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Abstract
This article discusses an analysis of abstracts of Brazilian theses and dissertations on environmental education from a database organised and maintained by a group of researchers in the EArt Project (www.earte.net). In presenting extracts of key trends in this dataset, our aim is to provide a snapshot of the many possible approaches to, and histories of, Brazilian environmental education research. The data also allow us to raise some questions that explore possible ‘blank spots’, ‘blind spots’ and ‘bald spots’ in Brazilian research on environmental education. Given the temporal development of the research field since the 1980s, we illustrate these ‘spots’ by exploring data related to epistemological and methodological diversity, from the viewpoint of knowledge areas as well as the graduate programmes that have been developing research on environmental education. Finally, we draw a picture of the methodological trends that have been privileged by Brazilian researchers, and pose questions as to what is needed in shaping an agenda for research on environmental education in Brazil into the future.
Notes
1 The proposal to construct a database of theses and dissertations on environmental education from Brazil was initially conceived, implemented and coordinated by Dr Hilário Fracalanza (whom we have included as an ‘in-memorium’ co-author), the project designer. Currently researchers from three universities in the State of São Paulo (Univ Estadual Paulista – Rio Claro Campus (Unesp, RC), University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the University of São Paulo – Ribeirão Preto Campus (USP, RP) have collaborated in the process.
2 To select the theses and dissertations on environmental education developed in Brazil and catalogued by the EArte Project, we used the Theses Database organised by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – CAPES as the main source. CAPES is a Brazilian institution under the Ministry of Education that is responsible for policies of implementation and evaluation of graduate studies in the country. From 2011 to 2013, the CAPES database was reformulated, and the data referring to the studies completed in 2010 were not included in that database, and for that reason, do not comprise the documental corpus in this study.
3 In 1971, under the leadership of José Lutzenberger, the first Brazilian NGO particularly targeted at environmental protection was founded. Lutzenberger’s leadership as an ecologist was consolidated in the country with the publication in 1976 of his book entitled The Brazilian Ecological Manifesto: The End of the Future? (Manifesto Ecológico Brasileiro: o fim do futuro?), which had great impact and is now considered a mark of the beginning of environmentalism in the country.
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Notes on contributors
Luiz Marcelo de Carvalho
Luiz Marcelo de Carvalho received PhD in Education, Associate Professor, . Researcher at Ágora Laboratory, group of studies and research on Environmental Themes and the Educational Process
Jorge Megid Neto
Jorge Megid Neto received PhD in Education, Associate Professor, . Researcher at Grupo Formar, group of studies and research on teacher education on science teaching and environmental education
Clarice Sumi Kawasaki
Clarice Sumi Kawasaki received PhD in Education, Associate Professor, Researcher at LAIFE, Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Teacher Education
Dalva Maria Bianchini Bonotto
Dalva Maria Bianchini Bonotto received PhD in Education, Associate Professor, . Researcher at Ágora Laboratory, group of studies and research on Environmental Themes and the Educational Process
Ivan Amorosino do Amaral
Ivan Amorosino do Amaral receieved PhD in Education, Associate Professor. Researcher at Grupo Formar, group of studies and research on teacher education on science teaching and environmental education
José Artur Barroso Fernandes
José Artur Barroso Fernandes received PhD in Education, Associate Professor, Researcher at LAIFE, Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Teacher Education.
Luiz Carlos Santana
Luiz Carlos Santana received PhD in Education, Associate Professor, . Researcher at Ágora Laboratory, group of studies and research on Environmental Themes and the Educational Process.
Maria Bernadete Sarti da Silva Carvalho
Maria Bernadete Sarti da Silva Carvalho received PhD in Education, Associate Professor, . Researcher at Ágora Laboratory, group of studies and research on Environmental Themes and the Educational Process.
Rosa Maria Feiteiro Cavalari
Rosa Maria Feiteiro Cavalari received PhD in Education, Associate Professor. Researcher at Ágora Laboratory, group of studies and research on Environmental Themes and the Educational Process