Women in Science in Brazil, 

by Isabela Rocha

 

Women in Brazil, no matter how important they are in science, are not as highly valued as men.  Nowadays in Brazil about 54% of students have a doctorate.  This number is similar to that of more developed countries like the United States.  Despite this number, women are not well represented at the highest levels of their careers.  A recent study shows that women represent only 24% of the scientists benefiting from the Brazilian government subsidy as the most productive.  Women scientists are only 14% of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.Inequality comes from all professions.

Among one of the most important women in science in Brazil we can mention Suzana Herculano-Houzel who was born in 1972 (49 years old).  She is a neuroscientist, graduated in biology, has a master's, doctoral and postdoctoral studies in neuroscience.  She was well represented in the media like social networks, newspapers and television.Her findings include a method of counting neurons in human and other animal brains and the relationship between the area and thickness of the cerebral cortex (the most superficial layer of the brain) and the number of folds on its surface.In 2008 she was the host of a Brazilian television program “Fantástico” from the “Neurológica” board.In 2013 she was the first Brazilian to attend the TED Global conference.

In 2016 Suzana decided to return to the United States to complete the contract with Vanderbilt University.

She was the first Brazilian scholar from the James McDonnel Foundation to receive the Scholar Award.

In addition to publishing more than 25 scientific articles in 11 years considered one of the most important, published in Science.

 

 

Suzana Herculano-Houzel