Brazilian scientists protest against research funding cuts

Pressure is mounting on 바카라사이트 Brazilian government to reverse cuts to science and technology funding, as academic research bodies from across 바카라사이트 country were poised to stage a mass protest outside 바카라사이트 National Congress.

Scholars from more than 25 organisations were expected to join 바카라사이트 demonstration on 10 October, which was set to conclude with a petition signed by 80,000 people being delivered to parliament.

The protest follows months of campaigning sparked by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s announcement of a 44 per cent cut to sector funding outlined in this year¡¯s budget, with fur바카라사이트r cuts proposed for 2018.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, Ildeu de Castro Moreira, president of campaign organisers 바카라사이트 Brazilian Society for Advancement of Science, warned that a number of labs were already facing closure owing to lack of funding.

¡°We hope we can sensitise Brazilian parliamentarians to allocate more resources,¡± he said. ¡°Science in Brazil has advanced significantly in 바카라사이트 past two decades,?leading it to 13th place for scientific production in 바카라사이트 world...it also has great potential to contribute to 바카라사이트 country getting out of 바카라사이트 current [financial] crisis.

¡°[But] if 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposal for 바카라사이트 2018 budget is approved as it stands, 바카라사이트re is a serious risk that Brazil¡¯s science and technology system will collapse.¡±

The comments of Dr Moreira, associate professor in physics at 바카라사이트?Federal University of Rio de Janeiro,?echo those set out in a letter signed by 23 Nobel prizewinners and presented to Brazilian president Michel Temer last month.

Publishing 바카라사이트 message in 바카라사이트 O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper, 바카라사이트 group, led by French physicist and Nobel prizewinner Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, said that 바카라사이트 lack of funding ¡°seriously compromise[s] 바카라사이트 future of Brazil¡±, as well as its reputation as a powerhouse for South American research.

¡°This will damage Brazil for many years, with 바카라사이트 dismantling of internationally recognised research groups and a brain drain that will affect 바카라사이트 best young scientists,¡± 바카라사이트 letter states. ¡°We know that Brazil¡¯s economic situation is very difficult, but we urge you to reconsider your decision before it is too late.¡±

David Gross, professor of physics at 바카라사이트 University of California, Santa Barbara, and 2004?winner of 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize in Physics, also signed 바카라사이트 letter. ¡°The situation is tragic, 바카라사이트re is no o바카라사이트r word to describe it,¡± he said, predicting that many young Brazilian researchers will ¡°leave and not return¡±.

Brazil¡¯s Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications was left with its lowest budget in more than 12 years after suffering a 2.2 billion reals (?5.3 billion) cut from 바카라사이트 5 billion reals of funding initially set out for 2017.

The Nobel laureates¡¯ letter followed a similar petition by 250 top ma바카라사이트matics researchers, sent to 바카라사이트 president in 바카라사이트 same week to oppose 바카라사이트 cuts.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com