German-Brazilian Research Collaboration in Earth Sciences

In the course of two workshops in their respective countries, researchers and representatives of industry from Germany and Brazil intend to explore the opportunities for sustainable research collaboration in the earth sciences and geotechnology. On the occasion of the German-Brazilian Year of Science, Innovation and Technology 2010/2011, the experts will be meeting from 13 to 18 February in Santos, Brazil and then again on 31 March/1 April at Heidelberg University. Before the Heidelberg workshop, a Brazilian delegation of politicians and scientists will be visiting Germany’s leading marine research institutes. Crucially involved in these German-Brazilian contacts is Prof. Dr. Ulrich A. Glasmacher, earth scientist at Heidelberg University.

The aim of the workshops is to initiate cooperative research ventures between German and Brazilian scientists and enterprises with a view to developing technologies and innovations for future work in the earth sciences. “In the forefront of interest are sustainability strategies and a responsible attitude to the environment, energy and raw materials,” says Prof. Glasmacher. He is organising the two workshops and the visit by the Brazilian delegation in conjunction with Prof. Dr. Peter C. Hackspacher of the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) in Sao Paulo, with which Heidelberg University concluded a partnership agreement in 2010. Also involved are Dr. Bertram Heinze of the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) in Sao Paulo and Dr. Ute Münch of the GEOTECHNOLOGIEN coordination office in Potsdam.

In the course of the four-day workshop in Santos, over 40 German and Brazilian scientists and representatives of industry will be speaking on marine sciences and geotechnologies as well as on geophysics and geodesics. A further topic is drilling for geoscientific purposes and the development of new technologies in this area. Funding prospects for future bilateral research will be discussed by representatives of research promotion institutions in Germany and Brazil. From 27 to 30 March, representatives of the federal state of Sao Paulo, experts from various national research institutions and geoscientists from three Brazilian universities will be visiting several German marine research institutes with a view to encouraging bilateral cooperation in this field. At the subsequent workshop in Heidelberg, topics for long-term research collaboration between the two countries will be formulated. The workshop is integrated into the Latin America Colloquium of the German Research Foundation (DFG). Both workshops and the visit to Germany by the Brazilian delegation will receive funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

For more information on these events, go to www.dwih.com.br.

Contact
Prof. Dr. Ulrich A. Glasmacher
Institute of Earth Sciences
phone: +49 6221 544866
ulrich.a.glasmacher@geow.uni-heidelberg.de

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