During two weeks 80 participants from Brazil and Latin America discuss different aspects of the Amazon
The interface between science and politics, interdisciplinarity and an economic model without deforestation and with social inclusion. These were the themes that opened the first day of discussions at the São Paulo School of Advanced Science Sustainable and Inclusive AMAZONIA, in São Pedro (SP). The School takes place from November 21st to December 5th and brings together 80 students from Brazil and abroad.
Marcos Silva, from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), inaugurated the School by talking about the different international bodies that deal with the relationship between science and decision making and how the IAI seeks to contribute to favoring this dialogue by organizing and training young researchers in science diplomacy.
Anita Hardon, from the Social Science and Humanites cluster of the NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) and Wageningen University, spoke about multiple aspects of transdisciplinary research, such as the importance of conversation, of respect especially when the research involves different actors.
Carlos Nobre, from the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo, began his speech by commenting on the recently concluded COP27 on Climate (which took place in Egypt from November 6th to 18th), which he believes was more important for Brazil than for the world.
The researcher has been studying the Amazon for over 40 years and brought data about the biological wealth of the region and the relevant role of the biome for the regulation of the planetary climate. In addition, he discussed the threats and impacts, especially the risk of reaching the tipping point of the biome, that is, the loss of the forest’s regeneration capacity. As a virtuous alternative, Carlos Nobre defended paths for a development with the forest standing, such as, for example, through forest restoration of the deforestation arches (in the southern Brazilian Amazon) and the bio-economy, which involves resources from the Amazon, inclusion of local people and technology.
Materials about the lectures can be found on the School’s website https://spsas-amazonia.biota.org.br/.
About the São Paulo School of Advanced Science Sustainable and Inclusive AMAZONIA
The São Paulo School of Advanced Science Sustainable and Inclusive AMAZONIA was born focused on the Amazon from a transdisciplinary point of view. During two weeks, questions about the Amazon territory, its inhabitants, and the protagonists of biodiversity and climate change mitigation will be addressed. “We set up the school to provide a vision of the different dimensions of the Amazon, but we know that there are still gaps, such as food security and health”, explains Carlos Joly, the school’s coordinator.
The participants will organize themselves into groups and develop themes that have affinity with each other. “The proposal is to co-construct themes that will be treated at the school and that are of interest to the participants,” explains Joly. At the end, the written material will be transformed into an e-book.