Between the 15th and 19th of July, Unicamp's Institute of Geosciences (IG) hosts the workshop “Environment and Development: Shared 21st Century Sustainability Challenges”, which brings together researchers from São Paulo and British institutions interested in sharing and deepening knowledge. The event was organized by professors Lindon Matias, from the Department of Geography at IG/Unicamp, and Antônio Ioris, from the School of Geography and Planning, in Cardiff, and is part of a series of activities being developed in partnership by the two universities.
Among the participants who were previously selected, there are geographers, architects, social scientists, physicists, anthropologists, among others, from British universities such as Cambridge, Bristol, Newcastle, York and Nottingham, and Brazilian universities such as UFSCAR, UNIFESP, UFABC and UnG, in addition to by researchers from Cemaden and Embrapa. There are representatives from around 20 institutions from the United Kingdom and 12 from Brazil. Researchers will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in lectures, discussions and technical visits to the International HUB for Sustainable Development (HIDS) from Unicamp.
Paulo Artaxo, physicist at USP and renowned researcher in the area of climate change, was the guest of honor to give the workshop's opening lecture. Among the points covered in his presentation, the scientist highlighted the importance of the Amazon, the consequences of its deforestation and the need to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Artaxo commented on the deforestation process in Brazil, which has increased again, and the current position of the Brazilian government. “All changes in public policies go in the direction of eliminating environmental protection legislation, facilitating the unrestrained economic exploitation of the cerrado and the Amazon forest, using the greatest possible amount of pesticides, depleting our water tables, compromising the future due to profit in a very short period of time”, he noted. For the scientist, events that promote discussion of the environment, such as the workshop at Unicamp, are essential. “Science today is completely internationalized, particularly the science of global climate change. It's an exchange where everyone wins. There is no longer science closed in its own laboratory, circumscribed in its own domain,” he said.
According to Lindon Matias, information is strategic for all productive sectors. After the event, a book will be published in English with the main results obtained from the workshop. Also according to the IG professor, “there is also the possibility of formulating research projects with some of these researchers”.
Within the theme of the workshop, Antônio Ioris, who is a social scientist, assesses the importance of environmental issues within political decision-making processes and the justification of progress. “Until the environment is brought to the center of issues of development, democracy and social integration, the problems will continue to expand. The environmental issue is related to the way social opportunities are created, how inequalities are perpetuated and the way political decisions are made”, he pointed out. The scientist also showed concern about the issue of public universities. “When there is an erosion of the independence and autonomy of universities, with a direct impact on the production of science, it is worrying. The commitment of public universities, such as Unicamp and Cardiff, is to the population of their country, and must guide our work, serving primarily the interests of society”, he highlighted.
Among the researchers participating in the workshop are Evan Killick, from the University of Sussex, one of the workshop moderators, and Kátia Canil, professor at the Federal University of ABC. Killick, who is an anthropologist and has worked with indigenous people in Santarém, Pará, hopes to meet researchers interested in working in cooperation at the workshop. “We all know the importance of the environment for our survival,” he said. “It is important to work globally, not just in the United Kingdom or Brazil separately”, pointed out the scientist who is making his first visit to Unicamp. Kátia Canil, who works in the area of risk management and mapping related to territorial planning, highlights the opportunity to exchange experiences, integrate research and evolve knowledge. “The climate issue mainly affects the areas of greatest vulnerability, which is where I do the mapping. It is important to know the physical part, listen to the people who live in these regions and discuss what the best alternatives would be together with public management, which must have a correct reading of the process”, she highlighted.
In addition to Lindon Matias and Antônio Ioris, the event's opening panel included the rector of Unicamp, Marcelo Knobel, the director of the Institute of Geosciences, Sérgio Salles, and Raissa Daher, from the British Council. Knobel highlighted Unicamp's partnership with the British university. “It is a pleasure to be able to continue with this collaboration that is growing. Cardiff is one of our most strategic collaborations,” he said.
A new activity in this partnership should take place at the beginning of the second semester - Antônio Ioris will be the visiting professor in August at the Geography postgraduate course at the Institute of Geosciences, when he will discuss methodological, philosophical and ethical issues in research. Lindon Matias celebrates the strengthening of Unicamp's relationship with the British institution. “We are growing in this partnership. There is a prospect that in 2020 a group of students from the master's project in environment and development in Cardiff will be able to carry out fieldwork in Brazil and Unicamp should be the receptive institution for this group”, she pointed out.
Unicamp-Cardiff Partnership
In 2015, the two Universities signed a memorandum of understanding that aimed to establish collaboration between the two institutions in the areas of Physical Sciences and Engineering. As a result of this initial step, a series of visits to both institutions took place. These visits involved around 100 professionals and an increase in joint publications, predominantly in Geosciences, Electrical Engineering, Dentistry and Chemistry.
In 2018, researchers from both Universities participated in a workshop at Unicamp that sought to identify potential opportunities for collaboration in all areas of knowledge. At the end of the same year, the rector of Unicamp, Marcelo Knobel, signed a cooperation agreement in Cardiff to cover other areas of research and expand the possibilities of international mobility. Since then, there have been several joint actions involving the two Universities. Four professors from the Institute of Geosciences have already completed postdoctoral studies in Cardiff.
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