Paleontologia: educação patrimonial no contexto do Geoparque Uberaba

Abstract

Brazil has several regions rich in fossils, such as the Araripe Basin, Campos Basin, and Bauru Basin. The latter, located in the Southeast of the country, spans several states and is known for its fossil sequences. Within this basin lies the Uberaba Geopark – "Land of Giants," formed by the union of local institutions, with a primary focus on dinosaurs. However, there is a noticeable lack of information dissemination about other fossil animals present in the region, such as various invertebrates and vertebrates. Thus, this work aimed to survey the fossil species of the region and develop material on lesser-explored fossil animals in the Uberaba Geopark (such as crocodyliforms, anurans, bivalves, and others) for distribution in continuing education courses for primary education teachers in Uberaba and free online availability. The idea is to promote heritage education, connecting the population with paleontological research centres and sparking interest in palaeontology beyond dinosaurs. Scientific dissemination and the implementation of practical activities are essential to bridge the gap between theory and practice and garner support from the general population. During the research for the creation of the educational material, a lack of recent articles on species from the Geopark, especially invertebrates, was found, leading to the inclusion of a comprehensive species survey. The material developed still needs to undergo structural and visual review, but the main content is complete. The creation of educational materials faced challenges in selecting information and adapting scientific language to make it accessible to the target audience, aiming to promote heritage education and the recognition of the paleontological heritage of the Uberaba Geopark. These initiatives are crucial for integrating Palaeontology into the school curriculum and engaging the community in preserving local heritage. The Uberaba Geopark reveals a need for more paleontological research, especially on invertebrates, due to gaps identified during the survey, but it presents a unique opportunity for researchers to explore its vast heritage and contribute to its global recognition, despite the current limitations and challenges faced in paleontological research and education.