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- Environmental literacy in biodiversity terms at the end of the compulsory school: case study in Amadora, PortugalPublication . Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Galamba, J. M. M.; Azeiteiro, UlissesThis study assessed the contribution of formal environmental education, of the Portuguese national curricula, to student’s knowledge of biodiversity and related subjects, at the end of compulsory school. We also investigated the contribution of Alternative Courses on Education and Training to student’s environmental literacy, in terms of their knowledge of biodiversity and related subjects. The results of this study suggest that the formal environmental education of the national curricula and the alternative curricula did not significantly affect the environmental literacy of students, in terms of their knowledge of biodiversity and related subjects. A number of implications for Curriculum development and instructional practice are presented, and recommendations for further research are provided.
- Assessing high school students perceptions and comprehension of climate changePublication . Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Santos, Paulo T.; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Morgado, FernandoThe purpose of this study was to investigate High School (HS) students’ perceptions of Climate Change (CC) and Global warming (GW). This work was conducted within Portuguese High School students and the results in this context should have meaningful implications for national CC policies in the future as well as HS curricula adaptation to the students’ perceptions. Research was conducted at a high school in Central Portugal. The survey was applied to all the high school students from the 10th to the 12th grade, enrolled in the areas of Sciences and Technology, Languages and Humanities, Socio-economical Sciences and Professionalization. The data were collected through a self-completion questionnaire consisting of 29 closed-ended questions and two open questions aiming at characterizing students from the socio-demographic, and from their perceptions, beliefs, motivations, attitudes, knowledge relating to the topic of CC. Google Drive was used to host the questionnaire and allow for the online survey. Statistical exploratory univariate and bivariate analyses were performed on the data collected (frequencies, total and column percentages, adjusted residuals). All statistical tests were two-tailed, with significance levels of 5%. Only statistically significant results were commented on the results section. Majority of students believed that CC was happening and also perceived that human activities were an important cause of CC. Still, the surveyed students hold some misconceptions about basic causes and consequences of climate change. Students’ gender influenced their perceptions of time scale of CC impact on both human and biotic communities. Most students state that their training had focused enough on the topic of CC and felt they had a moderate technical knowledge about the topic of CC (students’ knowledge of how their behaviour influenced CC followed a similar pattern). There was a large conviction that the main actions in mitigating CC effects should be taken by governments and regarding the perception of the importance of CC for their future professional carrier, 48% considered that this topic was “moderately important” and 29% considered it as “very important”. However as individuals, and globally, 74% had not taken actions to mitigate CC (only 26% of the respondents had taken some actions to mitigate the causes of CC). Further research is necessary so that curricula programs can be adequate to promote better knowledge and attitudes about climate change and an active engagement of future participative citizens, as part of the solution for climate change problems.
- University student’s perceptions about climate change: the case of interior design and architecture students of a brazilian universityPublication . Alves, Fátima; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Lima, Dula; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Nicolau, Paula BacelarHigher Education Institutions have a very important educational role to play in the formation of active citizens involved in climate change mitigation and/or adaptation. Few studies assess higher education students’ knowledge and attitudes about this issue, and the contribution of their graduate course to the deepening of this knowledge and to the change of attitudes and behaviours. This study aims to contribute to this gap and to provide reflection and data on the views, attitudes and behaviours about climate change issues, of graduate students of Interior Design and Architecture of University of Amazonia, Brazil. We surveyed university students from two graduation programs targeting their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour on climate change, and their views of the role that their graduate degree had on it. Further research is necessary so that curricula programs can be adequate to promote better knowledge and attitudes about climate change and an active engagement of future participative professionals and citizens, in order to cope with the environmental crises and climate change challenges and to be part of the solution for climate change problems.
- Bacterioplankton dynamics in the Mondego estuary (Portugal)Publication . Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Marques, J. C.; Morgado, Fernando; Azeiteiro, UlissesIn this work, the density of bacterioplankton and environmental parameters were monitored over a 11 month period (July 1999-June 2000), and also during one tidal cycle (15 June 2000), at two sampling stations, in the estuary of River Mondego. These data were treated by multivariate analyses methods in order to identify the key factors that control the dynamics of the bacterioplankton in the estuary. Bacterial dynamics were dominated by temporal gradients (annual seasons and tide-related) and less by the spatial structure of the estuary. Three main metabolic groups of bacterioplankton—aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB)—involved in the cycling of organic matter, were present in the water column of the estuary.Their relative abundance depended on the particular physical, chemical and biological environment. The abundance of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, during the 11 month study, was modelled as a function of nitrate (the most important variable, with a negative effect), temperature, salinity and pH (with positive effects). SRB appeared to be limited to the water-sediment interface, where concentrations of sulphate and POM were greater.A competition between SRB and NRB for carbon has also been suggested.
- Assessing university student perceptions and comprehension of climate change (Portugal, Mexico and Mozambique)Publication . Morgado, Fernando; Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Rendon von Osten, Jaime; Santos, Paulo; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Farooq, Harith; Alves, Fátima; Soares, Amadeu M. V. M.; Azeiteiro, UlissesHigher education system has a critical role to play in educating environmentally aware and participant citizens about global climate change (CC). And, as shown by the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Climate Change – COP 21, held in Paris in December 2015, there is still a path to be followed regarding the role played by universities in the negotiations and in influencing decision-making on a matter of such global importance. The purpose of this first study conducted within Portuguese (Europe), Mexican (Spanish-speaking North America University) and Mozambican (Africa) universities is to investigate higher education system students’ perceptions on CC. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected through a questionnaire aiming at characterising students from the socio-demography, and from their perceptions, motivations, attitudes and knowledge relating to the topic of CC. Statistical analysis was used to compare and characterise the three national groups under study. Findings This study did not show significant perception differences among the analysed subsamples, although there was a tendency for Mexican students to express lesser belief that CC was happening, and for Mozambicans to show a greater belief in CC issues and motivation to mitigate its effects which may be related to the specifics contexts. The results show that relevant differences among nationalities mostly concerned the magnitude of choices (e.g. most respondents of each nationality expressed interest in CC issues, but the magnitude of this expression differed according to nationality). The principal component analysis (second and third components) clearly embodied nationality profiles (discussed in the context of different cultures, educational structures and CC impacts). Research limitations/implications Further research is warranted to understand the integration of CC into higher education curriculum to improve and target educational efforts to suit students’ needs. Practical implications How CC perceptions vary cross-nationally and how research studies that examine the integration of CC into higher education curriculum are areas for which more research is needed. Originality/value The results highlight the importance of socio-cultural dimensions of each country in relation to the understanding or perception of CC issues, namely, in what concerns aspects related with gender roles, age, active learning and citizenship. This study’s data evidenced that despite the surveyed students being familiarized with CC phenomena, this knowledge does not translate necessarily into concrete mitigation practices and behaviours.
- A valorização da biodiversidade através de saídas de campo na Ribeira da Padiola, Vila Nova de GaiaPublication . Neves, Idalina; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Nicolau, Paula BacelarBiodiversidade ou diversidade biológica representam a variabilidade entre os organismos vivos de todas as origens, compreendendo a diversidade dentro de espécies, entre espécies e de ecossistemas. A biodiversidade contribui para o bem-estar e saúde da espécie humana, através dos serviços de ecossistemas. Pretendeu-se com este projeto identificar a forma mais adequada de dar a conhecer, sensibilizar e motivar para a importância da preservação da biodiversidade os estudantes do 8º ano do Agrupamento de Escolas Diogo de Macedo, Vila Nova de Gaia. Para o efeito, foi preparada uma saída de campo à Ribeira da Padiola, em Olival (Vila Nova de Gaia), e um caderno de campo. O efeito desta visita – com e sem recurso ao caderno de campo – no conhecimento e valorização da biodiversidade foi avaliado através da aplicação de inquéritos aos estudantes, antes e após a saída de campo. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que, após a saída de campo, o nível de conhecimentos e de motivação alcançados pelos estudantes acerca da biodiversidade foi superior nos estudantes que realizaram a saída de campo. A amostra que realizou a saída com recurso ao caderno de campo revelou uma melhoria do conhecimento em aspetos pontuais, relativamente aos restantes estudantes, contudo a utilização deste recurso durante a saída parece ter contribuído para alguma dificuldade de concentração. Além disso, este estudo permitiu ainda concluir sobre alguns aspetos que podem ser melhorados, nomeadamente a inclusão de uma aula de preparação antes da saída de campo e uma aula de síntese após a mesma, para trabalhar os conceitos mais complexos.
- Tide-induced variations in the bacterial community, and in the physical and chemical properties of the water column of the Mondego estuaryPublication . Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Marques, João C.; Morgado, Fernando; Pastorinho, Ramires; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Azeiteiro, UlissesThe bacterioplankton is a key component of the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. Yet, present understanding of the controls on microbial abundance and activity only highlights their complexity. In estuaries, the problem is further complicated by the high variability of environmental properties (salinity, temperature, pH, organic loading and other factors). The present study investigates the dynamics of three main metabolic groups of planktonic bacteria involved in the cycling of organic matter (aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, sulphate-reducing bacteria, and nitrate-reducing bacteria), over one tidal cycle in the estuary of the Mondego. The association of various physical, chemical and biological parameters with the composition of the bacterial community was assessed by multivariate analysis in order to identify key factors controlling the composition and tidal dynamics of the bacterial communities in the Mondego estuary. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified the sources of variability for the bacterial communities in the estuary, as being, on one hand, the different dynamics in the two stations under study (Foz and Pranto) and, on the other hand, the flood and ebb tide fluxes, by their effects in the environmental parameters.