LAPC Collection
Our field trips have constantly provided material that form the LAPC collection. After being properly prepared by our staff, this material is mostly accessed for specimen-based student research (scientific collection). Teaching collections of paleobotanical and vertebrate specimens have supported didactic activities of students taking annual classes on Geology and Paleontology.
Thus this material is available for hands-on student research and learning activities and comprise specimens from the Permian of Irati Formation (Paraná Basin), Cretaceous sandstones of Alfredo Marcondes, Itapecuru Formation (Maranhão), Crato and Romualdo Formations (Araripe Basin), Santa Marta and Snow Hill Island Formations (James Ross Island, Antarctica), and from the Oligocene of the Tremembé Formation (Taubaté Basin).
LAPC sample of a Mesosauridae specimen, Irati Formation. Scale bar: 5 cm.
LAPC sample of a dinosaur (Sauropoda) specimen, Itapecuru formation. Scale bar: 5 cm.
LAPC sample of an invertebrate (Mollusk) specimen, Itapecuru Formation. Scale bar: 5 cm.
LAPC sample of an plant (trunk) specimen, Tremembé Formation. Scale bar: 5 cm.
The lab is inserted in a bigger multidisciplinary research lab equipped with stereomicroscopes, digital microscope, fume hood and multiple work benches, with the facilities of counting with the experimental support of a Multiuser centre lab where MEV (FEI Quanta 250), Fluorescence optical microscopy (Zeiss Axio Imager A2) and rotary microtome (Leica RM 2255) to produce histological sections of samples and zoom them in micro details. Specimens are mechanically prepared before being submitted to any kind of analyses or equipments, which is provided by our staff and students. Library journal collections and departmental computing facilities is also available for student research in Paleontology. Collection can also be accessed by foreign researches by contacting the lead lab/curator.
Lead lab/curator contact: fabiana.costa@ufabc.edu.br
"Ciência em Cena" logo
LAPC Extension
Not to confine Science within the Universities walls and breaking these walls down have been a major focus of researchers who intend to communicate their results to a wider public. However, to translate scientific terms and concepts into popular language in order to reach the most diverse segments of society is a challenge that has to be won. This is why we are constantly engaged on extension activities, either planning or participating in other extension proposals.
One of the activities coordinated by the lab during 2018 was the theater project named "Ciência em Cena" (Science on the Stage), which focused on playing scientific stories for kids and teens. Since this public has specific demands, we used puppets for kids and actors/students for teens.
Cesar Lattes (left) and Bertha Lutz (right) puppets
Graziela Barroso puppet
Bertha Lutz puppet
Team of actors/students who played the role of Pedrinho and the scientists
The script was entirely produced by the lab members. We decided to make a play on a regular student (Pedrinho) who hated Science as he did not know what was the use of it. When denying Science for three consecutive times, notorious and well-known Brazilian researchers from different areas were called and started to explain him how important and fun Science could be. When not represented by puppets, these researchers were played by a select team of students who gave life to these scientific personalities (Cesar Lattes - physicist; Graziela Barroso - botanist; Bertha Lutz - herpetologist; Paula Couto - paleontologist).
Actors/students at the end of a play with puppets in a public school (Santo André)
Actors/students at the stage in a public event promoted by UFABC
Other collaborations initiatives: we also cooperate with other extension projects.
- Antártica ou Antártida? Formação de um pesquisador
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62lKnyRS2NY
- Equipe de pesquisa paleontológica na Antártica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5yzOqbVvow
- Paleontologia na Antártica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNNAdTISwAg&t=397s
E-midia produced for the course "Antártica ou Antártida"(UFABC) to present the Antarctic continent to students in the classroom.
- Universidade das crianças - Dinossauros
E-midia produced to Universidade das crianças to spread Science among children. In this program I had a nice talk to a class of about 10 kids discussing about dinosaurs and their relatives.
