Um museu sobre rodas
ZikaBus uma estratégia itinerante de interiorização da divulgação científica e educação em saúde no Paraná, Brasil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33871/23594381.2026.24.1.11836Abstract
Arboviral diseases transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, particularly dengue, represent one of the major public health challenges in Brazil, requiring integrated strategies that combine health education, social mobilisation, and access to high-quality scientific information. In this context, scientific outreach plays a fundamental role in bridging academic knowledge and the everyday experiences of communities, thereby fostering civic engagement in the prevention and control of these conditions. This article presents and analyses the LabMóvel ZikaBus project, an itinerant museum installed in an adapted minibus, designed to expand scientific outreach and health education across inland regions of the state of Paraná, Brazil. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, based on the systematisation of the activities carried out by the project throughout 2024 in public schools, scientific events, and initiatives linked to the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS). The study describes the visitation models, exhibition resources, and the strategies of scientific mediation and citizen science adopted by the project. The results indicate that ZikaBus contributed to expanding access to scientific information in territories historically distant from major centers of science, reaching more than nine thousand visitors across different regions of the state. The findings suggest that the combination of itinerancy, interactivity, and citizen participation enhances public engagement and promotes a critical understanding of arboviral diseases and their prevention strategies. In conclusion, ZikaBus is established as a relevant practice in scientific outreach and health education, with strong potential for replication in other educational and territorial contexts.