Is there room for science at aquariums? An analysis of family conversations and interactions during visits to AquaRio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract In this study, we use a mixed methods approach to analyze the conversational content and interactions constituting five family groups' visits to the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro (AquaRio), the largest marine aquarium in South America, to understand how families interact with science and construct meaning regarding science and conservation. The audiovisual records of the family groups were analyzed using categories that investigate the types of interactions and conversations that may take place in scientific‐cultural venues. The results suggest that, throughout the visits, family members were driven by their observation and contemplation of the animals on exhibit to interact with each other to share information about marine biodiversity and its conservation. The adults, children, and explainers all had fundamental roles in the construction of dialogues on scientific topics. The adults adopted behaviors that facilitated learning, made associations with previous experiences, read panels, and contextualized the information to their family's reality. The children were notable for their protagonism, asking questions, giving explanations, and sharing their previous knowledge, experiences and opinions about the animals and the conservation of marine biodiversity based on scientific reasoning. Therefore, this study provides evidence of the important role that AquaRio could play in providing opportunities for families to have conversations about biodiversity and conservation while raising awareness about the impacts of human activities on the oceans.

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