MEDIADORES DE CENTROS DE CIÊNCIAS E OS SEUS PAPÉIS DURANTE AS VISITAS ESCOLARES

In the present paper, it is presented a general view about who they are and the activities science centers and museums mediators develop. The literature points out to the diverse roles attributed to these actors and that the presence of this type of professional is a consolidated practice in non-formal educational institutions. Data obtained among the mediators of a science center during mediated school visits are also presented and discussed, focusing in the role attributed to these professionals, with the objective of characterizing their actions during these visits. The data obtained and analyzed showed that during school visits, the roles that are attributed to the mediators are: (a) mediation of the knowledge involved in the expositions; (b) explanation of the scientific concepts involved in the expositions; (c) presentation of the thematic spaces; (d) reception and organization of groups of visitors; (e) preservation of the physical and moral integrity of the visitors, and the integrity of the physical spaces and their eq uipments; (f) complementation of the schoolknowledge, and (g) diffusion of the scientific knowledge.