biotechnology of IF Goiano and in a science fair. These actions addressed the biology, social organization and ecological importance of Jataí bees, with an emphasis on the role of these bees in pollination and the preservation of ecosystems, as well as the relevance of their conservation for environmental sustainability. The data collected indicated significant impacts on the perception of students. After carrying out the activities, 78% of the participants reported an increase in interest in science, while 95% recognized the importance of preserving Jataí bees for environmental balance. Additionally, 96.7% highlighted the role of these bees in pollination and food production. The actions of the survey were evaluated as highly relevant by 76.7% of the students, who considered the theme essential for contemporary society. It was concluded that the actions of scientific popularization, carried out both in the classroom and in the laboratories and at the science fair, contributed to awaken the interest of students in science and promote their environmental awareness. This excerpt reinforces the importance of pedagogical practices that connect students to scientific and sustainability issues.