Outreach

Digital Technologies and Active Learning Methodologies in Paleontology Outreach and Teaching

Coordinated by Dr. Anna Nogueira and funded by FAPES, the project aims to promote paleontology education in Espírito Santo. It incorporates active learning methodologies and digital technologies, such as augmented reality with 3D models, fossil replica workshops, and educational games. The focus is to popularize crucial concepts such as the evolution of life on Earth, geological time, plate tectonics, and local extinct megafauna, encouraging appreciation, involvement, and participation in local and regional community initiatives, while also developing and encouraging the use of innovative teaching materials. In addition to enriching scientific knowledge, these actions will foster greater local development, and the initiative also aims to develop more aware and engaged citizens, with greater autonomy and a more robust mindset regarding the region's valuable paleontological and geological heritage.

2018 saw the end of our outreach project Paleontology: window into past biodiversity, which was supported by FAPES. 21 high school students aged between 15 and 18 and two undergraduate students were involved. The high schoolers produced 11 scale models on the following topics about evolution of life on Earth. All scale models were presented in a science fair organized by FAPES and can be seen in 3D in Sketchfab.