https://www.popscijournal.ir/ Popularization of Science en daily 1 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_234849.html Subject: Scientific associations play a pivotal role in national science and technology (S&T) systems by generating knowledge, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and linking academia, industry, and government, thereby advancing scientific progress. Examining the experience of countries with mature S&T systems offers valuable insights for rethinking policies governing such associations.Purpose: This comparative study analyzes governance mechanisms of scientific associations in Australia and New Zealand to identify effective models that can inform policy and performance improvement in Iran.Method: Employing a qualitative approach, the study applies a three-tier analytical framework encompassing policy, structure and governance, and operational processes. Data were collected through content analysis of policy and organizational documents from both countries and interpreted via comparative analysis.Findings: The success of associations in both contexts rests on institutional autonomy, diversified funding, transparency and accountability, and dynamic stakeholder engagement. Australia’s legal framework features a two-tier (national–state) structure that ensures coherence and oversight, whereas New Zealand’s system is characterized by greater legal flexibility and broader voluntary participation. Synthesizing these strengths—Australia’s strategic centralization and New Zealand’s operational flexibility—offers a robust model for reforming Iran’s scientific association governance.Results: Developing a context-sensitive governance model for Iran’s scientific associations requires an intelligent blend of national policy coherence and local/professional autonomy. This “centralized–flexible” model can balance system-wide accountability with domain-specific adaptability. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_237232.html Objective: The aim of this article is to analyze the content of elementary school science textbooks from the perspective of concepts related to "clean earth".Methodology: The method of the present study is content analysis and the statistical population: includes science textbooks from the first to sixth grades of elementary school. Data were collected and coded using a content analysis form and themes related to the environment (natural resources, pollution, recycling, efficient consumption).Findings: While some concepts such as natural resources and water are relatively covered, topics such as climate change, recycling and wildlife protection have received less attention. Natural resources are ranked highest with 25% and 35 items and play a prominent role in the content examined. Areas related to environmental pollution with 15%, efficient energy consumption with 11%, recycling with 7% and wildlife protection with 6% constitute smaller parts of the content, but still have significant importance in the analysis.Results: In addition to the broad coverage of general science concepts, environmental issues have a significant share in the content studied. However, climate change and practical environmental education have received less attention, and modern environmental issues are rarely seen in Iranian textbooks and are far from global standards. These results can be a basis for reviewing and enriching the content of elementary school experimental science textbooks and strengthening environmental education in these textbooks. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_234854.html The present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the flipped classroom teaching method in academic self-efficiency, Passion for education and achievement among the girl students of Farhangyan University, Ahvaz, Iran. Tapping the analysis of covariance for this purpose, a quasi-experimental research design with a control group was implemented. The statistical population comprised of all the girl students of Farhangiyan University, Ahvaz, Iran, of whom 85 individuals were initially selected via purposive sampling. experimental (n=43 people) and control (n=42). The research tools were the Morgan-Jinks Student Efficacy Scale (MJSES) and the researcher-made Academic Achievement Questionnaire (AAQ). The experimental group attended 16 weekly 90-minute sessions based on the flipped classroom teaching method, but the control group did not receive this instructional strategy. To analyze the data, an inferential statistical method, viz., multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), was recruited. The statistical analyses were further performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics v.25 software package. The study results revealed that the flipped classroom teaching method could boost academic self-efficacy, Passion for education and achievement among students. Moreover, applying a model established on the flipped classroom teaching method during student teacher training programs can help improve their professional competencies and improve their educational status and self-efficacy. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_234853.html Introduction: In recent decades, computational power has been recognized as a key driver of technological innovation and economic growth. According to the 2024 Global Network Readiness Index, Iran ranks 79th out of 133 countries, indicating existing technological capacity but weaknesses in effective utilization. Enhancing technological infrastructure and computational power is essential for the development of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analytics.Objective: The purpose of this research is to identify and model computational power challenges in Iran using interpretive structural equations(ISM) and provide an analytical framework for policy and decision-making in this field.Method: This applied and descriptive research was conducted with a mixed approach (qualitative and quantitative). In the qualitative part, the opinions and experiences of experts who had at least five years of specialized experience in information technology and computing power were collected to identify key factors and their relationships. In the quantitative part, interrelationship matrixes and access matrixes were created based on qualitative data and using mathematical calculations, ranking and analysis of the factors' impact were performed.Findings: Six main challenges were identified: infrastructure, financial issues, sanctions, human resources, cybersecurity threats, and high energy consumption. Results revealed that sanctions and the shortage of specialized human resources, with the highest influence score (5) and dependency score (2), act as independent factors and drive other challenges.Conclusion: The study presents an innovative conceptual model of computational power challenges in Iran. This model can guide policymakers and planners in prioritizing investments, developing infrastructure, and strengthening specialized human resources, thereby enhancing the country’s capacity in emerging technologies. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_225989.html Objective: National infrastructures of organizational governance, by establishing a robust framework, contribute to enhancing transparency and accountability in organizations and companies. These infrastructures, while ensuring justice and sustainability, also strengthen productivity and public trust at both national and international levels. The aim of this research is to examine national organizational governance infrastructures in different countries and to explain the model of national organizational governance infrastructures through the analysis of related studies.Method: This study employed the seven-step meta-synthesis method proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso to analyze and synthesize the results of 117 related studies conducted between 1990 and 2024.Findings: After multiple rounds of reviewing and refining the coded data, 858 characteristics were extracted, which were further reviewed and revised for more precise analysis. The identified codes were grouped into three main categories of infrastructures based on conceptual similarities, and ultimately, 46 concepts were divided into three key groups. The results indicate that national organizational governance infrastructures are classified into three main levels. The first level includes political infrastructures, which are divided into two parts: policy-making infrastructures, where legislative bodies and the Ministry of Economy and Finance play a central role, and legal and regulatory infrastructures, which encompass 20 types of laws and regulations aimed at creating an efficient legal system for companies and organizations. The second level consists of regulatory infrastructures, including 12 main types of infrastructures that directly impact economic health and transparency. The third level pertains to facilitative infrastructures, which include institutions such as shareholder rights associations, corporate governance commissions, and educational and advisory bodies, and strengthen the foundations of transparency and accountability in organizations by promoting effective management and transparency. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_225990.html Objective: The purpose of this research was to design an interpretive structural model of factors affecting venture capital in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Science and Technology Park of Islamic Azad University. Conceptual framework: The current research is of mixed type (qualitative and quantitative). In the first phase, a qualitative research method was conducted using thematic analysis, and in the second phase, a quantitative method was conducted based on interpretive structural modeling. The statistical community in both qualitative and quantitative sections, due to the expert-centeredness of the interpretive structural modeling approach, formed experts, which included academic experts and administrators of Science and Technology Park of Islamic Azad University. The purposeful sampling method was of criterion type (the criterion of having more than 10 years of experience) until reaching theoretical saturation. The number of samples included 30 people. Sampling method in the quantitative part, due to the expert-centeredness of the interpretive structural modeling approach, the experts were in the qualitative part (N=20). Two methods of theme analysis (Max QDI software) and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) (Excel software) were used for data analysis. Findings: 6 main themes of factors affecting venture capital in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Science and Technology Park of Islamic Azad University have been identified. The individual characteristics of managers, the nature of the project and environmental factors are in the independent cluster, that is, it has a great influence on other factors, and other factors have little influence on it, and support, investment experience, and networking are in the dependent cluster, that is, it is influenced by There are other factors and they have little effect on other factors.Results: The results of this research can lead to the improvement of performance in the field of risky investment as well as proper support for entrepreneurs in science. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_234850.html Purpose: This study was conducted with the aim of designing a professional flourishing model for the faculty members of Islamic Azad University.Method:The research approach is qualitative and based on the meta-synthesis method. The research population includes two parts: documents, articles, theses, books, and scientific sources related to the research topic from the years 2011–2025 (Gregorian calendar) and 2011–2025 (solar Hijri calendar), and interviews with three groups of university experts. Sampling of scientific resources was performed purposively and aligned with the meta-synthesis approach. Additionally, purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to identify research participants, continuing until data saturation was reached, resulting in a final sample of 17 participants. Data were analyzed using Sandelowski et al.'s (2007) seven-stage approach.Findings: According to the findings, the professional flourishing model for the faculty members of Islamic Azad University consists of three key components: "Preconditions for Professional Flourishing," "Components of Professional Flourishing," and "Outcomes of Professional Flourishing," which are explained through 14 subcategories and 78 concepts.Results: The results indicate that achieving professional flourishing requires the provision of institutional, cultural, and motivational foundations, strengthening educational, ethical, and research infrastructures, as well as attaining strategic outcomes at individual and organizational levels. This model can serve as a comprehensive framework for policy-making, planning, and evaluating the professional flourishing of Islamic Azad University faculty members and can enhance their role in knowledge production, training committed and specialized human resources, scientific leadership, and addressing social and cultural issues within the higher education system of the country. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_231498.html Purpose: One of the issues that scientific communities in universities and higher education centers are seriously facing is knowledge sharing, which plays an essential role in the development of academic social capital. One of the influential variables in knowledge sharing is cyber ethics and its components.Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the Factors affecting knowledge sharing with an emphasis on cyber ethics. Method: The current research was conducted with a quantitative approach and a survey technique. Its statistical population includes 5589 graduate students of Tabriz University, and 650 people have been selected as the sample size using proportional stratified sampling. The data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using Spss software. Findings: The research findings indicate that there is a positive and significant correlation between cyber ethics and its dimensions with knowledge sharing and its dimensions. The results of the Pearson test show that there is a positive and significant correlation between the variables of social trust, organizational culture, religiosity and knowledge sharing. The results of the regression analysis showed that 29% of the variance of knowledge sharing is explained by the variables of social trust, organizational culture and cyber ethics.Results: Therefore, based on the findings of this research, it is suggested that the university provides suitable platforms for tacit and explicit knowledge sharing. In this regard, the research and technology department of the university should provide online knowledge sharing platforms with the information resources of graduate students and professors. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_231499.html The present study aimed to develop and validate a tool to measure students' awareness of the use of artificial intelligence in chemistry education.This research employed a mixed-methods approach (quantitative-qualitative). The qualitative population consisted of relevant research studies conducted between 2010 and 2024, from which 16 studies were purposefully selected. The quantitative phase involved chemistry education students who entered Farhangian University in 2021 from across the country, with 129 students selected through sampling to complete the questionnaire.The qualitative data highlighted various applications of AI in chemistry education, such as Conceptual application, independent and active learning, cognitive analysis, increasing conceptual understanding, educational support, data analysis and self-learning, and educational creativity and interaction. Quantitative findings confirmed the content validity of the questionnaire through expert review, and its convergent and discriminant validity was verified using Smart PLS. Reliability was established via Cronbach’s alpha (0.926) and composite reliability (0.933). The path coefficient between artificial intelligence applications in chemistry education and the components of conceptual application with a value of (0.812), independent and active learning (0.718), cognitive analysis (0.763), strengthening conceptual understanding (0.704), educational support (0.745), data analysis and self-learning (0.666), and creativity and educational interaction (0.591) was obtained at a significant level. Additionally, the overall model fit index (GOF = 0.591) indicated a good model fit. Therefore, the results suggest that the developed tool is appropriate and effective for measuring the extent of AI usage in chemistry education and can be used for further research and educational development. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_231500.html Purpose: Relating mathematics to life in problems makes mathematics applicable to children. Given the importance of problems in mathematics, the aim of the present study is to investigate the problem posing ability of elementary education student-teachers in problem solving. Given the key role of arithmetic and addition and subtraction, this study was conducted on the problem solving ability in addition and subtraction.Method: The study was conducted using a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population of the study was female student-teachers in the undergraduate program of elementary education at Farhangian University of Guilan who were studying in the second semester of the academic year 2024. The sample size was 120 people who were selected by simple random sampling method and the sample size was obtained using the Morgan table. Each of them was asked to design a problem in addition or subtraction. The problems were classified into three categories: change, combination, and comparison, according to the model of Riley et al., and examined in terms of whether they were open-ended or closed-ended. Also, using Shao's theory, the frequency of each case were calculated in terms of whether the problem was of the pure mathematical type, a practical situation, or a real situation. Findings: The results showed that in 120 problems proposed by student-teachers, 68 percent were in the change category, 25 percent were in the combination category, and only 8 percent were in the comparison category. Also, all the problems were of the practical situation. In addition, all the questions were closed-ended and no open-ended questions were designed.Results: The analysis showed that the questions posed by student-teachers do not have the necessary variety. It is recommended to design courses with the topic of becoming more familiar with the types of questions and problem posing, or courses to increase their capabilities. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_234852.html Subject: Illiteracy is a key challenge in the global arena, especially in developing countries, not only hindering social and economic progress, but also creating the basis for cultural and social inequalities. In this regard, the Literacy Movement Organization has initiated measures to improve the literacy level of illiterate and low-literate adults. The “Second Chance” publication, as one of the effective tools of this movement, has been designed to prevent a return to illiteracy among adults. Evaluating the quality of this publication can help identify its strengths and weaknesses and provide innovative solutions to increase its impact on the audience.Methodology: It is qualitative and content analysis. The statistical population includes all published volumes (88 issues). We reached 12 selected issues with theoretical saturation by random sampling. The analysis was conducted using Adobe Photoshop, AdobeInDesign, Figma, HemingwayEditor, NVivo, Canva, GIMP, AdobeXD, Grammarly, and Voyant Tools.Findings: We witness the high visual quality of the publication and the growing trend in the use of attractive images and graphics. Optimal use of white space on the pages and the proportionality of page design with thematic themes are clearly visible. The vocabulary diversity in the linguistic content is weak and requires serious revision. The messages presented need further simplification to be understood by the audience. The thematic coverage of the publication shows inequality in the presentation of themes; 40% of the content is focused on individual issues, 10% on economic issues, 20% on social issues, and 30% of the total content is focused on politics and political figures.Conclusion: Excessive focus on political issues and lack of attention to economic issues can negatively affect its effectiveness. This indicates the need to redefine priorities and balance content delivery. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_223874.html Objective: The purpose of the present study is to examine the mediating role of interaction with patrons in the dissemination and promotion of the impact of work-life quality in public libraries of Qom Province.Method: The research population consisted of librarians working in public libraries of Qom Province, totaling 112 individuals, with sampling performed randomly. The data collection method was field-based, using standardized questionnaires designed by Achiu (1980) and Niehoff & Moorman (1993). Data were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software.Findings: The results of the study indicate that all the research hypotheses were confirmed. Accordingly, there is a positive and significant relationship between work-life quality and librarians’ interaction with patrons, as well as with the utilization of human resources in public libraries of Qom Province. Furthermore, findings demonstrate that interaction with patrons has a significant mediating role in transferring and disseminating the effect of work-life quality on human resource utilization. This suggests that enhancing work-life quality, when accompanied by improved staff interactions with patrons, can lead to greater effectiveness in human resource productivity and satisfaction. Conclusion: In line with the obtained results, the present study shows that work-life quality plays a predictive role in determining organizational variables related to human resource productivity. This impact was assessed as balanced and significant; meaning that improvements in employees' work-life quality, within the context of effective communication with patrons and under the guidance of senior managers of public libraries in Qom Province, can lead to increased human resource utilization. In other words, improving working conditions will be more effective when, alongside it, strengthening human interactions with patrons as a channel for transfer and dissemination is also prioritized by organizational management. https://www.popscijournal.ir/article_234851.html Objective:This study was designed to investigate the status of astrobiology education in Iranian schools and to assess students’ knowledge, attitudes, and interest toward this emerging interdisciplinary field. Astrobiology, which explores the possibility of life beyond Earth, can play a significant role in fostering scientific thinking and enhancing students’ motivation to learn science.Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and interest of Iranian elementary and lower secondary school students towards astrobiology concepts and to conduct a qualitative analysis of the existing gaps and deficiencies in their scientific understanding.Method: The research was conducted using a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach. Quantitative data were collected through grade-specific researcher-designed questionnaires administered to 320 students. Qualitative data from the open-ended responses in the questionnaires were analyzed using thematic analysis and coded in three stages (open, axial, and selective).Findings: The findings indicated a very high level of interest among students (78% in elementary and 81% in lower secondary school) in areas related to space and extraterrestrial life. However, their level of knowledge and scientific understanding was assessed to be very limited, and it was found that their information is primarily shaped by general and non-scientific media. Furthermore, major weaknesses were observed in the areas of critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and understanding interdisciplinary connections.Conclusion: The existence of a deep gap between students' innate interest and the lack of structured education in the field of astrobiology presents an educational opportunity for Iran's science education system. Accordingly, a revision of educational content, teacher empowerment, and the development of innovative learning resources are essential for the effective integration of these concepts into the science curriculum.