Classification Thematic Areas of Knowledge

Proposal Fabien Bourlon, November 2018

The idea of segmentation of areas of scientific knowledge is to be able to generate filters for the analysis and enhancement of those issues associated with the objectives proposed by the various initiatives of the actors of the International Network of Scientific Tourism. Any classification is imperfect and subject to debates, which are particularly important when promoting multisectorial, integrated and holistic scientific approaches. However, the classification that we propose seeks to help organize the initiatives according to their main characteristics and to strengthen the processes of generation and dissemination of the knowledge that they address as a whole. It is hoped that this will facilitate access and use by visitors of the material made available on the website. It has been decided to give greater emphasis to scientific topics that are more easily linked to field trips and social activities. However, tourism initiatives are not excluded around topics in the field, for example, mathematics, philosophy or personal development.

The proposed classification is based on the standard set by UNESCO, since 1997 and revised several times, for the definition of the “Areas of study and training of the International Standard Classification for Education (ISCED)” in 2013.

We based our proposal on the work of Pastor, Martinez & Iniesta carried out for UNESCO in 2004 and validated by numerous universities. As by the University of the Basque Country in 2007.

For the enhancement of scientific tourism initiatives, it is based on a segmentation modified from the work carried out by the Center for Research on Patagonian Ecosystems in Chile (CIEP (2016). Report Creation of a Scientific Tourism Destination.

Execution analysis of the Project “The Patagonian Archipelagos, international destination for Scientific Tourism”. Coyhaique : Center for Research in Patagonian Ecosystems and O.D.D.T, CIEP & IDB MIF. (2015).

Identification and mapping of “hot spots” for the development of scientific tourism in the Patagonian Archipelagos Destination. O.D.D.T.; Université de Grenoble Alpes; CIEP; Universidad Austral de Chile; Inter-American Development Bank IDB. Coyhaique : Université Grenoble Alpes).

Thus, the proposed classification has 6 thematic areas of knowledge, 24 disciplines and numerous sub-disciplines:

Area of knowledge relevant to Scientific Tourism:

Sections to classify in a general way the initiatives in 6 thematic with the objective of facilitating the reading and search of relevant topics by the user interested in the approach of scientific tourism proposed.