Universidade de São Paulo honors FAPESP scientific director

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Agência FAPESP* –By Elton Alisson
Agência FAPESP – FAPESP scientific director Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz received the Armando de Salles Oliveira Medal from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). The medal, created in 2008, is the highest honor awarded by USP. It pays homage to people, entities and organizations—either national or foreign—that have added institutional, cultural, social and academic value to the university in an exceptional and decisive manner.
The medal is named after the governor of the State of São Paulo who signed the decree creating USP in 1934. “In the name of all its directors, USP feels honored to award this medal to Professor Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz,” said USP President João Grandino Rodas during the presentation ceremony held at the university president’s offices.
Brito Cruz was lauded by USP School of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences (FFLCH) director Professor Sérgio França Adorno de Abreu in the name of the USP University Council. Abreu spoke about Brito Cruz’s academic and scientific trajectory as well as his leadership role in science, technology and innovation “which has interpreted FAPESP’s purposes with wisdom and sagacity.”
“Professor Brito Cruz has been sensitive to the demands of the scientific community. Numerous projects have been created and have grown under his leadership at FAPESP. Moreover, his strategic vision on the generation of knowledge through networks has been decisive and one of the reasons for the intensification of techno-scientific cooperation programs between higher learning and research institutions in São Paulo State and those in many other nations,” he said.
According to Abreu, it is common for researchers in the social sciences or humanities to feel neglected by funding programs within research support foundations and even universities. However, he believes that this sentiment is not harbored by researchers at FAPESP and USP.
“The scientific boards have sought to understand and relate to each scientific field in a unique way. Under Professor Brito Cruz’s leadership, this has been no different, but there has certainly been a change in recent years. He treats us as social scientists and citizens of the highest class, requiring high-level answers and the best performance in the publishing and international circulation of studies in the social sciences and humanities,” Abreu noted.
Other FAPESP representatives present at the ceremony on February 21 were Celso Lafer, President, José Arana Varela, CEO of the Executive Board, and Administrative Director Joaquim José de Camargo Engler. Also present were Jacob Palis, President of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the deans of the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), Carlos Américo Pacheco from Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC) in São Paulo, Ana Maria Marques Cintra from the Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Júlio Cezar Durigan, Coordinator of the Universidade Virtual do Estado de São Paulo (Univesp), Carlos Vogt, São Paulo State Strategic Assesor, João Carlos de Souza Meirelles and other authorities.
Science in São Paulo
In his speech, Brito Cruz said that he felt honored by the award presented to him by USP, which, according to him, is a model for Brazil’s other institutions of higher education and one of the reasons that scientific development in the State of São Paulo is respected the world over.
“Scientists in São Paulo State produce not only half of the science performed in Brazil but also more science than their colleagues in Argentina, Mexico or any other nation in Latin America. As one of the state’s most well-established research organizations, USP is responsible for a great deal of this,” said Brito Cruz.
In his opinion, one of the main challenges to scientific and technological development in the state of São Paulo today is increasing not only the quantity but also the quality of the science produced here so its intellectual, social and economic impact can be increased.
“We must pay attention to and focus on these three impacts. A certain scientific activity could possibly have social impact, and it must be carried out in a more effective manner,” he commented. But, he added, a scientific discovery’s social and economic impact is not its only value.
“There are scientific discoveries in areas like astronomy, Greek philosophy and literature, whose impacts make mankind wiser. Additionally, there is another set of scientific activities that can benefit health, nature conservancy and industrial development,” he noted.
According to him, because of this, it is important to give equal importance to the entire array of scientific work.
“We want the people in São Paulo State to be participants in the adventure of being human and making discoveries about nature, mankind and the Universe, and their discoveries can also have social and economic impact when possible,” said Brito Cruz.

<p><b>By Elton Alisson</b></p>
<p><b>Agência FAPESP</b> – FAPESP scientific director Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz received the Armando de Salles Oliveira Medal from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). The medal, created in 2008, is the highest honor awarded by USP. It pays homage to people, entities and organizations—either national or foreign—that have added institutional, cultural, social and academic value to the university in an exceptional and decisive manner.</p>
<p>The medal is named after the governor of the State of São Paulo who signed the decree creating USP in 1934. “In the name of all its directors, USP feels honored to award this medal to Professor Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz,” said USP President João Grandino Rodas during the presentation ceremony held at the university president’s offices.</p>
<p>Brito Cruz was lauded by USP School of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences (FFLCH) director Professor Sérgio França Adorno de Abreu in the name of the USP University Council. Abreu spoke about Brito Cruz’s academic and scientific trajectory as well as his leadership role in science, technology and innovation “which has interpreted FAPESP’s purposes with wisdom and sagacity.”</p>
<p>“Professor Brito Cruz has been sensitive to the demands of the scientific community. Numerous projects have been created and have grown under his leadership at FAPESP. Moreover, his strategic vision on the generation of knowledge through networks has been decisive and one of the reasons for the intensification of techno-scientific cooperation programs between higher learning and research institutions in São Paulo State and those in many other nations,” he said.</p>
<p>According to Abreu, it is common for researchers in the social sciences or humanities to feel neglected by funding programs within research support foundations and even universities. However, he believes that this sentiment is not harbored by researchers at FAPESP and USP.</p>
<p>“The scientific boards have sought to understand and relate to each scientific field in a unique way. Under Professor Brito Cruz’s leadership, this has been no different, but there has certainly been a change in recent years. He treats us as social scientists and citizens of the highest class, requiring high-level answers and the best performance in the publishing and international circulation of studies in the social sciences and humanities,” Abreu noted.</p>
<p>Other FAPESP representatives present at the ceremony on February 21 were Celso Lafer, President, José Arana Varela, CEO of the Executive Board, and Administrative Director Joaquim José de Camargo Engler. Also present were Jacob Palis, President of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the deans of the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), Carlos Américo Pacheco from Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC) in São Paulo, Ana Maria Marques Cintra from the Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Júlio Cezar Durigan, Coordinator of the Universidade Virtual do Estado de São Paulo (Univesp), Carlos Vogt, São Paulo State Strategic Assesor, João Carlos de Souza Meirelles and other authorities.</p>
<p><b>Science in São Paulo</b></p>
<p>In his speech, Brito Cruz said that he felt honored by the award presented to him by USP, which, according to him, is a model for Brazil’s other institutions of higher education and one of the reasons that scientific development in the State of São Paulo is respected the world over.</p>
<p>“Scientists in São Paulo State produce not only half of the science performed in Brazil but also more science than their colleagues in Argentina, Mexico or any other nation in Latin America. As one of the state’s most well-established research organizations, USP is responsible for a great deal of this,” said Brito Cruz.</p>
<p>In his opinion, one of the main challenges to scientific and technological development in the state of São Paulo today is increasing not only the quantity but also the quality of the science produced here so its intellectual, social and economic impact can be increased.</p>
<p>“We must pay attention to and focus on these three impacts. A certain scientific activity could possibly have social impact, and it must be carried out in a more effective manner,” he commented. But, he added, a scientific discovery’s social and economic impact is not its only value.</p>
<p>“There are scientific discoveries in areas like astronomy, Greek philosophy and literature, whose impacts make mankind wiser. Additionally, there is another set of scientific activities that can benefit health, nature conservancy and industrial development,” he noted.</p>
<p>According to him, because of this, it is important to give equal importance to the entire array of scientific work.</p>
<p>“We want the people in São Paulo State to be participants in the adventure of being human and making discoveries about nature, mankind and the Universe, and their discoveries can also have social and economic impact when possible,” said Brito Cruz.</p>