Desvelando o uso de termos científicos em xampus: possibilidades para o ensino de ciências crítico

Abstract

Science is in different aspects in our daily life, especially when reading the labels of shampoos, presented on the shelves of supermarkets, drugstores and other conveniences. The interpretation of the scientific terms explicit on labels is not a simple task, but it is through it that we are able to verify the Science contained in the social context, in which we can read and reflect about the scientific issues that we are not familiar with, giving us access to scientific culture. In this sense, this study aims to: (i) identify chemical and non-chemical scientific terms used in shampoo labels; (ii) understand, through articles from the areas of Dermatology and Chemistry, the coherence of scientific terms present in shampoo labels; (iii) analyze the possible contribution of the use of scientific terms present in shampoo labels for the process of teaching and learning Science, and (iv) present proposals for the use of scientific terms present in shampoo labels for critical Science teaching. For this, the qualitative exploratory methodological approach was used, in which initially the drugstores were selected for evaluation of all scientific terms, subsequently the choice of Darrow® and Eico® shampoo, with the terms: "Salicylic Acid" and "Piroctone Olamine", "Wheat Protein", "Coconut Oil" and "Panthenol", respectively. Then, the efficiency of scientific terms in shampoos was understood through scientific articles, and, finally, the possibility of using these terms for teaching and learning science from a critical perspective was analyzed. Among the scientific terms analyzed, it was possible to verify that, supported by the literature, all of them presented satisfactory results regarding hair treatment or benefits for hair improvement. Salicylic acid proved to be efficient for the intervention against seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. Piroctone Olamine proved to be efficient in a nice way for hair treatment, either in relation to androgenic alopecia or seborrheic hair dermatitis. Wheat Protein made explicit the effectiveness in moisturizing and in the formation of biofilms in the hair. Coconut Oil, too, was found to be suitable for hair lubrication. And Panthenol showed efficiency when it comes to hair loss treatment. Moreover, both the Curricular Reference of Paraná and the Common National Curricular Base demonstrated in a promising way the use of scientific terms for the teaching and learning process in critical science education, since they declare that education must be based on the student's daily life and context, so that he can use the knowledge acquired in his daily life, especially when it comes to reading labels/packaging.