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• Date of publication Jul 13, 2026 Category: Article

  Transforming narratives: gender equity struggles in Latin American and Caribbean science museums

  by Bianca Hipólito de Oliveira BHO , Alessandra Bizerra , Miss Mirelly de Oliveira Soares

  Science museums are undergoing a transition, expanding their role in science communication to engage with equity and inclusion actively. Although women and gender-diverse individuals constitute a significant proportion of museum audiences, they remain underrepresented in exhibitions and leadership roles. This study examines how science museums can address gender equity. Based on a survey of science museum professionals across Latin America and the Caribbean, we identified respondents reporting gender-focused transformative actions. We conducted a thematic analysis of gender-focused transformative actions. Five key elements were developed: female participation, identity negotiation, disruption of normative gender narratives, historical recovery, and activism. The initiatives demonstrate significant transformative potential but are constrained by persistent challenges. By examining these evolving practices in contexts shaped by both structural inequalities and historical struggles for rights, this study contributes to an understanding of how science museums can act as spaces for social transformation.

  Volume 25 • Issue 5 • 2026 • Transitions in Science Communication: Continuity and Change (PCST 2025)

• Date of publication Dec 04, 2023 Category: Article

  Emotional responses from families visiting the zoo: a study at Parque das Aves in Foz do Iguaçu

  by Graziele Scalfi , Luisa Massarani , Waneicy Gonçalves , Adriana Aparecida Andrade Chagas , Alessandra Bizerra

  In this study, we aim to analyse human emotional responses towards animals, specifically birds, in the context of a visit to a zoo. The study was carried out with seven families in Parque das Aves. The visits were recorded using the point-of-view-camera method, and the data was analysed using qualitative software to identify emotion descriptors. The findings from our study reveal that the physical characteristics of birds, such as their patterns and colours, as well as their behaviours and abilities, triggered emotional responses that were associated with admiration for the species, concern for their well-being and awareness of conservation issues, enabling these families to construct meaning.

  Volume 22 • Issue 05 • 2023