EDITORIAL
Ícaro de Sousa Moreira was born in the state of Piauí but he lived practically all his life in Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceará, and there he passed away. Yet, it can be said that he never left the Northeast, which was a matter of pride for him. He started his scientific carrier at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) as an undergraduate chemistry student and finished it as the president of the same university. Ícaro had three great passions: the Northeast, chemistry and UFC. This issue of the Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (JBCS) is especially dedicated to this professor not only because he was an example as a professor, but also because he was truly an inspiration to the young and gifted chemistry professionals, mainly for the inorganic field. He valued competence and efficiency, which have always been part of his academic and professional life and made him an example to be followed by everyone who was lucky to have known him.
Those who had been his students or colleagues sure have great memories of his awesome and wise teaching. He was a sensitive soul and had a great sense of humor, attracting lots of attention and enriching all of our lives. Ícaro was one of those rare examples who exhibited qualities such as honesty and academic and management competence. Thus, he performed chemistry experiments as easily as bureaucratic tasks, with outstanding ability and determination. Every scientific community who had the privilege of having him as a member, researcher, professor, colleague or friend was lucky since there are not that many human beings like him. Ícaro graduated from UFC in 1976, where he got his master degree in Inorganic Chemistry in 1982. He got his PhD degree in Physical Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, University of São Paulo. He was a post-doctoral fellow in Bioinorganic Chemistry at Rutgers University, New Jersey, in 1991. Nonetheless, above all he was an autodidact, who, with a great deal of energy and creativity, faced challenges as smoothly as he solved administrative issues. He was a highly articulate speaker, confident and trustworthy.
He exercised authority without being authoritarian. Being humble, he was always nice and polite with students, staff members and colleagues. Due to the fact that he was quick-witted and had the innate ability to collaborate, he became a member of the management committee of the Ceará Technology and Innovation Council, working as a representative of the higher education institutions of the state of Ceará, and vice president and then president of UFC. His contribution as a member of the Brazilian Chemistry Society (SBQ) was remarkable, taking part of round tables, scientific lectures and meetings. He successfully organized the XIII Brazilian Meeting on Inorganic Chemistry in Fortaleza, in 2006, which became known as one of the best scientific meetings ever organized by the Inorganic Chemistry Division of SBQ. At this event, the scientific level was excellent and it was accompanied by cajarana, siriguela, acerola, tapioca, mugunzá and paçoca, typical Northeastern culinary delights.
The actor left the stage before the end of the performance; only emptiness remained. The audience became devastated. The master, the manager, the man, the friend left us forever, but he left a legacy, a positive one, and an example to be followed.
Alzir Azevedo Batista
Full Professor Chemistry Department at
Federal University of São Carlos
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
05 Aug 2010 -
Date of issue
2010
