Sustainability literacy in older age groups: on the way to sustainable development

Conferência internacional realizada em Bogotá, Colombia, de 14-16 de junho de 2017The world is facing sustainability challenges for which actions and results are needed in a 10 to 15 years time frame. Sustainability Literacy or Education has a crucial role for the Sustainable Development and is a set of different forms of education aiming to create economic, social, cultural and environmental conditions for sustainable development. This study looks at Sustainability Literacy or Education for Sustainable Development as a potential tool to empower individuals and communities to make more informed decisions that are aligned with long-term sustainability goals and can produce the short-term results needed. Any Education for Sustainable Development initiative relies and can greatly benefit from a bottom-up approach in local communities. An active participation of individuals in the community initiatives generates more opportunities for formal and non-formal lifelong learning and creates relevance that is engaging for other community members. The traditional approach of investment in Sustainability Literacy focuses on youth. However, while this approach is important in the long run, it may not yield results for current sustainability challenges. Older age groups (i.e. 50 or older), usually overlooked because they are perceived as not being motivated by sustainability or as being too late in their life span to have a significant impact, may play a crucial role in promoting sustainability within communities. Our study addresses the importance of improved sustainability literacy in older age groups (i.e. 50 or older) as a driver for sustainability. Endorsing a new role for senior citizens, by leveraging their last active years for short term sustainability efforts, we also empower them with the knowledge and tools to raise the sustainability literacy in younger generations. This work is being carried out in a Lisbon suburban community of around 12000 people, half of which are over 50 years old, and analyses some reflections on the importance of sustainability literacy within this age group and its effects on other age groups. It should be stressed that this population of 50+ years of age is actively engaged with the local University of the 3rd Age (U3A), where topics are presented and discussed in the classroom, using videos to generate a guided discussion toward the construction of the concepts by the students. The results from a group attending a life science literacy class show that the students experience increased personal satisfaction and wellbeing, are motivated towards learning and knowledge sharing within families and communities, including younger generations. These students also expressed greater understanding of messages from the media, health professionals and care takers, as well as a more positive health self-assessment and a greater treatment adherence. These results, aligned with the targets for good health and well-being sustainable development goal (SDG) suggest that initiatives to increase literacy lead to immediate behavior changes and knowledge dissemination. Further studies are ongoing regarding other SDGs, such as climate action, responsible consumption and production or affordable and clean energy.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino SuperiorN/

Química geral : velocidade das reacções

Académico - LicenciaturasA velocidade das reações químicas e a lei da velocidade de uma reação. A equação de Arrhenius e sua confirmação experimental. Através de animação gráfica simulam-se colisões entre moléculas

Química geral : reactividade química

Académico - LicenciaturasO vídeo trata as reações de oxiredução e as reações de complexação. São explicados e exemplificados os conceitos de redutor, oxidante, elemento de pilha e pilha eletroquímica

Desafiando o paradigma do ensino da química: o contributo da Universidade Aberta de Portugal

A Universidade tem, ao longo dos anos, mantido uma enorme capacidade para se transformar e adaptar à evolução do Mundo e esse sentido de mudança é também plasmado na constante procura de novos caminhos, novas ideias e novas soluções. Pretende-se com este artigo apresentar o modelo pedagógico da Universidade Aberta – universidade pública portuguesa de ensino a distância – e em particular a sua aplicação ao ensino da química em contexto de e-learning e no âmbito do curso de 1º ciclo em Ciências do Ambiente. São apresentadas as diferentes estratégias que têm vindo a ser desenvolvidas, nomeadamente o recurso a trabalho experimental, o acesso a laboratórios virtuais e a disponibilização de feedback para as atividades formativas e avaliativas.The University has over the years maintained an enormous capacity to transform and adapt to changes in the world and this sense of adjustment is also in the constant search for new paths, new ideas and new solutions. This article aims to present the pedagogical model of Universidade Aberta (Portugal), the public distance learning university and in particular its application to teaching of chemistry in the e-learning context and within the first cycle programme in Environmental Sciences. Different strategies have been applied and implemented, including the use of experimental work, access to virtual labs and the provision of feedback to the training and evaluation activities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Field activities within an environmental sciences program: a b-learning case study

A reflection on the use of fieldwork in environmental science programmes is conducted in this paper. It is generally agreed that for fieldwork to be effective, it must serve a clear purpose in the curriculum. For a good curriculum design, a fieldwork course must complement, enhance or extend an existing part of the curriculum or fulfil some major objective of the curriculum as a whole. Thus a successful integration of fieldwork within an undergraduate degree programme is particularly important. For an environmental science course delivered through online methodology, it becomes evident that special attention should be devoted to the design and implementation of such a course. If we consider the more general definition where the field is seen as the location, outside the classroom setting, where learning takes place, then fieldwork is the set of activities that will facilitate students’ learning. It is generally agreed that a field course is much more difficult to integrate than a set of activities closely related to a specific subject. However, in a distance-learning university it is not plausible that students perform this type of activity very often. Therefore, the field courses are designed as a stand-alone module. The current work analyzes the design of the course entitled Fieldwork II which is integrated in the undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences at Universidade Aberta. Many issues have to be taken into account when designing such a course that encompasses legislative, pedagogical and logistical matters. An overview of the research work that has been developed on the pedagogical value of fieldwork is given. Taking into account the specific learning methodology adopted at Universidade Aberta, we also present a fieldwork model for environmental sciences in a context of a blended learning (b-learning) undergraduate programme. The organizational effectiveness of the model and students’ participation was assessed in two scholar years of a fieldwork course at Universidade Aberta. Also, the project assignment synopses were assessed in the context of education for sustainability. Finally, it should be stressed that fieldwork should be regarded as a form of learning which exploits the unique characteristics of the field environment to improve the student learning experience.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

L’actualité de Hello Brasil! : problematisations sur la fonction paternelle et la culture brésilienne

Este artigo propõe-se examinar a atualidade de Hello Brasil!, livro do psicanalista Contardo Calligaris publicado pela primeira vez em 1991 e relançado em 2017. Traçando uma leitura crítica, propomo-nos a apresentar o contexto de produção da obra, destacar suas ideias principais, indicar suas potencialidades, assinalar os diálogos com outras produções e identificar seus limites teóricos. A partir dessas análises, que se inscrevem no domínio das interpretações psicanalíticas da cultura brasileira, postulamos que Hello Brasil! sustenta-se na hipótese do “déficit paterno” e do “Um” da função paterna. Tal esquema teórico requer que se retome com rigor o conceito “função paterna” como operador de análises da cultura..This paper aims to examine the topicality of Hello Brasil!, book written by psychoanalyst Contardo Calligaris, published for the first time in 1991 and reissued in 2017. Adopting a critical approach, we intend to show the context in which the book was produced, highlight its mains ideas, indicate its stronger points, point out its connections with other works and identify its theoretical boundaries. From these analyzes, situated in the domain of psychoanalytic interpretations about Brazilian culture, we postulate that Hello Brasil! is sustained on the hypothesis of a “paternal deficit” and on the “One” of paternal function. Such a theoretical scheme requires that the concept “paternal function” be rigorously resumed as an operator on cultural analysis.Cet article examine l’actualité de Hello Brasil!, livre du psychanalyste Contardo Calligaris, publié pour la première fois en 1991 et relancé en 2017. En traçant une lecture critique, nous proposons de présenter le contexte de production de l’œuvre, de souligner ses idées principales, d’indiquer ses potentialités, de marquer les dialogues avec d’autres productions et de identifier leurs limites théoriques. A partir de ces analyses, qui sont situés dans le domaine des interprétations psychanalytiques de la culture brésilienne, nous postulons que Hello Brasil! repose sur l’hypothèse du “déficit paternel” et du “Un” de la fonction paternelle. Un tel schéma théorique exige qu’on reprendre rigoureusement le concept “fonction paternelle” comme opérateur d’analyses de la cultur

Discourses of healthcare professionals about health surveillance actions for Tuberculosis control

OBJECTIVE To analyze the meanings produced in the Health Surveillance actions for tuberculosis control, carried out by healthcare professionals in Mozambique. METHOD Qualitative study using the theoretical and methodological framework of the French Discourse Analysis. RESULTS A total of 15 healthcare professionals with more than one year of experience in disease control actions participated in the study. Four discursive blocks have emerged from the analysis: tuberculosis diagnosis process; meeting, communication and discussion of treatment; local strategies for tuberculosis control; involvement of family and community leaders in the tuberculosis control. CONCLUSION The statements of the healthcare professionals suggest, as Health Surveillance actions, practices that include collecting sputum in the patient's home and sending it to the laboratory; deployment of the medical team with a microscope for tuberculosis testing; and testing for diseases that may be associated with tuberculosis. In this context, the actions of Health Surveillance for tuberculosis control involve valuing all actors: family, community leaders, patients and health professionals.OBJETIVO Analizar los sentidos producidos sobre las acciones de Vigilancia Sanitaria en el control de la tuberculosis desarrolladas por profesionales sanitarios en Mozambique. MÉTODO Estudio cualitativo que tiene como marco de referencia teórico-metodológico el Análisis de Discurso de matriz francesa. RESULTADOS Participaron en el estudio 15 profesionales sanitarios, con más de un año de experiencia en acciones de control de la enfermedad. Del análisis surgieron cuatro bloques discursivos: proceso del diagnóstico de la tuberculosis; reunión, comunicación y discusión del tratamiento; estrategias locales para el control de la tuberculosis; involucración de la familia y los líderes comunitarios en el control de la tuberculosis. CONCLUSIÓN En las palabras de los profesionales sanitarios sugieren, como acciones de Vigilancia Sanitaria, prácticas que incluyen la recolección de esputo en la residencia del paciente y su envío al laboratorio; el desplazamiento del equipo médico con microscopio para la prueba de la tuberculina; y la prueba de las enfermedades que pueden estar asociadas con la tuberculosis. En ese marco, las acciones de Vigilancia Sanitaria en el control de la tuberculosis involucran la valorización de todos los actores: familia, líderes comunitarios, pacientes y profesionales sanitarios.OBJETIVO Analisar os sentidos produzidos sobre as ações de Vigilância em Saúde no controle da tuberculose desenvolvidas por profissionais de saúde em Moçambique. MÉTODO Estudo qualitativo que tem como referencial teórico-metodológico a Análise de Discurso de matriz francesa. RESULTADOS Participaram do estudo 15 profissionais de saúde, com mais de 1 ano de experiência em ações de controle da doença. Da análise, emergiram quatro blocos discursivos: processo do diagnóstico da tuberculose; reunião, comunicação e discussão do tratamento; estratégias locais para o controle da tuberculose; envolvimento da família e dos líderes comunitários no controle da tuberculose. CONCLUSÃO Os dizeres dos profissionais de saúde sugerem, como ações de Vigilância em Saúde, práticas que incluem a coleta de escarro na residência do paciente e seu encaminhamento ao laboratório; o deslocamento da equipe médica com microscópio para a testagem da tuberculose; e a testagem das doenças que podem estar associadas à tuberculose. Nesse contexto, as ações de Vigilância em Saúde no controle da tuberculose envolvem a valorização de todos os atores: família, líderes comunitários, pacientes e profissionais de saúde

ANALYSIS OF A WETLAND SYSTEM IN THE POST-TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER

The study was based on a surface flow wetland system, using the macrophyte Eicchornia crassipes. The use of wetlands as an alternative in the wastewater treatment process has been employed due to the handling and simple technology, addition to the low cost compared to conventional systems. Three hydraulic retention times, they are 4, 6 and 8 days were analyzed. In general the system showed significant results in relation to removals of nutrients for all TRH reviews, where the hydraulic retention time of 6 days achieved the best performance. The proposed system achieved 79.91% reductions for COD, 83.51% of Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen 67.93%, 87.7% chromium and 52% Sulfur

Viscosity measurements of liquid toluene at low temperatures using a dual vibrating-wire technique

A recently developed dual vibrating-wire technique has been used to perform viscosity measurements of liquid toluene in the temperature range 213 K ≤ T ≤ 298 K, and at pressures up to approximately 20 MPa. The results were obtained by operating the vibrating-wire sensor in both forced and free decay modes. The estimated precision of the viscosity measurements, in either mode of operation, is ±0.5%, for temperatures above or equal to 273 K, increasing with decreasing temperature up to ±1% at 213 K. The corresponding overall uncertainty is estimated to be within ±1% and ±1.5%, respectively

Desempenho térmico de envoltórias vegetadas em edificações no sudeste brasileiro

A avaliação do desempenho térmico de edificações que utilizam coberturas verdes, paredes vivas ou paredes verdes como elemento de proteção da envoltória é um campo de grande importância para os profissionais de arquitetura e engenharia, por minimizar o ganho de calor, proporcionar melhor condição térmica e aprimorar seu desempenho. Este trabalho apresenta três diferentes estudos de desempenho térmico com revestimentos vegetais: 1) um estudo de caso com cobertura verde, 2) um estudo experimental com parede viva, e 3) um estudo de caso com parede verde, todos com medições comparativas e simultâneas entre superfícies expostas e protegidas pelo verde. Os parâmetros medidos foram temperatura, umidade relativa, velocidade do ar, temperatura radiante média e temperatura das superfícies internas e externas das envoltórias. Tais análises levaram à conclusão de que o uso da vegetação como elemento de proteção em coberturas e fachadas atua positivamente sobre os fluxos de calor na envoltória, representando uma importante ferramenta para o controle térmico passivo de altas temperaturas no interior das edificações