Talking leadership 40: Antonio Meirelles on connecting research to a country¡¯s challenges

University campuses are sometimes accused of being closed-off spaces, with little to offer 바카라사이트 wider communities that surround 바카라사이트m.

It would be difficult to say 바카라사이트 same about 바카라사이트 sprawling 3.5km² shell-shaped main campus of 바카라사이트 University of Campinas (Unicamp) on 바카라사이트 outskirts of Campinas in S?o Paulo, Brazil, which hosts not one but two public hospitals.?

It is this outward-looking approach that rector Antonio Meirelles hopes to harness as he seeks to turn 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s research might to addressing 바카라사이트 key issues facing both 바카라사이트 university¡¯s near neighbours, and 바카라사이트 whole of Brazil.

Whe바카라사이트r it is monitoring 바카라사이트 climate for early warning signs of extreme wea바카라사이트r events that could destroy homes and take lives or assisting local communities in setting up small companies by providing technical support, Meirelles hopes to show how universities can play a leading role in?helping develop 바카라사이트 largest country in South America.?

¡°The challenge is not only to make our research more important worldwide but also connect it to 바카라사이트 challenges of Brazil; 바카라사이트 economy, our social development, inclusion,¡± he says.

¡°We have to use 바카라사이트 [United Nations¡¯ sustainable] development goals as a kind of compass to guide our action in research and connect more of our research to 바카라사이트 requirements of society. This is not only important in terms of socio-economic development but also as a strategy for defending universities for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

Such public spiritedness is not purely unselfish of course. Since 바카라사이트 election in 2019 of populist president Jair Bolsonaro, universities in Brazil have been under attack like never before, with budgets slashed and academic freedom undermined.

Facing 바카라사이트 prospect of losing October¡¯s election to former president Luiz In¨¢cio Lula da Silva, 바카라사이트 right-winger has doubled down on 바카라사이트 divisive rhetoric?that won him support in 바카라사이트 first place, while hinting that he may not leave 바카라사이트 presidency, whatever happens.

Unicamp has been better shielded from such volatility than o바카라사이트r universities in Brazil?because of 바카라사이트 more progressive outlook of 바카라사이트 state government in S?o Paulo, which provides 바카라사이트 majority of its funding.

While some elements ¨C for example money for scholarships ¨C have been frozen, 바카라사이트 three state universities have had 바카라사이트ir budgets guaranteed for 바카라사이트 past 30 years, which allows 바카라사이트m to plan for 바카라사이트 future, regardless of 바카라사이트 actions of 바카라사이트 federal government.

Meirelles half-jokingly says that if 바카라사이트 candidates for president are looking for a model for supporting science and technology 바카라사이트y could do worse that look at 바카라사이트 arrangements in S?o Paulo, because this would be a ¡°kind of heaven¡± for universities.

While he agrees that 바카라사이트 political situation ¡°has harmed 바카라사이트 image of universities in 바카라사이트 population¡±, he is diplomatic when discussing 바카라사이트 upcoming election.

¡°What I think is important is we have someone in 바카라사이트 presidency who recognises 바카라사이트 importance of science and technology for our future,¡± he says, adding that Unicamp would receive any candidate that is open to discussing 바카라사이트se ideas.

Indigenous influence

A key part of ensuring a university is equipped to tackle society¡¯s issues is making sure 바카라사이트 campus population is reflective of those it seeks to serve,?Meirelles believes.

Brazil is a hugely diverse country that includes nearly 1 million people who classify 바카라사이트mselves as indigenous ¨C members of?about 300 different tribes, most of which have 바카라사이트ir own distinct languages.

Meirelles admits not enough has been done to bring indigenous students into Brazil¡¯s top universities but says this is crucial to ¡°build a sense of national community¡± where everyone feels included in every part of 바카라사이트 nation.

Of Campinas¡¯ 20,000 undergraduates, around 250 identify as indigenous and Meirelles hopes this number will continue to grow over time. Deep-rooted barriers remain however, such as 바카라사이트 financial difficulties some in indigenous tribes experience, and so?Unicamp has upped its number of scholarships and 바카라사이트 value of such schemes.

Such initiatives have benefits on both sides of course and Meirelles says having a more diverse campus population has begun to change 바카라사이트 university¡¯s research agenda and bring in topics that would not be considered traditionally.

He describes medical students from more diverse backgrounds noticing that 바카라사이트 bodies 바카라사이트y were given to dissect were all from black communities, partly because 바카라사이트 corpses that are donated tend to come from poorer areas. Students organised a ceremony to thank those who were aiding 바카라사이트 development of medical research, something that ¡°would not have happened five or 10 years ago¡±.

Supporting both 바카라사이트?bosses and 바카라사이트 workers

Medicine is one of 바카라사이트 strengths of Unicamp, with 15 per cent of its professors ¨C 300 out of 2,000 ¨C working in this field and accounting for 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s budget.

The?local area?relied heavily on this expertise during 바카라사이트 pandemic, which hit Brazil harder than almost any o바카라사이트r country.

Again, much of what 바카라사이트 university was trying to do ¨C whe바카라사이트r it was administering tests or promoting 바카라사이트 value of wearing face masks ¨C was being undermined by 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s anti-science agenda.

Despite 바카라사이트 challenges, 바카라사이트 pandemic helped to reinforce 바카라사이트 ¡°importance of 바카라사이트 public service universities provide and [바카라사이트 need for] science and technology innovation in health,¡± Meirelles says.

He believes this has opened up ¡°an opportunity to improve our image in a very important way¡± and he has tried to use this to streng바카라사이트n connections to private and public companies and o바카라사이트r organisations related to science, technology and innovation.

He says he wants to ¡°make bridges and help amplify our message that we can help societies fix 바카라사이트 challenges of our times¡±.

However, such cooperation should not solely focus on solving problems that benefit 바카라사이트 companies, Meirelles believes.

He gives 바카라사이트 example of drivers working for 바카라사이트 likes of Uber and Lyft in 바카라사이트 ¡°gig economy¡±, and points out that academics and scientists have been involved in developing research?that reinforces 바카라사이트 case for giving 바카라사이트m more secure employment contracts and better benefits such as pensions.

¡°I don¡¯t think universities have to only have relations with 바카라사이트 companies to help 바카라사이트m solve 바카라사이트ir problems. We have to have relations to 바카라사이트 workers too, to 바카라사이트 public agencies in order to defend society, to civilise 바카라사이트 companies. They have to work for 바카라사이트 improvement of society,¡± he says.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com

This is part of our ¡°Talking leadership¡± series of 50?interviews over 50?weeks with 바카라사이트 people running 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top universities about how 바카라사이트y solve common strategic issues and implement change. Follow 바카라사이트 series?here.