At a party attended by seven rectors – three in person and four virtually – the series of celebrations that will mark Unicamp’s 60th anniversary began on Wednesday night (8). Rector Paulo Cesar Montagner and general coordinator Fernando Coelho launched a commemorative stamp and a exclusive website for the date, where the academic community and people outside the University will be able to follow the anniversary program, which will only be concluded on October 5, 2026. The opening event was held at the Teatro de Arena do Ciclo Básico with lots of music and artistic interventions, and was also marked by the appreciation of the University's memory and reflections on its future.
"Celebrating Unicamp's 60th anniversary is recognizing a trajectory that goes beyond the scope of a single university," said Montagner. "It's celebrating Brazil's scientific, cultural, and social heritage, with repercussions that reach the world," he added.
The rector reviewed the university's history. He recalled the determination of pioneer Zeferino Vaz; spoke about the progress made in program creation; the fight for autonomy; and major challenges, such as confronting the COVID-19 pandemic. "Celebrating Unicamp's 60th anniversary, therefore, is honoring a trajectory of autonomy, excellence, and social commitment," he summarized.
A roughly 10-minute video shows the beginning of the occupation of the area where the Barão Geraldo campus in Campinas is now located, right up to the present day. "The video is a clear example of what this university has achieved in 60 years," said Coelho. "It began as a sugarcane plantation and, over time, has built itself—in buildings, people, and knowledge. Today, it boasts a brilliant track record in teaching, research, and outreach; a university recognized in Brazil and abroad, and strongly open to society," he added. "Therefore, this beautiful collective project called Unicamp will be celebrated in grand style," he explained.
For Professor Antônio José de Almeida Meirelles – who headed the University between 2021 and 2025 – Unicamp has always known how to combine vocations and, therefore, is strong in diverse areas. Meirelles stated that the University fought for autonomy, gave voice to movements for inclusion, and contributed decisively to solving major national problems. "New generations need to live up to this legacy," he urged.
Rector from 1990 to 1994, Professor Carlos Vogt gave a video testimonial. He recounted arriving at Unicamp in October 1969. "I arrived on foot, along a dirt road with lots of colonial grass. The campus was a pasture," he recalled. "Today, we have a university that stands out among Brazilian and international universities," he concluded.
José Tadeu Jorge, who served as rector twice—from 2005 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2017—recounted arriving at the University shortly after Vogt, in March 1971. “Here [on campus] was absolutely nothing. And today, look what it has become,” he said in astonishment.
In a recorded statement shown on the big screen, Professor Marcelo Knobel, who served as rector from 2017 to 2021, said that one of Unicamp's essential characteristics is its ability to engage with society, and that this must be preserved. "Unicamp is fundamental to the development of São Paulo and Brazil," he said.
Also via video, Professor Fernando Ferreira Costa – rector between 2009 and 2013 – said he was “enormously proud” to have been part of Unicamp’s history, while Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, rector between 2002 and 2005, highlighted Unicamp’s capacity for training.
Social Sciences students Beatriz Prado and Lucas Heitor Lopes Silva watched the ceremony from the stands. "I was passing by when the people [from the Free School of Music] started rehearsing. I stopped and stayed," Silva said. Prado says she was also at the event by chance, but ended up staying. "I knew there would be anniversary celebrations, but I didn't remember it was today," she confessed. "But I know there are many activities planned throughout the year, right?" she added.
The commemorative stamp
The celebration included the launch of a 60th anniversary stamp. According to Coelho, the logo evokes the idea of connection, like a link in a chain, but it can also evoke the concept of continuity, of infinity. "It makes us think of a continuous process of interaction," he explained.
Coelho also announced the start of operations of a website which will house all the information about the anniversary-related events. "Go there, see what's happening throughout the year, and make suggestions," he urged.
Musical programming
The Transverse Flute class at Unicamp's Free School of Music (ELM) kicked off the cultural program by welcoming Blue Échos – a duo formed by singer Laura Kimmel and guitarist Leandro Ligocki. The group performed works by Bach and Bizet, among others. Singer-songwriter Guga Costa – who is dedicated to fostering dialogue between popular and classical music – sang the Brazilian national anthem.
The festival concluded with a performance by the Bloco do Cupinzeiro (Cupinzeiro Block) and a circus performance by four stilt performers—the Pernaltas—all former Unicamp students. Founded in 2002, the block is part of the Núcleo Cupinzeiro, which has been researching and creating Brazilian popular music for 20 years.
Watch the video produced by the SEC.
Cover photo:
