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In this article we reflect on the development of an educational fieldwork conducted along the Ipiranga River, in which we bring the debates concerning History of Science and Environmental Education closer together, by problematizing the social and environmental issues in the city of São Paulo in a contextualized and critical way. To that end, we established the limits for the hydrographic basin by highlighting the headwaters of the Ipiranga River and the changes it has undergone, as well as the political, sanitary and environmental meanings throughout the 20th Century. We associated the environmental issues with the history of two important institutions located along the river: The Botanical Garden and the Museu Paulista’s [São Paulo Museum] arboretum. We highlighted the practices, techniques and scientific representations that were developed on the sites, by valuing them as cultural heritage of the Brazilian science. Resumen En este artículo reflexionamos sobre el desarrollo de un trabajo de campo educativo por el Arroyo do Ipiranga, en la que aproximamos los debates de la historia de las ciencias a la Educación Ambiental, problematizando las cuestiones socioambientales de la ciudad de São Paulo de forma contextualizada y crítica. Delimitamos la cuenca hidrográfica, resaltando las nacientes y las alteraciones en el riacho do Ipiranga y los significados políticos, sanitaristas y ambientales a lo largo del siglo XX. Asociamos las cuestiones ambientales a la historia de dos importantes instituciones ubicadas en el arroyo: el Jardín Botánico y el bosque del Museo Paulista. Evidenciamos las prácticas, técnicas y representaciones científicas desarrolladas en los locales, valorándolas como patrimonios culturales de la ciencia brasileña. Resumo Neste artigo refletimos sobre o desenvolvimento de uma expedição educativa pelo riacho do Ipiranga, na qual aproximamos os debates da história das ciências à Educação Ambiental, problematizando as questões socioambientais da cidade de São Paulo de forma contextualizada e crítica. Para tal, delimitamos a bacia hidrográfica, ressaltando as nascentes e as alterações no riacho do Ipiranga e os significados políticos, científicos, sanitaristas e ambientais ao longo do século XX. Associamos as questões ambientais à história de duas importantes instituições localizadas no riacho: o Jardim Botânico e o bosque do Museu Paulista. Evidenciamos as práticas, técnicas e representações científicas desenvolvidas nos locais, valorizando-as como patrimônios culturais da ciência brasileira.

Over its lifetime, the Butantan Institute (in Sao Paulo) has developed some activities focusing on the study of botany. Within the Institute, the Oswald Cruz Botanical Garden was created amidst the discussions about public health and focused on the study and cultivation of medicinal and poisonous plants. Botanist Frederico Carlos Hoehne, who led the initiative, was recognized by his studies in the area and by his performance in governmental institutions of Sao Paulo at the time. In this paper, we analyze Hoehne’s performance while he was in charge of the Botanical Garden from 1917 to 1924. This study approaches the activities performed in this institution and aims to understand the routine of scientific practices based on the cultivations and on establishing a network with interlocutors. The analysis of the annual reports produced by the Butantan Institute and Hoehne’s publications show how the established objectives were transformed into actions on a daily basis, highlighting the interests related to health and the different uses of the cultivated specimens. The results indicate that, although governmental orientations were important, they were not exclusively considered. The interlocutors of the Botanical Garden, Hoehne’s preferences and the limits imposed by material conditions influenced and helped to delimit what had been done.