DISSEMINATION OF ASTRONOMY IN A PANDEMIC CONTEXT: DIFFICULTIES AND LEARNINGS

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic devastated Brazil and the world and brought with it the need for social isolation. In this way, face-to-face activities of scientific dissemination projects, in particular, on the subject of Astronomy, were suspended. Because of this, an investigation was carried out, with a qualitative bias, in which the field study technique was adopted to verify the difficulties and learning encountered by 14 astronomy dissemination projects during the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is noteworthy that this research was carried out as a didactic activity of the subject Introduction to Research in Science Teaching at the Federal University of Itajubá – UNIFEI, Itajubá campus. Data collection was carried out from the elaboration and implementation of an online form, composed of 10 essay questions. Based on the questions, three groups were created: (a) Disclosure of astronomy before the Pandemic; (b) Dissemination of Astronomy in the Context of the Pandemic; and finally (c) Disclosure of Astronomy After the Pandemic. The results reveal that the greatest learning achieved in this period is related to the importance of scientific dissemination (SC) for society, data that will be of great value for future generations of science popularizers and to improve activities also in the face-to-face model. Among the difficulties encountered, the distancing of the target audience of this research due to the lack of internet access stands out. Solutions to this problem are suggestions based on the creativity, willingness, and enthusiasm of most participating projects.