This Wednesday (17), Unicamp granted the title of Professor Emeritus to Antonio Augusto Arantes Neto, professor at the Department of Anthropology at the Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences. The ceremony took place virtually and was attended by members of the Unicamp University Council and professors Eunice Ribeiro Durham (USP) and Artionka Góes Capiberibe (Unicamp), godmothers of the honored professor.
With a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Sciences from USP and a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, England, Antonio Augusto Arantes Neto has a career that stands out for his contributions to the scientific world and also to public institutions defending Brazilian cultural heritage. At Unicamp, he worked on the creation of the IFCH Anthropology Department and, after his retirement, he has been working as a collaborator with the department and IFCH postgraduate programs, in addition to actively contributing to the inclusion of students in academic life through Social Assistance Grants (BAS).
In parallel to his university work, he was a member of the Council for the Defense of Cultural Heritage of the State of São Paulo and led the process of creating the body at the municipal level in Campinas. He was also a leader of the Brazilian and Latin American Anthropology Associations and participated in the preparation of the implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Between 2004 and 2005, he was president of the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan).
"I think I have always been instigated by the search for what I do, by the broader social meaning of my work. It is no surprise that this broader social meaning is inherent to the social sciences. I think it is difficult for a social scientist to be content with making cold and distant regarding the human condition, history and society. We are part of it and we can hardly move away from this reality", shared Antonio Augusto, considering his work with Unicamp and other public institutions a highlight of his career.
Antonio Augusto's professor at USP in the 1960s and one of his references in academic work, Eunice Durham stated that he was one of her most brilliant students and that he formed a generation of anthropologists. She also recognized the importance of her work in identifying aspects that constitute Brazilian cultural heritage and its identity. "The absence of a sense of belonging to the country explains the absence of a feeling of responsibility for society. What constitutes the great quality of Antonio Augusto's work is the fact that he always works to expand access to our historical and cultural heritage. It is within access to this heritage that we built and are always reminded of our participation in the country", highlighted Durham.
Author of the title grant proposal, Artionka Capiberibe shared her experience, as an undergraduate student, of having been a monitor in a subject taught by Antonio Augusto. According to her, his attitude as a teacher serves as a reference for her today: "I have a memory of that experience that accompanies me and serves as a model for me to this day, which is the seriousness with which he conducted classes and his dialogue with me, which at the time I was nothing more than a young woman of 22 years old. I was amazed that he took into consideration my observations about his classes and the evaluation of students. This model of listening and learning from younger people remained ingrained in me and I try to reproduce it in my practice of teaching".
For rector Marcelo Knobel, the tribute paid to the professor and the granting of the title of Professor Emeritus also fulfills an important recognition of the role of science and public institutions for Brazilian society. "This moment we are living in is crucial in our lives, in our country, it is an important moment to increasingly show the importance of science, education and, in particular, public education. We have to fight to strengthen institutions public policies that are fundamental to the sovereignty and sustainable future of the country, which is less unequal and which aims to ensure that all people have a better quality of life", said Knobel.
Check out the ceremony in full available on YouTube:
