Educating about venomous animals and saving lives: the importance of a thematic university museum

Abstract

The article presents the historical construction of the identity of the Nucleus of Ophiology and Venemous Animals of Bahia (NOAP/UFBA) as a museum of the Federal University of Bahia, from its inception in 1987 to 2017. The NOAP/UFBA integrates teaching, research and extension activities on reptiles and arachnids. It leads the university extension projects, "Network of Interactive Zoology/REDEZOO" and "The Animals of the Museum go to School/AMS", with the theme of venomous animals, whose accidents are considered tropical diseases neglected by the WHO. The REDEZOO consists of "Living Zoology", "Zooteca", "Zookits", "REDEZOO on the scene” and "REDEZOO in animation cinema", with the mediation of UFBA students. The AMS is a course with information and encouragement to the production of didactic materials and more contextualized communication. Annually, we carry out on average 25 itinerant activities, with an approximate audience of 1000 people. Our objective is to discuss the authors' experience on the historical construction of the NOAP/UFBA identity, based on scientific culture, citizen science and CTS education for the public understanding of venomous animals and the communication between the museum and the school. This research has a qualitative approach, characterized as an experience report, presenting in a historical perspective, and the theoretical and methodological proposals for the dissemination of the theme "venomous animals" developed in 30 years by the NOAP/UFBA Museum. Our results show that the majority of the public (including health and education professionals) have a common sense knowledge, use traditional medicine, do not know how to recognize animals of medical importance and miscarry first aid. As a university museum, our challenges are the production of educational materials, academic training for museology and horizontal dialogue with the public, with creative communication that results in the conservation of biodiversity, prevention, treatment and reduction of risks of sequelae and death.