A STUDY ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACCOUNTS OF RADIOACTIVITY AND WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE: AN ANALYSIS IN LIGHT OF THE HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE (HNOS)

Abstract

The article explores the importance of teaching radioactivity and the History and Nature of Sciences (HNC), as well as the participation of women in science, for high school students. The study investigated the accounts of 43 students from a public school in Espírito Santo. To achieve this purpose, responses to a questionnaire and students' accounts during an activity were analyzed. The activity involved reading and discussing an illustrated text about the history of the Little Curies, mobile X-ray machines taken to the battlefronts during World War I by Marie Curie and other women. The results revealed that students are interested in learning about the history of radioactivity and recognize its importance. However, it was found that the HNC is not widely incorporated into teaching this topic. Students showed a willingness to acquire knowledge about the history and contributions of women scientists. The proposed activity was well received by them, but they noticed that the number of women scientists throughout history does not equal the number of male scientists.