El Mes de la Entomología: acercando el laboratorio de investigación cientí耀ca a las escuelas de nivel inicial de la Patagonia Entomology Month: Bringing Scienti耀c Research Closer to Elementary Schools in Patagonia

As science researchers we believe that teaching Natural Sciences at elementary school level is both a challenge for teachers and an excellent opportunity to establish the foundations of scienti�耀c thinking. “The Entomology Month” was a project, carried out by researchers and scholars from CONICET and INTA Bariloche, whose main objective was to improve the existing knowledge about insect biology. Activities were addressed to teachers and elementary school students from Bariloche and rural areas in NW Patagonia. The positive aspects of insects were especially highlighted, by enhancing their biological and applied importance, as well as their diversity and abundance. Twelve out of the 55 invited schools (both private and public) and 600 students were counted among the participants. The “Entomology Month” served both to address local scientist dif�耀culties and to bring closer the �耀gure of the scientist to teachers and students.