Cratera de impacto de vista alegre (coronel vivida, pr) e seu conteúdo geocientífico como educação não formal

Abstract

In Coronel Vivida (PR), in the district of Vista Alegre, a crater of meteorite impact was identified in 2004, which later was classified as geological-geomorphological heritage of Paraná. The crater is located 12 kilometers far from the county seat and is 9.5 kilometers in diameter. It is considered rare because it is one of the seven impact craters known in Brazil, and one of the four existing on basalt lava flows in the world. His discovery fostered scientific studies on the geosite which, however, were restricted to the academic milieu and did not reach the population of Paraná and the local community as desired. The impact occurred about 115 million years ago and left geological-geomorphological records in the landscape, which have undergone modifications over the past few millennia. The analysis carried out in this work, from theoretical studies and field survey, involves discussions about the origin of asteroids and meteorites, their importance in the history of the planet and investigates the evolution context of the Vista Alegre impact crater. Ignorance of the characteristics of the geosite and its value tends to jeopardize the preservation of the scientific-cultural heritage. Publicity actions and subsidies to promote tourism were implemented in the place from 2007, such as the installation of explanatory panels and the distribution of leaflets. In 2016 a gazebo was built to contemplate the landscape of the crater, seeking to strengthen geotourism and disseminate the geosite. However, there is no sense of belonging on the part of the local population and the geosite is little valued as state patrimony, much due to the lack of dissemination of a culture of scientific knowledge. This work seeks, through non-formal education, the public diffusion of the geoscientific content referring to the geosite, seeking its valuation as patrimony by the community. With this scope was elaborated a video documentary that presents: the origin of asteroids and their interaction with the Earth through impacts; The geological context before the impact caused by the crater; The event that formed it, its age and its evolution, including also human factors. Astronomical, geological and climatic aspects are correlated for a better understanding of the rarity of this geological feature and the need for its preservation. The video was made available on the internet and applied, on an experimental basis, to a public of university students and teachers of the state public network with questionnaires that sought to evaluate its effectiveness in understanding the theme. The resulting information pointed out that the video is not enough for extensive learning on the subject, but it induces interest and promotes equity awareness. Internet dissemination statistics showed about three thousand visits in three months of exposure, which suggests advances in the minimum knowledge about the geosite in medium and long term.