The disturbing contrasts emerging from the Amazonian reality, such as those between natural wealth and the poverty of the people, between large-scale energy and mineral projects and the lack of basic sanitation and treated water for most of the population, express some of the limits of the development model which has prevailed in the region in the recent past and that now demands change. In this regard, there is common understanding among governments and civil society organizations. In addition, the notion of sustainable development does not seem to be a source of controversy among those who discuss the future of the region. The role of the Amazon regarding the issue of the global climate adds to the equation the need to preserve forests and the entire Amazon biome. None of the aforementioned aspects is possible without the intensive employment of science and technology and the active participation of local populations. It is crucial to know the Amazonian biodiversity in order to take sustainable advantage of it, developing products that meet local and global needs. And it is essential to have the local populations as protagonists and direct beneficiaries of the results of new projects, guaranteeing their role in the conservation of forests. Grounded on these two requirements, consensus and, more than that, concrete actions are yet to be built.&nbsp;Until very recently, no longer than two decades ago, the Amazon lacked human resources in science and technology with compatible qualifications and stature to face the challenge of understanding and sustainably taking advantage of local riches. Effective structures for science to take place&nbsp; were also abent – laboratories, equipment, supplies and cooperative relationships with external laboratories for the necessary research. In both cases – although more in the first than in the second, there have been very significant advances in recent years. Every year, university institutions and research institutes installed in the region form hundreds of masters and doctors (in 2020, there were more than three thousand and six hundred), often making use of laboratories and in the ambience of projects that directly deal with the most challenging problems in the Amazon. This installed capacity, however, is partially idle, as it lacks the means (financing) to be fully utilized.&nbsp;Even though official Brazilian documents in the areas of research and graduate studies always speak of the Amazon as a possible national priority, no great effort has been made to support and strengthen research groups installed in the region. These groups, as a rule more recently established, compete for resources with consolidated research structures in other regions of the country and are often neglected, especially in the current times of reduced budgets. Likewise, international organizations that focus on the Amazon, often allocate resources to social actors that work in favor of forest conservation, but do not see universities and research institutes installed here as potential partners.Science of the highest quality and relevance is being developed in the Amazon, by groups installed in the scope of Amazonian institutions, which deal with problems of local reality and interact with the populations of the Amazon. It is very positive that soon a mobilization to strengthen these groups and harness their full potential take place for the sake of the sustainable development of the region, guaranteeing the rights of its people and conserving its forests.

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Titular Professor at the Federal University of Pará, where he works as Rector. Doctor in Experimental Psychology from USP. Member of the National Council of Science and Technology. Former President of ANDIFES, President of the Advisory Committee of the Psychology Area at CNPq and Coordinator of the Psychology Area at CAPES.

Science and technology for the development of the Amazon

Titular Professor at the Federal University of Pará, where he works as Rector. Doctor in Experimental Psychology from USP. Member of the National Council of Science and Technology. He was President of ANDIFES, President of the Advisory Committee of the Psychology Area at CNPq and Coordinator of the Psychology Area at CAPES.

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Science and technology for the development of the Amazon

07/29/2022 17:02:24