Who likes going to the planetarium? About the political importance of scientific education in non-formal spaces

The development of Science and Technology (S&T) is an important channel for economic growth and maintenance of social well-being. However, recent data indicates that student interest in school science and careers in S&T is declining. This article reports on empirical research that, carried out during visits to planetariums in the region south of Brazil, aims to map the extent to which the appreciation of experiences lived in non-formal spaces relates to the professional aspirations and taste for science of visitors. Based on a confirmatory factor analysis followed by a multiple linear regression, we realized that: (1) the appreciation of experiences in the planetarium does not depend on gender, color and income; and (2) promising students, but little interested in pursuing a career in S&T, are those who most enjoy activities at the planetarium.

Key words:
Scientific Dissemination; Taste for Science; Professional Aspirations