06/11/2019

BRICS Young Scientists Forum takes place at IMPA.

Brazil will host the 4th BRICS Young Scientists Forum (YSF) from November 6th to 8th at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA). The meeting aims to strengthen connections and the exchange of ideas among young scientists from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa).

In opening the ceremony, the General Coordinator of Multinational Cooperation at the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications, Carlos Matsumoto, emphasized the importance of government support for the program. “Despite the political incentives for establishing and deepening cooperation with BRICS STIs (Science, Technology and Innovation), governments must seek ways to make them sustainable. They must create opportunities for scientific communities and companies and promote initiatives whose results can be felt over a long period of time.”

Carlos Matsumoto. Foto: Clarissa Machado/ ABC

The theme of the 4th BRICS Young Scientists Forum is “Fostering partnerships between young scientists and innovators for long-term cooperation with BRICS STI”. The meeting has 115 participants from BRICS member countries. All are under 40 years old and are pursuing a master's or doctoral degree.

“I am very happy to look at this auditorium full of young scientists and realize that this is the future of science. A good basis for understanding our common challenges is by looking at something that has been described by the United Nations: the Sustainable Development Goals. I think it is a great guide for action,” said Luiz Davidovich, president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC).

Luiz Davidovich. Foto: Clarissa Machado/ ABC

Leaders of the BRICS countries expressed their desire to create a network aimed at engaging and connecting young researchers in 2014, at the 6th Summit held in Fortaleza. The creation of YSF was formalized two years later.

The first edition of the meeting took place in 2016 in India and addressed the themes of computational intelligence, accessible healthcare, and energy solutions. Since then, the meeting has rotated among the BRICS countries and has also been held in China, South Africa, and now, Brazil.

In addition to thematic scientific sessions, the BRICS Young Innovator Prize 2019 will be awarded on Friday (8). The prize is intended for young people up to 30 years old from BRICS countries.