Abstract:
We analyze how human mediation occurs in the monitored visits to the Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica-INMA, located in Santa Teresa, ES, considering the mediators’ point of view of their roles in mediation, as well as their anxieties. Data were collected from transcriptions of audio recordings of the interviews with the mediators, and from systematic observations. We noticed a strong interest among mediators in the reproduction of the script that INMA offers as well as attempts to adapt it to visitors’ profiles. The yearning for training was remarkably verified during the interviews, perhaps reinforced by the lack of understanding of a museum mediator’s real role. INMA has the potential to become an educational space, in which mediators can attract and motivate the visitor to seek answers, so they need to be aware of the importance of their social function and their role in the mediation process.
Keywords:
Science museums; Human mediation; Education of museum mediators