Life in the water, water of life: intertwining environmental education,
popularisation of science, University and school
These educational activities start from the premise that science popularisation – as promoted by the integration of pedagogic and environmental activities between university and school – can contribute to the formation of question-driven citizens. Thus, the educational processes undertaken aim to foster knowledge and political discussion, highlighting environmental issues, particularly those related to water use, management and conservation. Therefore, water is addressed as a cultural, social, political and ecological asset. By combining research, teaching and extension, we develop materials (game Debate at the Lagoon, The ReaL Value of Things, Workshop on Aquatic Microorganisms, Didactic Sequence, magazines, visiting guides to the lab), courses to teachers, and didactic exhibits (lagoon installation). These materials are used on schools and at the university, and they are made available online fostering a movement called “University goes to school and the school goes to the university”. This is all designed to build partnerships between university students, education researchers, ecology researchers and teachers of basic education in order to draft educational processes that are inclusive of the scientific, the educational and the environmental discourses. Altogether, these activities create possibilities of joint action between university and basic school.
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