Commemorative Volume of the Centenary of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences

I have the pleasure to introduce the first volume that has been organized in commemoration of the centenary of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC).

Founded in 1916, the ABC is a non-governmental and not-for-profit organization that has among its mission the development of science in the country (ABC 2017). As an honorific society, the ABC stimulates the excellence in science by accepting the best and most productive researchers working in Brazil, including not only native Brazilians, but also foreign members that live in the country. So far, there are over 540 Full Members.

This organization also recognizes other foreign researchers that have strong ties with Brazilian colleagues and actively contribute to scientific activities in the country. Elected as Corresponding Members, their number reaches almost 190 researchers from very different parts of the world, showing the strong international collaborations of Brazilian scientists.

It is also very important to point out that since 2007, promising young scientists have been admitted to the ABC for a period of five years when they have the opportunity to participate in several activities developed by the Academy. Designated Affiliate Members, there are presently almost 55 bright young researchers that fall into this category, showing the strength of the future of Brazilian science. As for now, over 900 researchers take part in the ABC - a number that is rising year after year, always based on a rigorous selection process.

Among several activities of this organization, the ABC publishes the journal Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (AABC). This periodical has started in 1917, initially under a different name, but has been published under the current designation without interruptions since 1929, thus being the oldest scientific periodical with continuous circulation issued in the country.

As part of the commemoration of the first centenary of the academy, the AABC is publishing a series of commemorative volumes. This is the first one and has the support of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Fundação Conrado Wessel (FCW - a foundation dedicated to the development of arts, science and culture). More special issues are in the process of organization and will be published during this year.

The present volume consists of 25 selected papers covering a variety of fields such as Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biology, Health and Biomedical Sciences, Agrarian Sciences, Engineering and Social Sciences. Contrary to previous editorials, I will not highlight any paper in particular. As expected, all represent important contributions in their fields. The organization of these special volumes also shows that, despite all the recent problems Brazil is facing regarding Science that have started some years ago (Gibney 2015) but got dramatic recently (Angelo 2017), scientists are still fighting to ensure the development of research in this country, and working very hard to ensure that the importance of scientific activities is understood by the public (e.g., Massarani and Moreira 2016).

On behalf of the editorial board, I would like to thank all authors and reviewers that have dedicated time and effort to make this issue possible, as well as CNPq and FCW for financing this series of special volumes. I am sure that it will be an important contribution to the development of the AABC and Science in Brazil.

REFERENCES

• ABC. 2017. Mission. Academia Brasileira de Ciências. Accessed on May 11, 2017. http://www.abc.org.br/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=107
  » http://www.abc.org.br/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=107
• ANGELO C. 2017. Brazilian scientists reeling as federal funds slashed by nearly half. Nature http://www.nature.com/news/brazilian-scientists-reeling-as-federal-funds-slashed-by-nearly-half-1.21766 DOI:10.1038/nature.2017.21766
  » https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2017.21766» http://www.nature.com/news/brazilian-scientists-reeling-as-federal-funds-slashed-by-nearly-half-1.21766
• GIBNEY E. 2015. Brazilian science paralysed by economic slump. Nature 526: 16-17.
• MASSARANI L AND MOREIRA IC. 2016. Science communication in Brazil: A historical review and considerations about the current situation. An Acad Bras Cienc 88: 1577-1595.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2017