Social Biohacking a pedagogical strategy for the strengthening of education and the promotion of scientific literacy in Medellín, Colombia

Resumo

The impact that quality education and access to information have on the sustainable development of societies is undeniable. A strategy focused on improving the quality of education and the democratization of science is what could be called Social Biohacking. This work proposes a model of Schools of Creation, which integrates social actors with new technologies to solve their own problems, such as the one considered in this work; the deficiencies in the infrastructure of primary and secondary laboratories in countries like Colombia. Free software and "do it yourself" initiatives provide sustainable and replicable alternatives to intervene in problems, such as the lack of laboratory equipment, to guarantee a quality educational environment. Additionally, the experience of intervening communities in the city of Medellin through outreach and scientific literacy, as mechanisms for the democratization of science, is related. The interventions in different communities demonstrate the importance of bringing science closer to everyday life, and its relevance to promote the social appropriation of knowledge.