Development in the field of advanced ceramics represents a great opportunity for a country such as Brazil that possesses resources, tradition and a consolidated industrial network both for mining and production of functional ceramic. The step toward emerging advanced technologies for energy, environment, chemical, optical and mechanical applications, is thus not only possible but due, also considering the abundant energetic resources and strategic reserves of key elements and rare earths in the Brazilian territory. In this scenario, education, academic research and the kind of scientific dissemination done by this journal are doubtless important ingredients to prepare the country to such new opportunities.
My experience with the Brazilian academic environment is firmly embedded in this scenario. In almost 15 years of professional exchange with Brazilian academia I have experienced different levels of collaboration and exchange programs, with some of the core members in advanced ceramics for energy conversion community in Brazil.
Starting as visiting PhD student, I made research in the field of new ceramic materials for solid oxide fuel cell. Today, this technology has put strong roots in the country for the conversion of bio-fuels, attracting also the interest of the international community both at scientific and industrial levels. Since those early years my link with the Brazilian academia has been developing and strengthening, also thanks to the several important exchange programs promoted by the country. Especially, under the CNPq program "Science without Borders", I had the chance to fulfil my growing desire of cooperating with the new generation of scientists, both by hosting selected PhD students to the Technical University of Denmark and, as invited senior researcher, by coordinating their activities in scientific projects in nanotechnologies in Brazil. In both the cases, I found motivated and prepared individuals, greedy to experience different ways to make research abroad but also conscious of their important role in their community. Despite the rapid changes investing the country, I can recognize in the new generations the same resilient spirit of their supervisors, teachers and professors I met in the early years of my career. This is the same spirit that motivates me in continuing cooperating with the Brazilian scientific community and which, I believe, is foundational of this journal.
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
Jul-Sep 2016
