‘FACE TO FACE WITH SCIENTISTS’ IN BRAZIL’S SEMI-ARID COAST: WHAT DO STUDENTS’ MENTAL MAPS REVEAL ABOUT MANGROVES AND ESTUARIES?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26895/geosaberes.v16i0.1375

Keywords:

Environmental Perception, PELD, Outreach, Environmental Education, Science Communication

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that participation in the “Face to Face with Scientists” initiative enhances students’ environmental perception, leading to an increase in the occurrence of signs related to mangroves and estuaries in their mental maps. To test this, each student created an initial mental map based on their prior knowledge of mangroves and estuaries, a second map after the first activity with scientists from the PELD CSB project, and a final one after the field class along the Ecological Trail of the Pacoti River Estuary. The mental maps were analyzed through classification and quantification of signs and underwent interpretive analysis. Our hypothesis was confirmed; however, perceptions of the relationship between humans and the environment remained scarce even after the activities, indicating a strong resistance to transforming the dualistic view of humans and nature.

Author Biographies

  • Letícia Borges Leite, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Brasil.

    Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Marinhas Tropicais, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará.

  • Hortência de Sousa Barroso, Secretaria da Educação do Estado do Ceará (SEDUC), Brasil.

    Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará. Av. Abolição, 3707 - Meireles, CEP: 60165-081, Fortaleza - CE, Brasil; Escola Estadual de Educação Profissional Presidente Roosevelt, Secretaria da Educação do Estado do Ceará (SEDUC).

  • Tatiane Martins Garcia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Brasil.

    Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará.

  • Marcelo Oliveira Soares, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Brasil.

    Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará.

  • Ana Catarina Barboza Leal, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Brasil.

    Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará.

  • Maria Eduarda Andrade Costa, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Brasil.

    Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará.

  • Fábio de Oliveira Matos, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Brasil.

    Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará.

  • Erika Freitas Mota, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Brasil.

    Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará.

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Published

2025-11-13

Issue

Vol. 16 (2025)

Section

Artigos

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How to Cite

‘FACE TO FACE WITH SCIENTISTS’ IN BRAZIL’S SEMI-ARID COAST: WHAT DO STUDENTS’ MENTAL MAPS REVEAL ABOUT MANGROVES AND ESTUARIES?. (2025). Geosaberes, 16, 103-121. https://doi.org/10.26895/geosaberes.v16i0.1375