Public and student awareness science: recreational science as a catalyst

When discussing the traditional and new missions of higher education (1996 Report to UNESCO of the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century) Jacques Delors stated that "Excessive attraction to social sciences has broken equilibrium of available graduates for workforce, thus causing doubts of graduates and employers on the quality of knowledge provided by higher education". Likewise, when discussing the progress of science and technology, the 1998 UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education concluded that "Another challenge concerts the latest advancements of Science, the sine qua non of sustainable development"; and that “with Information Technology, the unavoidable invasion of virtual reality has increased the distance between industrial and developing countries". Recreational Science has a long tradition all over the Educational World; it aims to show the basic aspects of Science, aims to entertain, and aims to induce thinking. Until a few years ago, this field of knowledge consisted of a few books, a few kits and other classical (yet innovative) ways to popularize the knowledge of Nature and the laws governing it. In Spain, the interest for recreational science has increased in the last years. First, new recreational books are being published and found in bookstores. Second the number of Science-related museums and exhibits is increasing. And third, new television shows are produced and new short science-based, superficial sketches are found in variety programs. However, actual programs in Spanish television dealing seriously with Science are scarce. Recreational Science, especially that related to physical phenomena like light or motion, is generally found at Science Museums because special equipment is required. On the contrary, Science related mathematics, quizzes and puzzles use to gather into books, e.g. the extensive collections by Martin Gardner. However, lately Science podcasts have entered the field of science communication. Not only traditional science journals and television channels are providing audio and video podcasts, but new websites deal exclusively with science podcasts, in particular on Recreational Science. In this communication we discuss the above mentioned trends and show our experience in the last two years in participating at Science Fairs and university-sponsored events to attract students to science and technology careers. We show a combination of real examples (e.g., mathemagic), imagination, use of information technology, and use of social networks. We present as well an experience on designing a computational, interactive tool to promote chemistry among high school, prospective students using computers ("Dancing with Bionanomolecules"). Like the concepts related to Web 2.0, it has been already proposed that a new framework for communication of science is emerging, i.e., Science Communication 2.0, where people and institutions develop new innovative ways to explain science topics to diverse publics – and where Recreational Science is likely to play a leading role

Intraovarian sperm storage in Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus fertilitzation, crypt formation and maintenance of stored sperm

The females of the bluemouth rockfish, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (DelaRoche, 1809), store sperm within their ovaries for periods of up to 10 months. Twenty six females with standard lengths between 152 and 257 mm and six males with standard lengths between 253 and 209 mm were caught storage crypts with stored spermatozoa and to describe their evolution over the year. After internal fertilization and once sperm reaches the ovary, a crypt forms probably by an epithelial inclusion at the base of the lamellae of one or several spermatozoa groups that are floating freely in the interlamellar space of the ovarian lumen. Stored spermatozoa have a large cytoplasm bag surrounding their heads. This bag could serve as a nutritive reservoir during the long storage period. Many desmosonal and tight junctions between the crypt cells ensure tha male sex cells are protected against the female immune system

Plecs solts poètics catalans dels segles XVI i XVII relatius al bandolerisme: Un inventari

Inventari que recull les notícies que l’autor ha pogut aplegar sobre plecs solts poètics en llengua catalana de temàtica relacionada amb el bandolerisme (des de l’arribada de la impremta a Catalunya fins al final del segle XVII). També ofereix l’edició del text de tres d’aquests plecs solts, impresos a la segona meitat del segle XVI, inèdits modernament i poc coneguts. Es tracta d’una «sèrie» sobre dos germans bandolers, caps de colla: Janot i Montserrat Poc

Canciones populares granadinas: un proyecto de innovación en la formación de los maestros de música

Entre las tareas complementarias de la Titulación de Magisterio en la especialidad de Educación Musical de la Universidad de Granada, se lleva a cabo desde el curso académico 1996-97 y hasta la actualidad de manera ininterrumpida, una actividad singular protagonizada por los estudiantes de esta titulación que anualmente solicitan participar en el Coro de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación; surgió como un instrumento de acercamiento a la música coral para los estudiantes universitarios, pero con el paso del tiempo ha ido abriendo el espacio de su actuación a otras competencias propias de un grupo mixto vinculado a tareas educativas y culturales. Por esta razón ha ampliado el campo de sus actividades dirigiendo la atención no sólo hacia la interpretación de obras del repertorio polifónico, sino también hacia la producción de conciertos escolares y la elaboración de recursos y materiales didácticos, como sucede con este proyecto de innovación docente en torno a las Canciones populares granadinas. En este contexto, el Coro se constituye como un grupo de trabajo e investigación interdisciplinar para llevar a cabo estas tareas, y así desarrolla por primera vez un proyecto monográfico de semejantes características, aunque la experiencia colaborativa del trabajo en equipo forma ya parte de la esencia misma del Coro como agrupación vocal. Igualmente, es preciso subrayar que este grupo cuenta con experiencias en otras tareas de innovación, experimentación e investigación con el diseño de guiones y producciones didácticas puestas en práctica en conciertos escolares ofrecidos en distintos centros educativos. Este trabajo ha consistido en la edición de un audio-libro basado en la música tradicional de distintas comarcas de la provincia de Granada, extraído de diversas fuentes ya publicadas, con el fin de difundir repertorios vocales de música popular en los centros educativos, a través de la grabación, estudio, aplicación y análisis de las obras que se han publicado