Indigenous and peasant undergraduate students in Brazil’s Midwest region constructing entomological knowledge based on their prior knowledge

Abstract

This study presents findings from research conducted with indigenous and peasant students (n = 53) in their first year of the Rural Education Degree (Countryside Education) program at a public university in the Brazilian Midwest. We investigated previous knowledge and methods for developing entomological knowledge using structured questionnaires with open, closed, and multiple-choice questions. As a result, we discovered 24 distinct types of animals known as insects. Indigenous peoples conceptualized insects using ecological principles, whereas peasants approached the subject from health and emotional perspectives. Our findings revealed that indigenous students’ prior entomological knowledge was primarily developed within their families, while peasant students developed it at school. This study provides important insights into pre-existing knowledge and the development of entomological understanding in an intercultural setting. It encourages reflection on the interactions of traditions, folk knowledge, and scientific understanding.