SCIENTIFIC BIOGRAPHY AS POSSIBILITY TO VALUE A MORE FEMININE AND BLACK CHEMICAL SCIENCE

ABSTRACT:

This work focuses on the role of a scientific biography in discussing characteristics of the construction of scientific knowledge, including the influence of social issues of gender and race. For this, an interpretative exploratory study was carried out with 61 undergraduate chemistry students from four Brazilian federal universities. It was investigated senses produced from the reading concerning the possibilities for debating epistemological aspects. The data were gathered by means of an instrument previously analyzed by two experts and previously tested with a group of students. The practical dimension of the scientific work was more recognized than other characteristics (science as a collective enterprise, changeable, sociocultural influences, social-institutional structure). The biography showed the potential to promote the scientist’s history. Epistemological questions need to be discussed to foster better understandings of the scientific activity by means of the biography.

Keywords:
Alice Ball; History of Science; Science Education and Diversity