So Far ... So Close. Articulations Between Science and Technology Popularization and Educational Systems in Colombia/Tan Lejos ... Tan Cerca. Articulaciones Entre la Popularizacion de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia y Los Sistemas Educativos en Colombia.. (Essays/Ensayos/Ensaios‪)‬

SUMMARY During the last 15 years Latin America has witnessed the proliferation of experiences and programs of science and technology (S&T) popularization, such as science museums, research promotion fairs among the new generations and products for massive dissemination. While these experiences have been promoted mainly by official S&T organisms, they are active in the educational field. The articulation between the two areas (education and S&T promotion) has been little explored in the realm of social studies of science. Reassuming the thoughts about the expansion and modernization of educational systems as development strategies, this essay intends to establish the points of contact between both fields and the consolidation of S&T popularization in countries such as Colombia. Its fundamental thesis is that in these contexts, such articulation has operated through an educational positioning of S&T popularization and weaves in a dialogue with, and as a response to the discourse of the crisis in the school. As an argument for this position the Colombian S&T and educational policies between 1994 and 2006 are reviewed, pointing out some documents recently sanctioned, as well as the international policies promoted by multilateral organizations which have a national inherence. This revision is placed in a dialog with ideas that have been built up about popularization, mainly in the Latin American environment.