A PRESENÇA PÚBLICA DA IGREJA NA CIDADE: Análise das práticas pastorais da Igreja Metodista em Belo Horizonte (1982 a 2006) frente aos desafios das transformações socioculturais

A pesquisa aqui desenvolvida trata da crise de sentido presente em uma sociedade em processo de transformação, com o propósito de apontar os desafios e possibilidades de uma ressignificação da práxis metodista no contexto urbano. Esse processo de transformação é caracterizado por vários elementos que constituem a formação de um novo cenário cultural religioso, como a hibridização de práticas religiosas, espiritualidade sem religião, a privatização da fé, o pluralismo religioso, a secularização, o trânsito religioso, a urbanização, o surgimento de novas propostas religiosas, a perda da autonomia de diversas mediações institucionais tradicionais. A hipótese é de que os fenômenos presentes, que caracterizam este tempo de mudanças, têm afetado as igrejas protestantes de missão, entre elas a Igreja Metodista. A investigação desses fenômenos, a partir de fundamentos teóricos, visa analisar o impacto das transformações socioculturais no contexto da Igreja Metodista e algumas das suas consequências no campo religioso, especialmente na realidade urbana da Igreja Metodista em Belo Horizonte, no período de 1982 a 2006. A cultura característica desse tempo de transformações demandava novos paradigmas de ação pastoral do metodismo para o contexto urbano em Belo Horizonte, no entanto, a Igreja Metodista não foi capaz de construir, nos documentos Plano Para Vida e Missão (1982) e Dons e Ministérios (1987), uma resposta que contemplasse os complexos desafios demandados por esse tempo de transformações. Portanto, em que pesem os esforços da Igreja Metodista em procurar formas novas de organização de sua estrutura e alterações em seus documentos Planos Quadrienais, Quinquenais, Plano para a Vida e Missão da Igreja, Dons e Ministérios, com o passar do tempo, tais documentos demonstraram carecer de atualização e reconstrução. Dessa maneira, as ações pastorais do metodismo em Belo Horizonte não resultaram em práxis pastorais que respondessem às transformações da sociedade. Não houve, por parte da Igreja Metodista em Belo Horizonte, a percepção dessas mudanças e, consequentemente, da necessidade de alterar as funções tradicionais de pastoreio diante dos novos desafios socioculturais. O objetivo específico desta pesquisa, portanto, é compreender de que maneira o novo paradigma cultural, na perspectiva da presença pública, tem afetado a Igreja Metodista em Belo Horizonte e como ela tem respondido aos desafios de suas práticas pastorais de evangelização, ação social e educação, na realidade urbana e em sua dimensão pública. Para fundamentar respostas que atendam a tais desafios, serão analisadas as práticas pastorais da Igreja Metodista em Belo Horizonte, as transformações socioculturais e como elas afetaram o modo de ação pastoral do metodismo, obrigando-o a reinterpretar-se e assumir uma posição crítica e transformadora diante da sociedade, para ressignificação da sua práxis no contexto urbano.

Bottom-up risk regulation? How nanotechnology risk knowledge gaps challenge federal and state environmental agencies

Nanotechnologies have been called the "Next Industrial Revolution." At the same time, scientists are raising concerns about the potential health and environmental risks related to the nano-sized materials used in nanotechnologies. Analyses suggest that current U.S. federal regulatory structures are not likely to adequately address these risks in a proactive manner. Given these trends, the premise of this paper is that state and local-level agencies will likely deal with many "end-of-pipe" issues as nanomaterials enter environmental media without prior toxicity testing, federal standards, or emissions controls. In this paper we (1) briefly describe potential environmental risks and benefits related to emerging nanotechnologies; (2) outline the capacities of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act to address potential nanotechnology risks, and how risk data gaps challenge these regulations; (3) outline some of the key data gaps that challenge state-level regulatory capacities to address nanotechnologies' potential risks, using Wisconsin as a case study; and (4) discuss advantages and disadvantages of state versus federal approaches to nanotechnology risk regulation. In summary, we suggest some ways government agencies can be better prepared to address nanotechnology risk knowledge gaps and risk management.

Investigating the supply and demand relationship in a profession: the English and Welsh schools of librarianship and information Studies and the Higher Education Library and Information Services employment sector in England and Wales.

Concern has been expressed in the professional literature - borne out by professional experience and observation - that the supply and demand relationship existing between the 13 English and Welsh Library and Information Studies (LIS) Schools (as providers of `First Professional' staff) and the Higher Education Library and Information Services (HE LIS) sector of England and Wales (as one group of employers of such staff) is unsatisfactory and needs attention. An appropriate methodology to investigate this problem was devised. A basic content analysis of Schools' curricular and recruitment material intended for public consumption was undertaken to establish an overview of the LIS initial professional education system in England and Wales, and to identify and analyse any covert messages imparted to readers. This was followed by a mix of Main Questionnaires and Semi-Structured Interviews with appropriate populations. The investigation revealed some serious areas of dissatisfaction by the HE LIS Chiefs with the role and function of the Schools. Considerable divergence of views emerged on the state of the working relationships between the two sectors and on the Schools' successes in meeting the needs of the HE LIS sector and on CPD provision. There were, however, areas of substantial and consistent agreement between the two sectors. The main implications of the findings were that those areas encompassing divergence of views were worrying and needed addressing by both sides. Possible ways forward included recommendations on improving the image of the profession purveyed by the Schools; the forming of closer and more effective inter-sectoral relationships; recognising fully the importance of `practicum' and increasing and sustaining the network of `practicum' providers.

Participation in higher education:problems in comparing British, French and German business education systems

DUE TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT ASTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

Discretion and control in education:the teacher as street-level bureaucrat

This article assesses the impact of education reform and the new public management (NPM) on the discretion of school teachers. The focal point of the study is Michael Lipsky's theory of discretion which casts public service professionals and others involved in service delivery as 'street-level bureaucrats' because their high degree of discretionary rule-making power enabled them to effectively make policy as well as implement it. The article considers the relationship between education reform and the NPM and focuses on the increased emphasis on skills-based teaching and changes in management and leadership in schools. The literature and survey of teachers demonstrate that discretion in the workplace has been eroded to such an extent due to a high degree of central regulation and local accountability as to question the applicability of Lipsky's model. The findings are based on the literature and a small survey undertaken by the author. © 2007 BELMAS.

Big Data – Opportunities and Challenges for Education

Report published in the Proceedings of the National Conference on "Education and Research in the Information Society", Plovdiv, May, 2015

University-led innovative and inspirational engineering education

The UK Government and large employers have recognised the skills gap between learners leaving the education system and the requirements of employers. The current system is seen to be failing significant numbers of learners and has been accused of schooling but not educating our young people. University-led technical colleges are one part of the solution being developed to provide outstanding engineering education. This paper focusses on the learning experience that the Aston University Engineering Academy, the first University-led University Technical College (UTC), has created for entrants to the Engineering Academy in September 2012, when it opens in brand new buildings next to the University. The overall aim is to produce technically literate young people that have business and enterprise skills as well as insight into the diverse range of opportunities in Engineering and Technical disciplines. The project has brought University staff and students together with employers and Academy staff to optimise the engineering education that they will receive. The innovative model presented has drawn on research from across the world in the implementation of this new type of school, as well as educational practices from the USA and the Scandinavian countries. The resulting curriculum is authentic and exciting and expands the University model of problem-based learning and placements into the secondary school environment. The benefits of this close partnership for University staff and students, the employers and the Academy staff are expanded on and the paper concludes with a prediction of progression routes from the Academy.

On the relationship between cultural diversity and creativity in education:the moderating role of communal versus divisional mindset

We conducted an experimental study with the aim of testing certain conditions under which engaging with cultural diversity increases creativity among schoolchildren. Results obtained from a sample of 149 Italian elementary schoolchildren revealed that engaging with cultural diversity, operationalized by asking Italian children to work with immigrant children on a cooperative task, led to an increase in creativity. Furthermore, we found that this effect was only present when a communal but not a divisional mindset (emphasizing group distinctions) was present. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of findings.

Empathy levels of American and Bahamian Special Education graduate students and students in other majors

This study investigated the empathy of Special Education graduate students in the USA and the Bahamas, and of Counseling and Organizational Learning students. About 180 students were administered the Interpersonal Reactivity Index to assess: fantasy, perspective taking, empathetic concern, and personal distress. Significant differences existed by major and country.

Mortality and climatic/environmental correlates of Widdringtonia cedargensis trees in the Cederberg, South Africa

Background: Conifer populations appear disproportionately threatened by global change. Most examples are, however, drawn from the northern hemisphere and long-term rates of population decline are not well documented as historical data are often lacking. We use a large and long-term (1931-2013) repeat photography dataset together with environmental data and fire records to account for the decline of the critically endangered Widdringtonia cedarbergensis. Eighty-seven historical and repeat photo-pairs were analysed to establish 20th century changes in W. cedarbergensis demography. A generalized linear mixed-effects model was fitted to determine the relative importance of environmental factors and fire-return interval on mortality for the species. Results: From an initial total of 1313 live trees in historical photographs, 74% had died and only 44 (3.4%) had recruited in the repeat photographs, leaving 387 live individuals. Juveniles (mature adults) had decreased (increased) from 27% (73%) to 8% (92%) over the intervening period. Our model demonstrates that mortality is related to greater fire frequency, higher temperatures, lower elevations, less rocky habitats and aspect (i.e. east-facing slopes had the least mortality). Conclusions: Our results show that W. cedarbergensis populations have declined significantly over the recorded period, with a pronounced decline in the last 30 years. Individuals that established in open habitats at lower, hotter elevations and experienced a greater fire frequency appear to be more vulnerable to mortality than individuals growing within protected, rocky environments at higher, cooler locations with less frequent fires. Climate models predict increasing temperatures for our study area (and likely increases in wildfires). If these predictions are realised, further declines in the species can be expected. Urgent management interventions, including seedling out-planting in fire-protected high elevation sites, reducing fire frequency in higher elevation populations, and assisted migration, should be considered.

Innovating at the margins: the System of Rice Intensification in India and transformative social innovation

I explore transformative social innovation in agriculture through a particular case of agroecological innovation, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in India. Insights from social innovation theory that emphasize the roles of social movements and the reengagement of vulnerable populations in societal transformation can help reinstate the missing “social” dimension in current discourses on innovation in India. India has a rich and vibrant tradition of social innovation wherein vulnerable communities have engaged in collective experimentation. This is often missed in official or formal accounts. Social innovations such as SRI can help recreate these possibilities for change from outside the mainstream due to newer opportunities that networks present in the twenty-first century. I show how local and international networks led by Civil Society Organizations have reinterpreted and reconstructed game-changing macrotrends in agriculture. This has enabled the articulation and translation of an alternative paradigm for sustainable transitions within agriculture from outside formal research channels. These social innovations, however, encounter stiff opposition from established actors in agricultural research systems. Newer heterogeneous networks, as witnessed in SRI, provide opportunities for researchers within hierarchical research systems to explore, experiment, and create newer norms of engagement with Civil Society Organizations and farmers. I emphasize valuing and embedding diversity of practices and institutions at an early stage to enable systems to be more resilient and adaptable in sustainable transitions.

Representações sociais sobre educação ambiental e objetivações em práticas pedagógicas no ensino fundamental

This work presents results, reflections, conclusions and considerations about the research entitled "Social representations of environmental education and objectivations in teaching practices in elementary school ". She intended to make known research whose objectives were to know the current environmental education framework (EA) developed by the teachers of the early years of elementary school of that city; identify their social representations about EA and the ways in which these representations are objectified in their teaching practices. Thus, the methodology is characterized by the qualitative approach; whose data collection instruments were the Free Evocation Questionnaire (QEV), the semi-structured interviews and documentary research. The QEV consists of free recall questions and essay questions, whose data is quantitative and qualitative. Data from this instrument were analyzed according to the procedures of the Structural Approach to Theory of Social Representations. In turn, the analysis of data obtained through the interview and reading the documents followed the guidelines of the Content Analysis method. The theoretical and methodological basis of this research was the Theory of Social Representations and critical approach to environmental education. Thus, the results obtained in the investigation allowed us to identify the social representations of EA of participants; confirm that such representations are being targeted in their pedagogical practices that are characterized as conservative. Also confirm that the teaching documents of the surveyed network are in line with the official documents on EA; the AE actions developed in the network are referenced in the teaching documents of the network and in the official documents of EA and the EA practices of survey participants teachers relate directly with their social representations on Environmental Education.