The “popularization” of science: the public instruction in the discourse Polytechnic Institute Of Brazilian in Second Empire

Abstract

Founded in 1862 the Brazilian Polytechnic Institute (IPB) met in one of the rooms of the former Military School of Rio de Janeiro, as well as graduates of the institution, interested in discussing the directions of national engineering. The agenda, however, was not restricted to engineering, because the discourse of IPB was based on state modernization through different areas of action, including public education. This latter task would be linked to civilize and control the population. From the ideas discussed and recorded in the minutes of IPB, we seek to understand the thinking of its members on ways of disseminating scientific knowledge. "Popularize" science, ie, disseminate and make it clear to the population, would be a starting point to solve what they perceived national problems in that historical context.