Research on COVID-19

A Microcosm to Discuss Scientific Work in Science Teaching from a Latourian Standpoint

Abstract

It is proposed the description of the “circulatory system” (sensu Latour) of technoscience around COVID-19 - in particular regarding the development of vaccines and scientific evidence on treatment - as a didactic study case for Science Teaching, showing how current events can and should also be mobilized for the critical understanding of the Nature of Science in the classroom. From the description of the various actors involved in the COVID-19 event, we discuss how it is possible to articulate scientific knowledge and critical discussions about the Nature of Science to mobilize scientific literacy - that is, the mastery and internalization of a properly scientific way of reading the natural and social world, rejecting denialism and absolutism about a supposedly univocal and linear science. The goal of reaching scientific literacy can be developed by using the case study presented here, facilitating the articulation of these elements of science education through a contemporary episode. Thus, it is expected that the content and reasoning proposed in this paper can be used as a theoretical basis to be used in the classroom and can be adapted to a methodology that the teacher and students feel more comfortable with and to the educational context in question.