Brazilian Academy of Sciences A BRIEF NOTE 2 Message from the President The Brazilian Academy of Sciences (BAS) will soon become 100 years old. These years witnessed an enormous advance in Science, Technology and Innovation in the World as well as in Brazil. I am happy to say that, Altogether, our Acad- The Academy 3 the Academy has decisive- emy is deeply committed not ly contributed to the main only to the development of is committed to events that have made Brazil Science, Technology and In- the sustainable one of the most productive novation in Brazil but also development of the nations that participate in to the strengthening of a planet, with social the scientific development of global knowledge-based so- inclusion and with our globalized world. Among ciety. In both cases the Acad- them, the creation of our Na- emy is committed with the the eradication of tional Research Council and, sustainable development of poverty and hunger more recently, the creation the planet, with social inclu- These contributions ad- of the Sectorial Funds that sion and with the eradication dress main issues in different substantially changed the of poverty and hunger, thus strategic areas, reflecting the Brazilian System of Science, contributing towards a better position of the scientific com- Technology and Innovation quality of life for all. munity related to the process (STI)through quite innovative It is worth mentioning of sustainable development financial instruments. that in the past decade the in its three pillars: economic In the international Academy adopted a proactive growth, social inclusion and landscape BAS became a posture seeking to provide conservation of the environ- very significant player tak- solutions to important prob- ment. The results have been ing part in the main interna- lems and aiming to contrib- most appreciated by our so- tional scientific fora such as ute effectively to the design ciety and, we hope, it might the Global Network of Sci- of public policies geared to- be of interest to the world ence Academies (IAP), the wards improving the quality as well. Inter- Academy Council (IAC), of life in Brazil. These actions With this booklet we the STS Forum, the Academy are conducted by working provide a glimpse at our of Sciences for the Develop- groups composed by Acade- Academy´s multiple activi- ing World (TWAS), the Inter- micians and by recognized ties, both at local and glob- national Council for Science outstanding specialists when- al scenarios. (ICSU) and the World Science ever needed. Jacob Palis Forum (WSF). 4 A Brief History BAS was founded in May, 1916, in Rio de Janeiro, at the time the capital of the Federal Republic. It was named Brazilian Society for Sciences and comprised three sections (Mathematics, Physical-Chemical Sciences and Biological Sciences). The BAS today Picture of the first headquarter and the new building BAS will soon occupy 5 Past Future First headquarter New building The main objectives of the Society were odical (Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências) to encourage its members to pursue scientific that exists until today. The second period was research and to diffuse the notion of science as marked by the role of the Academy in influenc- a factor promoting prosperity and the develop- ing the federal government to create an institu- ment of the Country. Although support and aid tional framework to support scientific activities, from the government were expected, the Acad- in disseminating scientific education and in rec- emy was structured as a private, legally inde- ognizing outstanding scientists in the Brazilian pendent organization, responsible to appoint incipient scientific community. The third period, its own administrative officers and to draw up which started in the early 70´s, was marked by its own rules. the increasing recognition by the Brazilian gov- It is adequate to say that the history of ernment and society of the importance of BAS the Academy can be divided into three periods: as a unique think tank that plays an important from its foundation to 1951 when the landmark role as a Science adviser to the government and was the publication of a regular scientific peri- Brazilian society. 6 Universal health care, water resourc- es and nanotechnology are some of the present concerns of BAS Mission The mission of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences - BAS is to promote Science, Technology and Innovation in the Country through the recognition of merit of top Brazilian researchers, as well as through the enhancement of scientific activities in all the fields of knowledge. The Academy adopts butions derived from specific a proactive posture seeking approaches of different stra- to provide solutions to im- tegic areas based on scien- portant problems that affect tific evidence and on sound Brazilian society, aiming at methods, thus reflecting the effectively contributing to position of our scientific com- the establishment of nation- munity related to the process al public policies based on of sustainable development. sound Science. These contri- 8 Membership and Organization BAS congregates scientists in ten areas: Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Social Sciences. Santos Dumont (previous page), Albert Einstein, Marie Curie and Carlos Chagas were distinguished members of BAS. 9 Full Members are elect- entists who have effectively the different regions of the ed by their own colleagues in contributed to the develop- Country, appointed by the one of the specialized areas. ment of Science in Brazil, such Regional Vice Presidencies, Each year Full Members are as Marie Curie, Albert Ein- and elected for a period of invited to recommend can- stein, Rita Montalccini, Gug- five years non renewable. didates for election as Full lielmo Marconi Daniel Bovet, The Academy is led by a and Corresponding Members. Jacques-Louis Lions and Ber- Board of Directors composed New members are annually nardo Houssay, as well as Col- by a President, a Vice-Pres- elected by the General As- laborating Members, persons ident, five directors and six sembly, which is the supreme who have rendered conspicu- Regional Vice Presidents. body of the Academy, taking ous services to the cause of The Board is elected ev- into account the recommen- National Science. Another ery three years with reelection dations of the Selection Com- category is Corporate Mem- being allowed. Aside from the mittee. Among the most pres- bers, created for enterprises Board of Directors the institu- tigious national members we that support the activities of tion has two others institution- may mention Oswaldo Cruz, the Academy. al instances: the Audit Coun- Carlos Chagas, Santos Du- Finally a newly estab- cil, elected for a three years mont and other personalities. lished category - Affiliate term and the Advisory Council Other categories of Members - was created to in- formed by 25 members. membership are: Correspond- corporate in the membership ing Members, foreign sci- talented young scientists of The BAS headquarter is located downtown Rio de Janeiro and will soon occupy a beautiful Eclectic style building. Rio de Janeiro is home of some of the most important Science, Technology and Innovation Institutions in Brazil. 12 National & Regional Activities and Programs The most important event of the BAS´ calendar is the Magna Meeting, which is convened every May associated to the induction of the new members. In this occasion the Academy holds a three days scientific seminar with multidisciplinary and comprehensive themes. Progress and Prospects of Science in Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean and Prof. Yuan T. Lee in our Magna Conference’s poster 13 The annual attendance of the BAS Magna Meeting is of circa 600 participants This event is an excellent opportunity In the environmental area the current for the interaction among all members and for study groups are: Amazon, Water Resources their dialogue with authorities and the high and Global Change. In the field of Health, BAS level representatives from the private sector study groups not only tackled peculiar prob- as well as representatives of the scientific and lems of the developing world, such as neglect- technological realm. The annual attendance ed diseases, but also addressed issues that are of the meeting is of circa 600 participants. present all over the world, like non-communi- Another regular annual meeting is the confer- cable diseases. Concerning Education, the pres- ence “Progress and Prospects of Science in Bra- ent study groups and programs are related not zil, Latin America and the Caribbean. only with Science Education but deals with oth- In order to contribute to the sustainable er general issues of the Brazilian educational development of the Country, BAS created sev- system, covering from early childhood learning eral working groups that are related to the processes to graduate courses structures. The most important issues for our Society. The cur- Academy is also concerned with issues related rent study groups may be classified according to new technologies and the frontiers of sci- to the following areas: Environment, Health, ence. At present there are study groups in the Education and New Technologies. areas of Biofuels, Nanomaterials and Informa- tion and Communication Technologies. 14 International Relations BAS is an active participant in several central international organizations in the area of Science and Technology. It is the National Representative at the International Council for Science (ICSU) and a member of the World Science Forum (WSF) Steering Committee. Prof. Goldemberg receiving a prize from the hands of the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Singh and Prof. Palis receiving the Balzan Prize from the president of Italy BAS being represented in International Fora 15 The Brazilian Academy was one of the sponsors of the creation of one of the most prestigious international organizations involv- ing Science Academies: IAP (the Global Network of Science Academies) and its subsidiary bod- ies: IAC (International Council for Sciences) and IAMP (Interacademy Medical Panel).