History of Physics and Socio-Scientific Issues: Approaching Gender and Social Justice

Abstract

This chapter presents a systematic understanding of how combining Socioscientific Issues (SSI) and History of Physics (HP) episodes can contribute to the advancement of democracy, the improvement of the quality of human life, by discussing proposals to train people committed to social justice and engaged with social transformation. The current scenario of exacerbated denialist movements (such as the anti-vaccine, environmental degradation, and the strengthened extreme right-wing movements all around the globe) produces socio-environmental vulnerability of portions of the population such as differences between certain ethnicities, leading to environmental racism and other social injustices. These inequalities of access and lack of recognition are also present in the erasure and exclusion of women throughout the HP causing gender inequality, bringing the responsibilities of the Physics Education Research (PER) community involvement. Considering that both education and gender equality are key parts for promoting human rights, inclusion, and sustainable development, these sensitive topics can bring discussing issues involving social justice and human rights. Also, promote the debate of how the historical development of Physics contributed to the constitution of global and local exclusionary and unfair systems, by understanding how the HP influenced the clash between forces that shape the world. Aiming at the development of empathy and generating commitment and engagement, this chapter presents a proposal to apply a theoretical framework by using a short narrative on Lise Meitner's contributions to the nuclear fission theory. Furthermore, the context of war, some deletions, values, actions regarding her Jewish family and gender issues involved in the episode are emphasized - implying undue liability and severe consequences for society, and human rights’ violation, approaching issues related to tackling gender bias, which is increasingly urgent within the PER community.