“I’m not scientifically gifted,I’m a girl”: implicit measures of gender-science stereotypes – preliminary evidence

Students often have a negative view on science, particularly women. Furthermore, academic level in math and science is usually considered as an innate ability. The aims of the study were to create an Implicit Association Test (IAT) in order to highlight the stereotype that science is innate, to identify if the gender of the participants impacts the results of this implicit measure and to compare self-report and implicit measures. Results showed that (1) science and innate are more easily associated in the IAT than liberal arts and innate, (2) women have a higher association of science and innate than men in the IAT (that is not the case in self-report measures).     

Physical Activities through Postcolonial Eyes: A Place of Epistemologic and Historiographical Experimentation

This contribution has a triple objective. The first is historical; it is to identify works, analysis, and perspectives covering the history of sport, which relate to the field of Postcolonial Studies developed elsewhere. By discussing anglophone and francophone works, we try to show the differentiated dynamics of research carried out in these two areas, while highlighting what each one owes to the other and vice versa. The second aim is analytical. We try to bring out the main themes of these works while proposing – from a postcolonial perspective – possible areas of research to pursue. Finally, the last objective is epistemologic. It discusses some problematic areas of interpretation around the role of physical activities in the process of colonization and decolonization.     

Survey Exploring Views of Scientists on Current Trends in Chemistry Education

A survey exploring the views of scientists, chemists and chemical engineers, on current trends in Chemistry Education was conducted in Greece. Their opinions were investigated using a questionnaire focusing on curricula (the content and process of chemistry teaching and learning), as well as on the respondents’ general educational beliefs and their underlying epistemological views. The aim of this work was to investigate the respondents’ opinions and, if possible, to identify the areas where convergence or even consensus occurred. The results showed that some of the items on the research questionnaire produced a high degree of agreement with the respondents’ views, while a few others were exactly the opposite. These items are considered to be representative of more widespread views. In order to explore the diverging opinions, the items on the research questionnaire that showed great variance were analyzed to determine, whether or not there were significant inter-item correlations among subgroups of participants with different demographic characteristics. Postgraduate studies, professional occupation, age/experience, and career within or outside the wide educational sector were among the main factors that significantly influenced the research results. The study did not reveal any single belief framework underlying the opinions of the respondents. Nevertheless, three specific approach frameworks—ACADEMIC, CONSTRUCTIVIST and SCIENTIFIC REALISM—were analyzed to determine which had the highest degree of agreement. It was found that the SCIENTIFIC REALISM framework and the curriculum emphasis characteristic of the context-based CTSE (Chemistry, Technology, Society and Environment) prevailed, as they produced a significantly higher mean score. The ACADEMIC framework followed with a moderate mean score and the CONSTRUCTIVIST framework had a lower mean score.     

Protective effect of endolithic fungal hyphae on oolitic limestone buildings

This study presents characterizations of weathering forms of the same oolitic limestone from four quarries and eight monuments exposed on various environmental conditions focusing on the waterproofing effect of endolithic organic matter. Patinas were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), capillarity coefficient through weathered and unweathered sides, gypsum content and porous network morphology by epoxy resin molding. Study of weathering forms on old quarries indicates that lichens colonization (Verrucaria nigrescens and Caloplaca aurantia) can fill the superficial porous network with a dense network of lichenised fungal hyphae. Capillary coefficient measurement on natural and calcinated samples showed that endolithic organic matter can waterproof the stone and could act as a sulfate contamination barrier. Similar endolithic organic layer due to ancient lichens growth are found on some antique monuments of the Nîmes downtown and could explain their well-preserved state, unlike decayed 19th century churches that were never colonized by lichens.     

Practicing induction: a generative dance between newcomers and organizations

Research on induction of newcomers is primarily focused on individual processes, such as acquisition of knowledge and socialization in order to create a smooth and frictionless entry period. The interest of our research, however, is the processes that happen on the organizational level. We claim that induction potentially triggers both individual and organizational learning and by drawing on practice-based theory we discuss how the interplay between individual and the organization, what we call a generative dance, ignites both kinds of learning. We focus on and describe the interplay that takes place in particular induction events and analyze the “dance” through the lens of learning. The article concludes with a brief discussion about the implications for practitioners and the challenges and future research prospects we have encountered. We draw on an empirical enquiry in two organizational settings, a Danish management consulting company and a German retail bank.

Development of an automatic and mobile X-ray robot: An innovative approach to medical imaging through mechatronics

The objective of this work is the development of an automatic and mobile X-ray robot that is becoming necessary in a changing environment (aging society, growth of the developing countries, etc.). Specifically, there are three sides to such a project. First, there is the mechanical side, i.e. the design and implementation of motors on every mobile part of an X-ray unit allowing it to move around a standing patient. Then, comes the electronic side, i.e. the use of potentiometers and limit switches as feedback combined with microcontrollers. And last, the algorithm that computes three-dimensional models from two-dimensional X-rays.