I. A. Costa, C. Morais, M. J. P. F. G. Monteiro

Abstract
The high scientific production in astronomy urges us to find new ways to disseminate content, but also scientific processes. CoAstro: @n Astronomy Condo is a citizen science project that aims to address this challenge. CoAstro engaged five astronomers, nine primary school teachers, four science communicators and one mediator – the project manager. In it, scientific content and processes were appropriated and integrated by teachers in school initiatives, reaching approximately one thousand people. To access CoAstro, we conducted a case study. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and observations. Results showed considerable improvements in teachers’ substantive and processual knowledge; positive change in attitudes towards astronomy; as well as, the increasing of the quality of teachers’ scientific and educational practices. Data from astronomers and science communicators showed that CoAstro reinforced their perception of dissemination practices' importance and purposes, promoting new communication skills and new ways of structuring astronomy activities. Thus, CoAstro allowed us to understand how a citizen science project can contribute, with lasting and wide-public-ranging effects, to open the school to the surrounding community and vice-versa and how the public can open up to astronomy research and the latter to the public.

Notes
ISBN: 978-4-908895-03-6

Book of Proceedings Communicating Astronomy with the Public Conference 2021

NAOJ
2022 June