Desafio da escassez hídrica no município de Tobias Barreto-SE: uma discussão no âmbito das ciências ambientais

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between human beings and water in the face of the challenges imposed by water scarcity in the municipality of Tobias Barreto, Sergipe, Brazil, understanding water as a natural asset essential to life and a central element of socioenvironmental relationships. It is grounded in the proposal of integrating knowledge through the teaching of Environmental Sciences at school, valuing the identity of individuals and restoring otherness in the human–nature relationship. In this context, the dissertation aimed to analyze the ways in which students from Abelardo Barreto do Ros·rio State School relate to issues concerning water access and consumption, investigating how the teaching of Environmental Sciences can contribute to the development of pedagogical strategies aimed at fostering critical awareness regarding the management and conservation of water resources. Accordingly, this research adopted an applied nature with a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach and was characterized as a participant action study, employing participatory research as its methodological framework. This approach emphasized the active involvement of research participants in identifying, analyzing, and addressing problems within a specific social context. This was evidenced by the findings concerning water use and consumption in a scenario of water scarcity, involving approximately 46 students from all firstyear high school classes in both the morning and afternoon shifts, as well as 10 members of the school community, including teachers, coordinators, support staff, residents living in the school's surroundings, and students' family members. In this context, the educational product entitled Infographic: The Relationship Between Water Use and Consumption constitutes the main outcome of this research, aiming to encourage reflection on this relationship based on the information obtained throughout the investigation. Therefore, the study contributed to developing greater sensitivity toward nature by emphasizing educational practices within the school environment, seeking to foster the formation of an ecopolitical, emancipated, active, and participatory individual committed to the sustainable use of water. Furthermore, it contributed to the redefinition of concepts, values, and practices directed toward the rational use of water.