Scientific Vocation Research Articles

ADMIRA project: teaching particle physics at high school with Timepix detectors

This paper presents the case for how students can be helped to increase their scientific vocation by experimental work and the introduction of particle physics into pre-university studies. These two ideas are the two main lines of work of the ADMIRA initiative, which has been created by individuals belonging to different and complementary educational and research institutions. The initiative consists of a network of schools that share Minipix devices, a readout system for the Timepix detector designed at CERN in the framework of the Medipix2 Collaboration. The schools receive logistical and technical support from the local University (the University of Barcelona) and from CERN. The centres involved and the objectives, as well as the characteristics of the project are presented. The technical and didactic materials available are also shown. Finally, some initiative data has been analysed to show its rapid growth, and some students’ research is presented showing the diversity of tasks that can be done with such detectors.

Attitudes towards physics. A study with high school students from the Colombian context

Science education should promote the development of competent students in science and develop their interest in science; however, although the role and relevance of science within society is evident; the interest towards it is not conscious, being the negative attitudes of the students the main problem in the teaching of physics, which translates into a deficient knowledge and lack of scientific vocation. This report aims to diagnose the attitudes of students in high school physics courses. The study was developed through a non-experimental, descriptive research design, obtained from the application of a Likert scale that evaluates attitudes towards physics, adapted and validated to the context of students in an educational institution in Colombia. The results indicate that the attitudes of the students are slightly favorable, which is an empirical precedent to continue with the studies on attitudes towards physic. This should be considered to enhance the learning processes in these students, especially for those who have their first approach to physical concepts and give importance to attitudes when teaching.

Researchers in Argentina: Scientific vocation, publication strategies and time‐management tactics

AbstractWe wanted to understand how the competitive scientific system affected researchers in Argentina, whose budget to finance science is noticeably lower than in other countries and historically unstable. The objective was to identify factors that influence scientific vocation, main publication strategies and time‐management tactics. A structured survey was designed and circulated online for 6 months (2018/2019). The 684 valid responses were separated per academic stage: PhD students (41%), postdoc fellows (21%) and senior researchers (38%). National science policies (answer frequency = 0.69) and resources/funding availability (0.62) had a negative influence on scientific vocation. The difficulties to access to scholarships/full‐time positions (0.48) had a negative influence mainly for younger researchers. Peer interaction activities were selected as positive factors for scientific vocation, for example work‐team (0.51), which also stimulated the generation of new ideas together with the collaboration with other groups (0.76) and conference attendance (0.59). The most frequent publishing strategy to become a full‐time researcher was publishing in high impact journals (0.87). However, young researchers mainly chose to make their findings public at conferences (0.57). Time devoted to scientific production was relevant (0.73) and followed by teaching (0.39), although the last was also the least stimulating activity for the generation of new ideas. Three highlights emerge from our results. First, scientific vocation is negatively affected by structural factors related to the scientific system and positively influenced by peer interaction instances. Second, to publish in high impact journals is the most advisable strategy to become a full‐time researcher. Third, the most time‐demanding activities are not those that most stimulate the generation of ideas. Emerging recommendations for National Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry, Universities, and/or research organisms for early‐career Argentine researchers are as follows: increase national science budget, encourage work‐team meetings and stays abroad, keep contact with local communities, stakeholders and decision‐makers.

Waking up scientific vocations

Schools must promote scientific vocations designing teaching-learning strategies that involve teachers, pupils, scientists and the students’ families. Keen on this idea we have developed a didactic participative design to promote science learning in students of primary and secondary schools. With the collaboration of teachers from three primary schools in Nelson (New Zealand) and three high schools (secondary education) in Asturias (Spain), educational sessions were organized where scientists posed research challenges to 323 students. While they were learning key concepts about science they were instructed about basic scientific methodologies with the aim that they could carry out some research by themselves, both individually and in groups. The transfer of knowledge acquired during the sessions transcended the school environment because students shared their research with their families. Scientific vocation can be worked up in the educational environment by changing the teaching methodology and introducing current and relevant scientific topics. Teachers should count on the active participation of scientists for this. When the students of these educational levels are involved in real research their scientific vocation is stimulated, as is the transfer of scientific knowledge to the families. Keywords: Science education, project-based learning, cooperative learning, teaching methods

Underground astronauts: Understanding the sporting science of speleology and its implications for HCI

In this paper, we present a qualitative study on speleology that aims to widen the current understanding of people's practices in Nature and identify a design space for technology that supports such practices. Speleology is a practice based on the discovery, study, and dissemination of natural cavities. Speleologists are amateur experts who often collaborate with scientists and local institutions to understand the geology, hydrology, and biology of a territory. Their skills are at the same time physical, technical, and theoretical; this is why speleology is defined as a ‘sporting science’. Being at the boundary between outdoor adventure sports and citizen science, speleology is an interesting case study for investigating the variety and complexity of activities carried out in the natural context. We interviewed 15 experienced speleologists to explore their goals, routines, vision of the outdoors, and attitude towards technology. From our study, it emerged that i) the excitement of discovery and the unpredictability of an explorative trip are the strongest motivations for people to engage in speleology; ii) physical skilfulness is a means for knowledge generation; iii) the practice is necessarily collective and requires group coordination. From these findings, an ambivalent attitude towards technology emerged: on the one hand, the scientific vocation of speleology welcomes technology supporting the development of knowledge; on the other hand, aspects typical of adventure sports lead to resistance to technology facilitating the physical performance. We conclude the article by presenting design considerations for devices supporting speleology, as well as a few reflections on how communities of speleologists can inspire citizen science projects.

Pages of the life of M.V. Timofeev-Ressovsky in the material historical sources

Aim. To investigate and to enter into scientific circulation material historical sources related to the biography of M.V. Timofeev-ResSovsky. Methods. The paper used both general scientific (historical, logical) and special (subject-chronological, retrospective) methods. Results and discussion. The role of Kyiv in shaping the future scientific vocation of M.V. Timofeev-Ressovsky, the work of a scientist in Germany and the reasons why he did not return to the USSR in the late 1930s, outlines the facts of Timofeev-Ressovsky life after the Second World War. The scientific activity of scientist has been briefly analyzed. Conclusions. The analysis of material historical sources made it possible to investigate and bring into scientific circulation the objects of phaleristics, numismatics (medallic art), philately and a rather rare object of collecting – telephone cards of the Russian Empire, the USSR, Russia, the former GDR and Germany, to tell about some pages of the biography of M.V. Timofeev-Ressovsky.
 Keywords: M.V. Timofeev-Ressovsky, history of biology, phaleristics, numismatics, philately, telephone card.

Научное призвание как экзистенциальный выбор

Научное призвание как экзистенциальный выбор

«Безумный» ученый: теневая сторона научного призвания?

«Безумный» ученый: теневая сторона научного призвания?

Role of emotions in High School students’ scientific initiation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation's Scientific Vocation Program (Provoc-Fiocruz) is a non-formal educational program for scientific initiation directed to High School students in Brazil since 1986, in the areas of Biological Sciences, Health, Human or Social Sciences. This research is qualitative and it will be conducted semi-structured interviews with up to fifteen High School students and fifteen researchers-advisors from Provoc-Fiocruz, to understand the role of both students’ and advisors’ emotions in their knowledge socialization to develop scientific research. The data will be analyzed through content analysis and this research is grounded in the discipline of Sociology of Emotions and relate social markers differences such as gender, race and class in the construction of knowledge that result in academic and professional choices.

Scientific Vocation in Danger: The University Professor in the Global Era

Being a professor at university demands thinking about vocation along life. And not only about ones’ vocation but also about others’. Vocation for teaching, vocation for learning, vocation for science… Vocation is so important that merits a philosophical approach. Following one’s own vocation is perhaps the most important task everyone has to do in one’s own life. Following the dictates of personal vocation is without a doubt guarantor of a full, authentic life. And, on the contrary, not following the personal vocation can be one of the reasons for living a life without meaning. Personal vocation as a task, according to Julián Marías’ philosophy, is introduced in this work, together with the concept of enthusiasm immersed into the vocational pathway. Vocation among university professors seems to be in danger in the global world. Possible causes for it are analyzed.

The impact of Scientific Initiation on the scientific production of graduate students

A Iniciação Científica tem como objetivo despertar a vocação científica em estudantes de graduação e incentivar potenciais talentos por meio de sua participação em projetos de pesquisa, sob a orientação de um pesquisador qualificado. Este estudo objetivou analisar a produção científica de pós-graduandos com e sem iniciação científica. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, retrospectivo, descritivo, com consulta nas plataformas Sucupira do Ministério da Educação e Lattes do Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e Comunicações no período de 2012 a 2018. No período, foram avaliados o número de alunos de mestrado e doutorado do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia Preventiva e Social da Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba. O número de artigos científicos de cada aluno de doutorado com e sem iniciação científica foi analisado. No total, 55 alunos de mestrado e doutorado estavam matriculados no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia Preventiva e Social, destes 63,64% (n = 35) realizaram iniciação científica durante a graduação. Observou-se também que os estudantes de doutorado que realizaram iniciação científica (n = 19) obtiveram melhor produção científica (p = 0,047). Concluiu-se que os estudantes de pós-graduação com iniciação científica alcançaram um número de publicações mais significativo em comparação com aqueles sem essa experiência.

What do students think they should know about vertebrate fish?

ABSTRACT The present work was carried out with students of compulsory secondary education. The research was prompted by the idea that scientific vocation among young people is shrinking and that this has a significant impact on our society. Consequently, a science project based on the students’ interests was proposed. They were able to work as a single group and design the methodology to achieve the goal they set: ‘understanding how fish function and knowing all the organs they need to live underwater’. As this objective involves considering fish within a broader system, it seems their research work inspired system thinking. Nevertheless, during the experiment session, they tried to link their comments to a traditional evaluation. Their research questions were completely conditioned by what they thought they would be assessed on under usual conditions. On this basis, they only chose to know the name of the parts and their practical uses. Therefore, although they initially considered the environment as a part to study to learn how fish function, evaluation limited their research to finalist questions. Other results, such as observation of the peer learning process, are also shown.

Consideraciones de los programas de formación de alto nivel en la política nacional de ciencia y tecnología en Colombia

El presente artículo analiza la evolución de las fases y etapas en el ciclo de la Política Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (PNCT) de Colombia, específicamente el programa de Formación de Alto Nivel de capital humano y su aporte a los indicadores de desarrollo del país. Se revisan las relaciones de la organización institucional y elementos de gobernanza para el avance de la PNCT, así como los principales hitos desde 1940 a la fecha. Se describen algunos de los elementos de política pública e iniciativas del gobierno nacional en la promoción de estrategias para la formación de personal con vocación científica y su incidencia en la competitividad y la innovación. Luego de la implementación de los programas e instrumentos de política pública se identifican impactos socioculturales y económicos en el marco del cumplimiento de los objetivos estratégicos del país y la posible coherencia conceptual en el ciclo de la política.

Israel’s water story: Success or crisis?

When I received the June 2016 issue of Physics Today, I was surprised to see that a piece featured on the cover was about Israel’s water success story.The item (page 24) blithely celebrates Israel’s innovative technology for optimizing water usage and delivery to agricultural lands. It covers most of the technical strategy developed over the years, but it overlooks a key policy explaining the effectiveness of Israel’s water management.Since 1967 Israel has pursued a policy of monopolizing water in occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinians are denied the right to drill wells on their own land or to repair existing ones. The policy includes the destruction of wells, irrigation systems, and water lines in the West Bank and near the borders of the Gaza Strip.11. Amnesty International, Troubled Waters—Palestinians Denied Fair Access to Water (October 2009) https://www.amnestyusa.org/pdf/mde150272009en.pdf. As a result, the 4 million Palestinians living in those areas have less than the minimum quantity of water for domestic use established by the World Health Organization.I understand the scientific vocation of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and perhaps its desire to remain neutral on political issues. However, by failing to acknowledge the existence of a massive humanitarian crisis revolving around the very subject of the story, AIP is tacitly endorsing the brutal oppression of the Palestinian people.As a member of the American Physical Society, I ask that you inform your readers of the ongoing water crisis in the Palestinian territories.REFERENCESection:ChooseTop of pageREFERENCE <<CITING ARTICLES1. Amnesty International, Troubled Waters—Palestinians Denied Fair Access to Water (October 2009) https://www.amnestyusa.org/pdf/mde150272009en.pdf. Google Scholar© 2017 American Institute of Physics.

A semiótica hoje: avanços e perspectivas

A pesquisa, de modo geral, deixou de pertencer apenas ao domínio de pesquisadores profissionais, na medida em que, atualmente, é uma das grandes funções das sociedades globalizadas, participando, consequentemente, dos modos de construção de identidades que essas sociedades propõem. Se a semiótica quer reconhecer-se ainda como disciplina de vocação científica, não pode escapar desse movimento global. Ao propor um corpo de conceitos e de métodos para questionar as práticas, os textos, os objetos, as interações sociais, as formas de vida e os modos de existência coletivos e da coletividade, a semiótica tem condições de construir esses sentidos, especialmente se trabalhar em colaboração com as outras ciências humanas e sociais que contribuem para edificar, cada uma de seu próprio ponto de vista, essa arquitetura das significações humanas. Neste artigo, tendo em vista esse cenário, buscaremos apontar quais são alguns dos desafios, dos avanços e das perspectivas da semiótica para o mundo de hoje. Ainda que não esgotemos as possibilidades de um projeto integral no âmbito da semiótica, acreditamos que pudemos escolher alguns exemplos que ocupam lugar de destaque nas preocupações atuais de nossa sociedade e que são objetos de uma demanda social e política mais urgente. Esperamos, portanto, que nossa reflexão seja suficiente para chamar a atenção de outros pesquisadores para os desafios sociais do século XXI, o que, ao nosso ver, deve ser uma das “vocações” da semiótica.

Lifelong Learning in Artistic Context Mediated by Advanced Technologies

This research starts by analysing the current state of artistic heritage in Italy and studying some examples in Europe: we try to investigate the scope of non-formal learning in artistic context, mediated by advanced technology. The framework within which we have placed our investigation is that of lifelong learning and lifedeep learning. The research considers a number of excellent Italian and European museums in context of lifelong learning activities and offers a software prototype that has been built specifically for studying the artistic experience, namely M_ART about the Basilica of St. Ambrogio in Milan. The quantitative/qualitative methods adopted analysed about 400 subjects. The goal pursued, in logic of hybridization of knowledge in scientific and humanistic vocation, was to consider the application of advanced technologies in non-formal settings, with particular reference to the artistic sphere. The experience/investigation was carried out by examining 400 subjects in 3 exploratory phases: on-site observation, questionnaires and focus groups. From the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data it emerges that there is a need to redefine the role of a museum in order for it to move beyond its traditional conservative role in favour of educational activities dedicated not only to the very young, but also to adults; moreover, it is necessary to offer services that use innovative technological support and keep up with the fast paced changes in technology that affect us on a daily basis. In the Italian context, but also in a European one, a fragmented picture emerges: educational activities geared to adults in the world of art are rarely present in museums and, when they are, tend to mostly have the function of providing entertainment or a mere itemisation of the collection on display. It presents a picture in which lifedeep learning and lifelong learning are still marginal compared to learning by adults in a museum context.

THE BACHELOR OF BIOCHEMISTRY IN BRAZIL

INTRODUCTION: The economic and social development of Brazil in the last decade has contributed to the installation of new graduate and undergraduate programs, as are the case with bachelor degrees in Biochemistry at UFV, UFSJ and UEM. These graduates are prepared to work in industry, research institutes and universities in areas of knowledge involving Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This is happening in developed countries since the first half of the last century, surprising and late is the implementation of bachelor of Biochemistry in Brazil. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the Bachelor in Biochemistry in Brazil from the perspective of the main difficulties of implementing and courses maintenance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a descriptive research with a qualitative approach. Interviews were conducted with undergraduate students, graduates, professors, staff and managers from bachelor degrees in Biochemistry at UFV, UFSJ and UEM. The sampling procedure was non probabilistic for judgment (choice of the subjects involved and interested in the course of biochemistry) to undergraduate students, graduates, professors and staff and non probabilistic for convenience to managers. The qualitative assessment to depict the representative keywords was performed using words cloud by WordleTM. RESULTS: The study included 5 managers, 24 professors, 12 staff, 25 undergraduate students, 5 graduates. For the students the main reason for the course selection should be scientific vocation and affinity with chemistry and biology; most cited positive parameters were faculty and great structure, practical classes and broad playing field; most cited negatives were high mandatory disciplines, little student free time and lack of sophisticated equipment. Despite the conception of the programs have happened in different contexts and regions we noted similarities deficiencies and distresses. CONCLUSION: Difficulties must be overcome for all courses are structural adjustments in program and physical installation.Keywords: Bachelor, Biochemistry, Brazil.Sponsor: UFSJ

Explicación, mecanismo y simulación: otra manera de hacer sociología

Although Sociology was born with scientific vocation, its current status asa scientific discipline seems not to enjoy good health. Departing from this idea,the purpose of the paper is threefold: first, several arguments for explanations of social phenomena through mechanisms will be reviewed. Such explanations canoffer a suitable way to Sociology to be able to develop as an authentic science.Second, the idea that such explanations can be computational programmes createdby agent-based modelling will be justified. Finally, it will build new argumentsabout how such explanations can avoid the ambiguity and the obscurityconceptual that a part of sociology suffers; reduce its theoretical fragmentationand strengthen the multidisciplinary dialogue with the purpose of researchingin depth social reality as well as being able to design effective policies againstseveral social problems.

George W. Hambrick Jr (1922–2013)

George Hambrick’s career of more than 70 years in academic dermatology was filled with accomplishments and milestones, built on a solid foundation of dedication to patient care, high standards of performance, and the betterment of our specialty and the people who practice it. His purpose was to improve the lives of our patients. His career spanned a historic 70 years during which dermatology was transformed from a descriptive prescientific clinical specialty into a sophisticated scientific vocation, making full use of molecular medicine and genetics and remarkable pharmaceutical advances and supported by an impressive network of governmental and nongovernmental organizations that promote collaborative, fast-paced translational discovery. In many ways, his career helped dermatology cross the bridge to modern scientific medicine.

La zoología y el Diario de los niños (ciudad de México, 1839-1840)

A mediados del siglo XIX en la ciudad de Mé-xico se desarrollaron varios proyectos de divul-gación científica en las revistas dirigidas a las clases media y alta. Uno de ellos fue el Diario de los Niños, primera publicación periódica mexi-cana infantil, que circuló entre 1839 y 1840. En esta revista se dieron a conocer varios artículos de Zoología desde las perspectivas instructiva, exótica y curiosa para instruir de forma amena a los infantes. El objetivo de la investigación es analizar los escritos, sobre la fauna, que estu-vieron dirigidos al público infantil desde una narrativa amena y un lenguaje sencillo. El es-tudio de la divulgación zoológica es de gran relevancia para comprender las vías en que los menores de edad de México aprendían conoci-mientos científicos fuera del aula en una época en que las escuelas de primeras letras carecían de asignaturas de ciencia. Dicha Revista puso las bases para ampliar la cultura científica capi-talina que se desarrolló con vigor en la segun-da mitad de la centuria en distintos niveles de instrucción y en la educación informal. Es pro-bable que algunos de los científicos mexicanos descubrieran su vocación científica en los escri-tos de esta Revista.