Science activities in the Summer


Activity proposal - 2009

What our Eyes can’t see: nanotechnologies in and out of the laboratory

July 20th and 24th

Coordination: Ângela Marques Filipe

Number of Days: 5
Schedule: Morning + Afternoon
Number of Students: 2 +2 (Spanish students)
School Grade(s): 10th/11th/ 12th

Vocational Area: Sociology

Description:
This traineeship focuses on recreating the course of a nanotechnology from the moment it is developed in a laboratory, passing through its implications and social research, up till the moment of political decision. The traineeship includes a day with nanotechnology researchers of the Centre for Neurosciences and Cellular Biology (CNC). The remaining days will engage in discussion and debate groups, acquiring innovative methodologies of sociological research on these themes and the reproduction of a political deliberation concerning nanotechnologies. The trainees may, thus, get to know some of the important issues that are faced by an emergent technology, as well as become acquainted with the new forms of approachment between researchers from diverse areas and social actors and non-academics.

Note: Students from any scientific area interested in this theme are accepted.


2006

Breeding and living (con)science

July 17th and 21st


Coordination: Tiago Santos Pereira
Supervision: António Farinhas Rodrigues, Tiago Santos Pereira and Marisa Matias

Results Summary
The programme pursued the development of a small set of activities that could render the participants with, on one hand, an experience concerning social sciences research methodologies, and, on the other, a view of the main concerns of the project at issue, leading them to considerations on relations between science, politics and citizenship.
A brief research on the Common Legislative Process parliamentary data base was conducted. The evolution of debate and parliamentary initiatives regarding science and technology themes chosen by the students was registered, namely, medically assisted procreation, voluntary interruption of pregnancy and stem cells. During the process, the participants considered the existence of an increasing sympathy of the members of parliament concerning these issues, despite the frugal discussion carried out by them in what pertains to these thematics. Furthermore, a questionnaire was applied to the population of Coimbra regarding the processes of decision in areas that involve science and technology.
By analysing the results was confirmed the existence of a deficit of trust concerning the activity of members of parliament as well as the different attitude of the population in face of issues of scientific-technical nature , on which they consider themselves less informed , opting to delegate the power of decision to experts.