Carlos Catalao Alves: The Ciencia Viva - science internship programme Scientix European Conference, 6-8 May 2011, Brussels

1. Carlos Catalão Alves
www.cienciaviva.pt
The only effective way to learn science is by doing science, alongside a skilled and
experienced practitioner who can provide on-the-job support, criticism, and advice.
Hodson, 1993
Scientix European Conference | 8th May | Brussels

2. Carlos Catalão Alves
www.cienciaviva.pt
Science apprenticeships
change students’ personal relationships with science (Bequette, 2005)
provide extended opportunities for learning and doing science (Pei-Ling & Roth, 2008)
increase students’ school science achievement (Ryken, 2003)
suitable for highly talented and motivated pupils (Stake & Mares, 2001)
attract females and members of ethnic minorities, to science (Rahm et al., 2005).
Scientix European Conference | 8th May | Brussels

3. Carlos Catalão Alves
www.cienciaviva.pt
Ciencia Viva Internships Programme
(1997-2010)
Placing secondary school students in science research institutions, during their summer
holidays, to work alongside scientists in real-life, on-going research projects.
8.947 secondary school students
127 Research Centres and Universities
Scientix European Conference | 8th May | Brussels

4. Carlos Catalão Alves
www.cienciaviva.pt
The Research Project
(2003 – 2010)
Research Question: How do students perceive their internships?
Participants: 4.690 students
Method: Survey
Scientix European Conference | 8th May | Brussels

5. Carlos Catalão Alves
www.cienciaviva.pt
What did students enjoy most?
engaging in practical work in a real-world science context
experience of real-life applications
high-level science facilities with available up-to-date technology
expanding knowledge and skills
new relationships with people with same interests
Peer group support
Scientix European Conference | 8th May | Brussels

6. Carlos Catalão Alves
www.cienciaviva.pt
Ciencia Viva Internships Programme
Learning science from within
www.cienciaviva.pt/ocjf
Scientix European Conference | 8th May | Brussels

7. Carlos Catalão Alves
www.cienciaviva.pt
REFERENCES
Bequette, M.J. (2005) Engaging with Science: High School Students in Summer Lab Internships.
Unpublished Dissertation Thesis.
Pei-Ling, Hsu and Roth, W-M (2008) Lab technicians and high school students – who is scaffolding
whom? Science Education, Published online in Wiley InterScience, 1-22.
Rahm, J., Martel-Reny, M, & Moore, J. (2005) The role of afterschool and community science programs in
the lives of urban youth. School Science and Mathematics, 105 (6), 283-291.
Ryken, A.E. (2003) Scientific Skill Building: Linking High School, College and Work. Paper presented at the
Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL. (ERIC Document
Reproduction Service No. ED 479 386).
Sadler (2010) Learning science through research apprenticeships: A critical review. Journal of Research in
Science Teaching, 47 (7), 235-256.
Stake, J.E., and Mares, K.R. (2001) Science enrichment programs for gifted high school girls and boys:
Predictors of program impact on science confidence and motivation. Journal of Research in Science
Teaching, 38 (10), 1065-1088.
Stake, J.E., & Nickens, S.D. (2005) Adolescent girls' and boys' science peer relationships and perceptions
of the possible self as scientist, Sex Roles, 52 (1), 1-11.
Scientix European Conference | 8th May | Brussels