One Third of Brazil’s Scientific Research Is Done by Women

Women are getting a bigger role in Brazilian scientific research Thirty two percent of the current Brazilian scientific production is made by women. This is the conclusion of a survey conducted by economist and professor at the Fluminense Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, Hildete Pereira De Melo.

De Melo's findings were first published at the end of last year in the magazine Pagu, from Unicamp (University of Campinas).

De Melo worked with the Brazilian database of the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) for the last eight years. Using a computer software, she reviewed the gender of 83% of the authors and co-authors in the library.

Of those, 32% are women. "Science still bears a male face, but the data from SciELO show the advance in female participation, pointing to a future of equality in the scientific field," Hildete said.

Owing to their dedication to house chores as well as the care of children and the elderly, women, even with a high degree of schooling have less time than men to dedicate to research, which often requires full-time dedication.

Hildete is the author of "Pioneiras da Ciência no Brasil" ("Pioneer Women of Science in Brazil"), published by the Brazilian Society for Advancement of Science (SBPC) in 2006, and in which she listed professionals who left their mark in science.

Among them is researcher Johanna Dí¶bereiner, of Embrapa Agrobiology (Seropédica-RJ), who dedicated 49 years of her life to researching soil microbiology.

The Brazilian program to improve soy, which started in 1964, is one of the areas that have been heavily influenced by Dí¶bereiner's research. Thanks to this work Brazil has become the world's largest soy producer, saving more than US$ 1 billion in nitrogenated fertilizers.

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazilian Afternoon in Madrid

Brazil’s Planning Minister, Guido Mantega, will be the guest of honor of the Brazilian ...

Deluge Lasted 40 Days, São Paulo Rains Have Fallen Daily for 36

Due to the heavy rains that have fallen since the end of last year, ...

A Lebanese’s Success Story in Brazil

Cristina Malhas, a garment industry established by Lebanese immigrant Michel Melhem Sabbagh, in 1970, ...

Por aí

  Native song Ihu in the Kamayurá Indian language means everything you learn by ...

Brazil Corruption: 30% of Senators Have Problems with Justice

According to a report just published by daily newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, a ...

Lula’s Last Appeal: When You Vote for Dilma You Vote for Me

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on fellow Brazilians to vote for ...

In Brazil You Have Degrading Labor and Then, Way Down, Slavery

Most of the victims of slave labor in Brazil are illiterate males, according to ...

Argentina Is Just Jealous, Says Brazil’s Lula

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva yesterday acknowledged tension with Argentina but predicted ...

OAS Meeting Debates Brazil’s Use of Internet in Government

At the 36th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), in the ...

Brazil & Neighbors Welcome Cuba and Brag About Independence from US

Leaders from Latin America received in Brazil by Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da ...