Low-Cost Scientific Exhibition: A Proposal to Promote Science Education

Abstract

Science education has emerged in recent years in view of globalization, new jobs and demands for sustainable development as provided by the United Na tions on the 2030 agenda, through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Active teaching methodologies such as STEAM emerge as a facilitator and attractive for the learning process. However, for many developing countries, the high cost prevents implementation of this methodology in formal educational settings. Thus, thinking about new, low-cost science education strategies that can supply such demand is a priority issue for the SDGs to be reached in these locations. The objective of this work was to identify the potential propagator of itinerant scientific exhibitions, with low-cost interactive activities and based on the STEAM methodology, and their evaluation by the public, aiming to achieve the goals of the SDGs. With an investment of less than three dollars per capita, Science Under Tents organized and carried out scientific exhibitions throughout its 6 years of existence in various locations in the state of Rio de Janeiro. During this time, we produced 30 interactive activities at low cost, most of which are easy and medium to reproduce and based on STEAM, in addi tion to addressing various aspects of the SDGs. The exhibitions were mediated by undergraduate and graduate students from several higher education insti tutions, who were responsible for the dialogue with the visiting public. Despite the low cost invested, exhibition was very well evaluated by the public served. Thus, we believe that itinerant scientific exhibitions, with low cost activities and based on STEAM, are interesting scientific education strategies to promote the SDGs.