“No todo es Sargazo”: Aprendizajes en un proyecto de ciencia ciudadana marino-costera

The effects of the abundant arrival of macroalgae, such as Sargassum, to the Yucatan Peninsula motivated the monitoring of beach-cast seaweeds through a citizen science project aimed at affected and interested populations. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were employed to analyse the learning outcomes of 18 participants (16 to 18 years) from the project's first stage. Among the findings, the interrelation of new disciplinary learning about macroalgae and skills for fieldwork stood out. Participants showed renewed and positive attitudes toward science and beach-cast seaweeds. We reflect on what factors drove their learning and research skills when addressing the scientific objectives, including the relevance of the problem, the introductory workshop, and the socialisation between the scientists and the participants

«No todo es sargazo» : aprendizajes en un proyecto de ciencia ciudadana marino-costera

Los efectos de la llegada abundante de macroalgas, como el sargazo, a la península de Yucatán motivó el monitoreo de los arribazones por medio de un proyecto de ciencia ciudadana dirigido a poblaciones afectadas o interesadas. Por medio de cuestionarios y entrevistas semiestructuradas, se analizaron los aprendizajes de 18 participantes (de 16 a 18 años) de la primera etapa del proyecto. Entre los hallazgos, destacó la interrelación de los nuevos aprendizajes disciplinares sobre las macroalgas y los procedimentales del trabajo de campo. Los participantes mostraron actitudes renovadas y positivas hacia la ciencia y el arribazón. Se reflexiona sobre qué factores impulsaron sus aprendizajes y habilidades para la investigación al atender los objetivos científicos, entre ellos: la relevancia del problema, el taller introductorio y la socialización entre las científicas y los participantes.The effects of the abundant arrival of macroalgae, such as Sargassum, to the Yucatan Peninsula motivated the monitoring of beach-cast seaweeds through a citizen science project aimed at affected and interested populations. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were employed to analyse the learning outcomes of 18 participants (16 to 18 years) in the project's first stage. Among the findings, the interrelation of new disciplinary learning about macroalgae and skills for fieldwork stood out. Participants showed renewed and positive attitudes toward science and beach-cast seaweeds. We reflect on which factors drove their learning and research skills when addressing the scientific objectives, including the relevance of the problem, the introductory workshop, and the socialisation between the scientists involved and the participants