The group originated in the CEAMECIM (Center of Environmental Studies, Science and Mathematics), which was created in 1982 and whose current leader is Maria do Carmo Galiazzi, Ph.D., who works with vice-leader Elisabeth Brandão Schmidt, Ph.D. Its research lines are professional education; experiments in science education; environmental educator and teacher education; and science teacher education and curriculum development. The group’s activities, which are based on critical reflection, cooperation and education through research and action research, have influenced the elementary school system in southern Rio Grande do Sul. CEAMECIM researchers joined the Post-graduate Program in Environmental Education at FURG in 1998, allowing master’s and doctoral students to be integrated into the group. It became the Learning Community in Environmental Education, Science and Mathematics when it adopted Environmental Education (EE) as the core of the school curriculum and as its primary research object. The term “learning communities” is based on the concept proposed by Lave and Wenger (1990). The group collaborates with the Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID),which includes elementary school teachers, college professors and college students (teaching degree). It participates in the Grupo de Trabalho em Educação Ambiental da ANPED (GT22)and in the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). Its research is carried out by 12 researchers and 23 students who have published theses, dissertations and journal articles.

Figura 1. Project of Teacher education: Cirandar-  rodas de investigação desde a escola