A QUICK BREAK FROM FIELDWORK TO TALK ABOUT BRAZILIAN ANTS - AN EXPERIENTIAL ACCOUNT

Ants, like most insects, are often viewed negatively by people. While science outreach efforts have aimed to shift this perception, communities near protected areas, where researchers frequently collect data, are often excluded due to logistical barriers. Motivated by frequent questions and curiosity from locals during fieldwork, we launched an outreach initiative as part of the project “Environmental factors and community structuring mechanisms upon ant community in distinct Brazilian Biomes.” Traveling through the six Brazilian biomes, we engaged with people in discussions about the biology and ecology of ants. Our target audience comprised students from public schools. We chose these locations as they already serve as spaces for knowledge exchange and where we could find a greater number of people gathered together to listen to us. By asking students what they knew about ants, we uncovered mostly negative views and took the opportunity to explain the ecological roles of ants and their importance in the ecosystem. We also shared collected specimens and explained their relevance in simple, relatable language. Overall, we were met with a positive reception from both the students and the schools. Students and teachers expressed their surprise, noting that they were unaware of the diverse capabilities of ants. Based on that, we believe that this kind of outreach initiative plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding, fostering appreciation for the ecological importance of ants while inspiring curiosity about biodiversity conservation.