Page 27 - Standard Indicators for the social appropriation of science

Perception
Figure 2. Self-assessment of perception level.
In general, data collected before and after the
science camps highlight noticeable differences
in the levels of perception of students.
In the case of climate change there are
considerable variations in the higher level
of perception regarding the influence of the
phenomenon in daily life. The activities of
the science camps have therefore increased
the level of sensitivity on the subject.
Also, in the case of vaccines it is noted that the
students have declared a greater conviction
about the possible advantages and very few have
demonstrated doubts about their effectiveness.
In the case of GMOs, the number of those who
recognise their usefulness has tripled between
the pre and post phase of science camps. It is
also interesting to note that the people with a
neutral position towards GMOs at the end of
the science camp are half of those who had
chosen this position before the science camps.
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Perceptions of alternative and complementary
medicines have changed after science
camps towards more critical positions that
recognise greater disadvantages in their use.
However, the fact that in some of the GMOs
and CAM activities carried out, the perception
levels decreased, which balances the overall
change in perception seen in figure 2.
The results achieved during the science camps
highlight that the development of students’
interest through a more meaningful, authentic,
relevant and contextualised science education
makes it possible to decisively influence their
perception.
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