Brazil's scientific community is under pressure. Each year there is an increase in its contribution to international science and in the number of students who are trained to do research and teach at an advanced level. Most of these activities are carried out in state and federal universities, but with government funding that has decreased by more than 70% since 1996. Interviews with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and professors in one university department with a strong research tradition illustrate the level of stress engendered by the conflict between increasing competition and diminishing resources, and serve to underscore the negative effects on creativity and on the tendency to choose science as a career. Correspondence

Neste artigo analisamos as relações e resultados obtidos por cursistas de disciplinas de um curso de formação continuada para professores da Educação Básica na modalidade de educação a distância. Nosso trabalho se desenvolve ao longo de vários períodos do referido curso. A análise da estrutura das disciplinas, o perfil dos tutores e dos cursistas nos dão um panorama das características deste grupo. Esperamos poder contribuir para a elucidação de alguns pontos na discussão sobre as características relevantes de tutores em EaD. Os tutores observados, em sua maioria, não apresentavam todas as características que tomamos como relevantes para tutores em EaD, ou seja, ser especialista na área em que atua, estar atuando com pesquisa na academia e ter experiência prévia em EaD. Os tutores especialistas em suas áreas, com experiência em EaD e com atividade acadêmica constante, mesmo atendendo um número, em alguns casos, quatro vezes maior que seus colegas que não apresentaram esta característica, apresentaram turmas com uma evasão significativamente menor e sem reprovação, para este grupo.

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The number of Brazilian scientific publications increased from 0.29% to 0.56% of the worldwide total during the 1981-1993 period. There was a decrease of the funds allocated to most scientific activities, except for that allocated for training of new scientists. The numbers of research fellowships and scientific publications increased at the same ratio during the period. The pattern of scientific publications and the number of fellowship granted along the years in the different fields of research were analyzed. The data presented indicate that even in a period of economic crisis, a selective investment of funds in human resources may lead to an increase of the scientific productivity of a country in all science fields.

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We evaluate a new approach to teaching the basic biochemistry mechanisms that regulate the biology of Triatominae, major vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. We have designed and used a comic book, "Carlos Chagas: 100 years after a hero's discovery" containing scientific information obtained by seven distinguished contemporary Brazilian researchers working with Triatominaes. Students (22) in the seventh grade of a public elementary school received the comic book. The study was then followed up by the use of Concept Maps elaborated by the students. Six Concept Maps elaborated by the students before the introduction of the comic book received an average score of 7. Scores rose to an average of 45 after the introduction of the comic book. This result suggests that a more attractive content can greatly improve the knowledge and conceptual understanding among students not previously exposed to insect biochemistry. In conclusion, this study illustrates an alternative to current strategies of teaching about the transmission of neglected diseases. It also promotes the diffusion of the scientific knowledge produced by Brazilian researchers that may stimulate students to choose a scientific career.Copyright V C 2014 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 42(4): 323-330, 2014.

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