The science communication led by scientists and the Justification of Science in Brazil

The magazine Ciência e Cultura (1949 – 1964) and the brazilian society for the advancement of Science

Abstract

The Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência (Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science – SBPC) was founded in 1948 as an open forum for scientists and supporters of science who wanted to bolster and encourage scientific work and enhance the public understanding of science. The Ciência e Cultura magazine, founded in 1949, was a means towards the achievement of those aims. We carried out a quali-quantitative analysis of the Ciência e Cultura editions published between 1949 and 1964 in order to comprehend the magazine’s importance for science communication in Brazil. We adapted the protocol made by the Ibero-American Network for Monitoring and Training in Science Journalism for the specifics of the object. Afterwards, we examined the data together with the qualitative analysis of the articles and editorials of Ciência e Cultura. The magazine was at the time a fundamental part of the SBPC and the main means of communication of the society´s board of directors. It published scientific articles for two different target audiences, namely the public in general and the scientific community or readers already interested in and knowledgeable about science. The publications presented a singular vision regarding the institutionalization of science and the cooperation between scientists and the institutions active at the time. Ciência e Cultura was also a way for the society to be involved in the main debates regarding the advancement of science, helping, thus, SBPC to establish their hegemony as a representative Society for the Brazilian scientific community.