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Sourcing is the ability to evaluate information by analysing source parameters such as author's expertise on a given topic. Past research, mostly based on school-related materials and tasks, shows that adolescents do not pay attention to source parameters when evaluating online scientific information. However, recent research has suggested that such a 'lack of sourcing' may depend on the purpose for which information seeking takes place. The present study sought (a) to elicit the contexts in which adolescents seek information in their daily lives (included, but not limited to school-related assignments) and (b) to test the assumption that their attention to information sources depends on the purpose of their search. Focus groups were conducted with small groups of teenagers from contrasted socioeconomic backgrounds in two metropolitan areas (Rio de Janeiro and Paris). Five main contexts were identified, ranging from school assignments to monitoring topics of personal interest. Consistent with our assumption, references to sources were more frequent in personal compared with school information seeking contexts. The results suggest that researchers and science educators who wish to develop sourcing strategies among adolescents should use a variety of tasks, building on students' experiences of sourcing in daily life.

Sourcing is the ability to evaluate information by analysing source parameters such as author's expertise on a given topic. Past research, mostly based on school-related materials and tasks, shows that adolescents do not pay attention to source parameters when evaluating online scientific information. However, recent research has suggested that such a 'lack of sourcing' may depend on the purpose for which information seeking takes place. The present study sought (a) to elicit the contexts in which adolescents seek information in their daily lives (included, but not limited to school-related assignments) and (b) to test the assumption that their attention to information sources depends on the purpose of their search. Focus groups were conducted with small groups of teenagers from contrasted socioeconomic backgrounds in two metropolitan areas (Rio de Janeiro and Paris). Five main contexts were identified, ranging from school assignments to monitoring topics of personal interest. Consistent with our assumption, references to sources were more frequent in personal compared with school information seeking contexts. The results suggest that researchers and science educators who wish to develop sourcing strategies among adolescents should use a variety of tasks, building on students' experiences of sourcing in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the conversational content and interactions of ten families, with the aim of understanding the learning experience of families in a scientific exhibition. As instrument of analysis, it was used a protocol combining theoretical and empirical aspects of interactivity. The results show that the families actively participated in the exhibition, observing and talking about the animals, asking questions, looking for answers and elaborating explanations based on scientific thinking. The adults acted as facilitators of learning and for this they were supported by information panels promoting the connection with previous experiences. Children show curiosity, emotions and behaviors that evidence their learning experiences and interest in scientific topics.

Considering that the Internet and especially social media work as a locus for the circulation of information on COVID-19, this study aimed to assess the attention given to the vaccine theme on Instagram and Facebook in posts throughout two years of pandemic, identifying the temporality in which discussion about the different immunizing agents in social media and highlighting the actors who permeated the discussions on the subject. Data were collected using the CrowdTangle graphical interface, based on search terms in Portuguese related to vaccines approved for use in Brazil and it included posts from public Facebook pages and open Instagram profiles made from January 1st, 2020, to December 31st, 2021. The database included 3,876,408 posts (2,901,457 on Facebook and 974,952 on Instagram). The results showed an alternation of Pfizer, CoronaVac, AstraZeneca, and Janssen vaccines as the focus of discussion, following the public debate established in the country around the dilemmas and advances related to the development, production, distribution, and application of immunizing agents. References to institutions involved in the acquisition and production of immunizing agents were also identified, such as the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the Butantan Institute, and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, present among the thousand social actors that most generated comments from users in both networks. It was evidenced that the debate on immunizing agents, in the analyzed channels and period, was permeated by social media related to journalism and politicians and celebrities' pages and profiles.

This study was designed to analyze the science communication activities geared towards the general public undertaken at Brazilian research institutes. We identified how often such activities are carried out and what human and financial resources are available for them. The results suggest that between the years 2013 and 2017 there was an increase in science communication by research institutes responsible for a wide range of activities. To communicate with the public, the 169 institutes studied tend to use traditional communication channels more than social media. However, most of them did not have designated communication teams, drawing on specialized personnel from their host institution. Although they do engage in intensive communication activities, Brazilian research institutes still lack more a structured approach to science communication.

Brazil has one of the highest rates of scientific production, occupying the ninth position among countries with genome-sequencing projects. Considering the rapid development of this research area and the diversity of professionals involved, the present study aims to understand the expectations, past experiences and the current scenario of Brazilian research in bioinformatics and genomics. The present research was carried out by analyzing the perceptions of 576 researchers in genomics and bioinformatics in Brazil through content and sentiment analysis techniques. This group of participants is equivalent to 48% of the members of the research community. The results suggest that most researchers have a positive perception of the potential of this research area. However, there is concern about the lack of funding for investing in equipment and professional training. As part of a wish list for the future, researchers highlighted the need for higher funding, formal education, and collaboration among research networks. When asked about genomics and bioinformatics in other countries, the participants recognize that sequencing technologies and infrastructure are more accessible, allowing better data volume expansion.

In this essay, I present a brief panorama of the field of science communication in Latin America based on some studies carried out within RedPOP, the Latin American network for science communication, and the Brazil's Institute of Public Communication of Science and Technology, looking at Policies for science communication, Diplomas, Masters and PhD programmes, and Research in science communication. I will then highlight some of the challenges and trends in the region.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the pace of science. Many scientific data are published on preprint repositories, prior to peer review, which raises questions about the credibility of the information not yet validated by other scientists. We analyzed 76 stories published from January to July 2020 by three newspapers (The New York Times - USA, The Guardian - UK and Folha de S. Paulo - Brazil), having as topic studies on COVID-19 published on preprint platforms. The objective was to analyze how the media covered non-peer-reviewed research, in countries marked by conflicting discourses prompted by the denialist attitude of their government leaders. The results show that the newspapers did not provide a detailed explanation of what a preprint platform is, how the process of publishing research results works, and the implications of a study that has not yet been peer reviewed. The analysis also reveals how these news outlets were guided by the anxiety from an unknown disease, focusing on research on drug trials and seroprevalence. The study leads us to reflect on the challenges and weaknesses of covering fast science and the need to broaden the public's understanding of the methods and processes of science.

Film productions offer different representations of science and scientists. This study investigates how science and scientists are represented in superhero adventure narratives, particularly in The Incredible Hulk films. Four films were analyzed: two from the 1970s, when the first movies portraying this superhero were released, and two from the early twenty-first century as the Marvel Cinematic Universe expanded and superhero movies were frequent blockbusters. The specific goal was to examine how representations of science and scientists in the Hulk films have changed over time.

In this article, we present the main findings of the first survey conducted in Brazil on the public perception of science and technology (S&T) among youth ages 15 to 24 years old. The study was designed around a survey of 2,206 young people residing in urban areas. Results suggest that young people have a great interest in S&T (67%) and related topics, such as medicine and health (74%), and the environment (80%). They have a positive view of science and scientists and are in favor of investments in scientific research despite the country's current economic crisis (94% said Brazil should not cut its investments in S&T). Most of them believe science affords humanity many (69%) or some (27%) benefits, while it also presents some (53%) or few (30%) risks. The study identified shortcomings in these young people's knowledge: few were able to name a Brazilian scientist (5%) or scientific institution (12%). These young people are not frequent visitors to science museums (6%) or other spaces for communicating science, such as parks or botanical gardens (25%). The respondents voiced their opinions about social and political controversies in the realm of scientific research, such as vaccination, climate change, and the theory of evolution.

In this study, the perception of Brazilians regarding COVID-19 in 12 cities in the country was analyzed. Issues about the severity and dangers of the disease, sources of information and reliability, checking information, attitudes, precautions, and priorities for coping and trusting relationships in science were addressed. This study was carried out in the context of broader research on how Brazilians perceive the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). The survey was applied between May 18 and June 10, 2020, with 1,643 residents over 16 years of age in Brazilian cities where Fiocruz has a technical unit or office. The results reveal that the majority of the interviewees appreciate the seriousness of the pandemic, the importance of being properly informed, considers the measures indicated by health authorities important and trusts scientists and scientific institutions as sources of information. With the sense of urgency and experience of uncertainties about the present and the future, the need for strengthening of trust in institutions is present.

Although children have been identified as the group least affected by COVID-19 symptoms (even though they are not automatically shielded from the disease or its severe forms), their daily lives have been affected in various ways, including interruption of in-person school activities and contact with classmates, besides other impacts from social isolation and in many cases family financial and health problems. This study aims to understand the perceptions of children in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil towards SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and viruses in general, through a qualitative study. We interviewed 20 children via conference services platforms. The findings indicate that children are aware of the risks and necessary precautions for coronavirus prevention, displaying apprehension and fear of catching the disease and transmitting it to their family members. As for viruses in general, we found that their perceptions are related directly to the novel coronavirus, that is, the situation they are dealing with at present. The study provides elements that can help design science dissemination strategies.

Television is an important mediator of cultural practices and contributes to the construction of social representations, including representations of science. Considering that teenagers are a main target audience, here we analyze how TV content can help build perceptions of science among these young people. Twelve focus groups were held with students from public and private schools in three Brazilian cities: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), and Belém (Pará). We observed that although stereotypes of science and scientists did emerge in the discussions, the students demonstrated a more detailed understanding of scientific activity, as well as the TV programming itself.

Leading academic institutions, governments, and funders of research across the world have spent the last few decades fretting publicly about the need for scientists and research organisations to engage more widely with the public and be open about their research. While a global literature asserts that public communication has changed from a virtue to a duty for scientists in many countries and disciplines, our knowledge about what research institutions are doing and what factors drive their 'going public' is very limited. Here we present the first cross-national study of N = 2,030 research institutes within universities and large scientific organisations in Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. We find that institutes embrace communication with non-peers and do so through a variety of public events and traditional news media-less so through new media channels-and we find variation across countries and sciences, yet these are less evident than we expected. Country and disciplinary cultures contribute to the level of this communication, as do the resources that institutes make available for the effort; institutes with professionalised staff show higher activity online. Future research should examine whether a real change in the organisational culture is happening or whether this activity and resource allocation is merely a means to increase institutional visibility., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Science museums are powerful places not only for science communication, informal science teaching, and leisure but also for promoting science and technology in an equitable, diverse, and inclusive mode. The paper presents an overview of accessibility in Latin American science museums and centers, based on a questionnaire comprised of open and closed questions in Portuguese and Spanish. The answers received from directors and other personnel responsible for 109 institutions in twelve countries were analyzed using an accessibility indicator tool. The findings suggest that these institutions generally offer some physical accessibility resources and fewer communicational and attitudinal accessibility resources. Data also show that there is an absence of institutional practices that might underpin any endeavor to take into consideration the inclusion of people with disabilities. More funding must be made available for practices and research in this area. We also recommend that persons with disabilities play a greater role as protagonists and professionals and likewise as a research public in the realm of science communication and at the region's science museums and centers.

This study aims to analyze Internet traffic and interactions on social networks concerning vaccines. The 100 most widely shared, liked, and commented links were visited with the keyword "vaccine" from May 2018 to May 2019 to identify the main subjects, sources, and positions. The qualitative study phase used Discourse Analysis to identify modes of production of principal meanings in the chats. We further studied the fake news in the most widely shared links. The results point to a majority position in favor of vaccines (87.6%) and strong interest in health-related themes, scientific development, and health policies. Meanwhile, some of the mostly widely accessed sources of information in Brazil had no information on editorial criteria, policies, or authors, making it difficult to determine the quality and veracity of the information consumed in social networks in Brazil. Fake news accounted for 13.5% of the links with the heaviest traffic, raising concerns about misinformation on vaccines. These results point to important communication dynamics related to vaccines and opportunities to improve public communication on vaccination.

This is a study on the way science and scientists are represented in short films on science and technology featured in Anima Mundi Festival (1993-2013), considering symbolic elements that contribute to the image of science. Amongst 405 films on science and technology, 102 were selected for analysis. Brazilian productions predominated (91), as did films featuring genetics, biotechnology, and astronomy. The narratives mostly address technology development, ethical considerations, and explanations of scientific processes. Scientists appear in 80% of the films - mostly white men, wearing a white coat or uniform, in secret laboratories. Scientists' presence in public spaces - stages, the media, industry - indicates a call for their greater visibility in society.

This article presents the results of a study aiming to map out the characteristics of science communication activities carried out in Latin America by different organizations. We looked at a general description of the activities (such as the kind of activities carried out, in which periodicity, the publics engaged in the activities, etc.) and the favorable and unfavorable existing conditions in the organizations (such as budget and planning, evaluation, as well as weakness and strengths). The study focused on gathering primary information, through an online survey, answered by 123 institutions from 14 countries. Although the results are not representative of the entire Latin America - and it would be not possible to be so, since it is not even known the totality of initiatives existing in the region -, the study presents trends that can help the guidance and the consolidation of strategies for strengthening the practice of science communication in the region.

Using the Zika outbreak as a context of inquiry, this study examines how assigning blame on social media relates to the social amplification of risk framework (SARF). Past research has discussed the relationship between the SARF and traditional mass media, but the role of social media platforms in amplification or attenuation of risk perceptions remains understudied. Moreover, the communication and perceptions of Zika-related risk are not limited to discussions in English. To capture conversations in languages spoken by affected countries, this study combines data in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. To better understand the assignment of blame and perceptions of risk in new media environments, we looked at three different facets of conversations surrounding Zika on Facebook and Twitter: the prominence of blame in each language, how specific groups were discussed throughout the Zika outbreak, and the sentiment expressed about genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes. We combined machine learning with human coding to analyze public discourse in all three languages. We found differences between languages and platforms in the amount of blame assigned to different groups. We also found more negative sentiments expressed about GE mosquitoes on Facebook than on Twitter. These meaningful differences only emerge from analyses across the three different languages and platforms, pointing to the importance of multilingual approaches for risk communication research. Specific recommendations for outbreak and risk communication practitioners are also discussed., (© 2018 Society for Risk Analysis.)

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.

This study analyzes and compares the science and technology coverage in Brazil's main television news program (Jornal Nacional) and its Colombian counterpart (Noticias Caracol). Using content analysis, we investigated a corpus of news stories broadcast from April 2009 to March 2010. We found that Jornal Nacional presented over twice as many reports on science and technology as Noticias Caracol, and that its levels of reporting remained fairly stable throughout the year. The Brazilian reports were also longer, were featured more prominently, and used more visual resources. Even so, some similarities were found: news about health and medicine was most frequent; the reports focused primarily on announcing new research; scientists were the main sources cited; and national research was prioritized.

In this paper, we present a historical overview of the science communication activities in Brazil since the nineteenth century and we analyze the current situation and its main concerns. The principal scopes and tools for science communication discussed here are the following: science centers and museums, mass media and large public events for communicating science and technology (S&T). In recent years, such activities have had a significant breakthrough in Brazil. Yet, there is still a long way to go in order to deliver a quality and extensive science and technology communication to the Brazilians as well as to achieve a suitable level of social appropriation of knowledge on S&T by the Brazilian society. Some of the main challenges that we are facing are discussed herein.

In order to map scientists' views on media channels and explore their experiences interacting with journalists, the authors conducted a survey of about 1,000 Brazilian scientists. Results indicate that scientists have clear and high expectations about how journalists should act in reporting scientific information in the media, but such expectations, in their opinion, do not always seem to be met. Nonetheless, the results show that surveyed scientists rate their relation with the media positively: 67% say that having their research covered by media has a positive impact on their colleagues. One quarter of the respondents expressed that talking to the media can facilitate acquisition of more funds for research. Moreover, 38% of the total respondents believe that writing about an interesting topic for release on media channels can also facilitate research publication in a scientific journal. However, 15% of the respondents outright agree that research reported in the media beforehand can threaten acceptance for publication by a scientific journal. We hope that these results can foster some initiatives for improving awareness of the two cultures, scientists and journalists; increasing the access of journalists to Brazilian scientific endeavors; stimulating scientists to communicate with the public via social networks.

Since the early 1990s, research in public understanding of science has significantly increased and become more systematic and academic. However, most of papers published by the main journals in the field have as origin the English-speaking world of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand: for example, in this very journal, PUS, two-thirds of the empirical material come from these countries. This paper aims both to call attention to unheard voices, and make space for new ones, from other parts of the world, aiming to open space for new voices., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

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.

Many studies have tried to understand how the media covers topics related to science and technology (S&T) but few have examined the presence of these topics on the front pages of newspapers. This study analyzes the content of front-page leads about S&T in 2006, focusing on one elite national paper (Folha de S.Paulo) and two regional papers (Jornal do Commercio, from Pernambuco, and Zero Hora, from Rio Grande do Sul). It was noted that all three papers devoted front-page space to S&T, although to differing degrees. Folha de S.Paulo featured the topic more often, while Zero Hora highlighted it the most on its front pages.

The objective of our study was to investigate young people's attitudes towards modern genetics and biotechnology. Quantitative and qualitative studies were conducted among high school students in Rio de Janeiro. These included a survey of students in nine public and private schools as well as focus groups for a complementary analysis of their attitudes and perceptions with respect to these subjects. We observe that, in general, students are relatively well informed about some of the main issues related to the applications of genetics. In their assessment of the utility, the potential risks, and the need for encouragement of the different techniques used in genetic manipulation, they were able to make clear distinctions between the different purposes of each technique. Most students believed that transgenic food could be useful and that it should be encouraged, but they were also aware that there were risks involved. Furthermore, the students were strongly supportive of the labeling of transgenic food.

In this article, we collate data about the activities aimed at the diffusion of scientific knowledge, which were developed in Rio de Janeiro in the 20s, and we discuss their main characteristics. We also point out the significant involvement of members of the scientific and academic communities in such activities. The main research questions guiding the investigation are concerned with the identification of the main characteristics of scientific diffusion at the time, the main actors in such a process, their form of organization, the research means and instruments used. We also provide a general analysis of the motivations, interests, and the philosophical and political perspectives of science in the 20s, as reflected in the type of scientific diffusion produced at the time.