Apropiación Social de Conocimiento. Metaverso Panelarte: Experiencia Inmersiva y Reflexión colectiva sobre el patrimonio panelero

Abstract

This report presents the results of a social appropriation of knowledge activity developed within the framework of a Research-Creation project funded by an internal call from Santo Tomás University. The project led to the creation of the Hacienda Panelarte Metaverse, an immersive experience aimed at disseminating panela heritage and seeking to rescue, preserve, and disseminate the memory of panela haciendas as a fundamental part of Colombia's cultural and architectural heritage. The event served a dual purpose: on the one hand, it made the research project's progress visible to the community, and on the other, it promoted dialogue between researchers and the public, facilitating the collection of qualitative assessments from a citizen perspective. The responses demonstrated a high level of interest and appropriation on the part of attendees, who positively valued the use of digital technologies as an innovative resource for disseminating cultural heritage. Approximately 30 people participated in the event, of whom 17 contributed their perceptions through a structured survey. Among the most notable suggestions was the proposal to complement the metaverse content with elements such as the local history of Piedecuesta, architectural plans of the hacienda, technical aspects of the infrastructure, and greater contextualization of the inhabited environment. Technical improvements were also proposed, such as streamlining the timeline and incorporating more audiovisual content. The results obtained constitute valuable input for project feedback, helping to guide future versions of the metaverse and new dissemination strategies. Likewise, they reaffirm the potential of immersive technologies to strengthen processes of social appropriation of knowledge and community recognition of cultural heritage.