Identity representations and public dissemination of science: cultural policies and heritage

Abstract

This work reflects on the activity "What represents us?" carried out by researchers from the Institute of Anthropological Sciences (ICA) at the University of Buenos Aires in Parque Rivadavia during the festivals Ciencia Paliza II (2019) and Elijo Crecer. Ciencia por Argentina (2024). The aim was, on one hand, to shed light on scientific work within contexts of political and economic complexity during the administrations of Mauricio Macri (2015–2019) and Javier Milei (from 2023 onward). On the other hand, it sought to reflect on identity constructions linked to cultural and heritage policies with visitors to the stand.

Using an ethnographic and participatory approach, responses to the question "What represents us?" were analyzed through the selection of images of identity references, both legitimized by the state and those that are invisible or contested by different groups. The results highlight two key aspects: first, the need for the dissemination of social sciences to be public, systematic, and participatory in order to strengthen the interaction and training of social scientists. Second, the experience revealed a gap between initial expectations and unexpected findings related to the topics studied, uncovering new dimensions of analysis and reflection.