La comunicación pública de la ciencia en un caso de controversia ambiental: la megaminería a cielo abierto en la provincia de Río Negro, Argentina.

Abstract

On December 30, 2011, Provincial Law No. 3981/2005 was repealed, which prohibited the use of cyanide or mercury in the territory of the province of Río Negro in mining activity. Along with this repeal, Law No. 4738/2011 was passed, establishing new methodologies for the extraction of minerals in the provincial territory and the creation of the Mining Environmental Assessment Council was established. These modifications in the legislative framework of the province were highly rejected by civil organizations and citizens of the province, causing protests and peaceful marches through different cities of Río Negro, with San Carlos de Bariloche being the epicenter of the mobilizations. From these events a clash arises between the province and part of the residents, regarding the planning and use of the region's natural resources, causing a case of environmental controversy. This work seeks to interpret, through theoretical review, the concepts of environmental justice, controversies and public communication within the framework of the previously mentioned events. Likewise, it is invited to reflect on the role of the communicator and his participation in the dynamics of knowledge circulation during public discussion processes on issues related to science and technology in the framework of an environmental controversy.