The Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) has inaugurated Brazil’s first maker laboratory dedicated to foodtech. Integrated into the InovaTec UFSM Technological Park and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Foodtech FabLab was created with the mission of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the food, beverage, and supplement sectors. The facility will offer advanced infrastructure, training, and specialized services aimed at transforming the food chain efficiently and sustainably.

This initiative responds to a global scenario marked by profound transformations. There is increasing pressure for more sustainable food systems, resilient supply chains, and alternatives to traditional chemical inputs in the face of challenges such as food insecurity, supply instability, climate change, and growing demands for quality and transparency. At the same time, product reformulation to meet new consumer preferences requires applied research, agility, and regulatory certainty. In this context, prototyping and technological validation environments have become strategic in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and market application.

For this reason, the Foodtech FabLab was created with a global perspective. It is the result of a project designed to connect Brazilian academic excellence with the demands of an international market in constant evolution. The space is collaborative and equipped with advanced technologies, enabling researchers, students, startups, companies, and regulatory stakeholders to work together on concrete solutions for present and future food systems.

Maker spaces are creative environments that promote hands-on learning and foster creativity, experimentation, and skill development. They provide access to tools, equipment, and platforms for testing, prototyping, and validating ideas. In the foodtech sector, initiatives of this kind are still rare worldwide, and in Brazil, the Foodtech FabLab stands out as a pioneering proposal.

UFSM has already demonstrated its capacity to generate innovative businesses in this field with companies such as Baristo and Delivery Much, which were founded by UFSM students, supported by the Pulsar Technology Incubator, and have since consolidated their presence in the national market. The new laboratory builds on this track record by providing specialized infrastructure to enable other initiatives to emerge and develop with greater technical robustness.

The laboratory also has the potential to operate internationally, in connection with other innovation environments, research laboratories, and collaborative networks worldwide. Companies in this sector have been reshaping food systems through technologies applied to food processing, the development of new ingredients and products, alternative proteins, delivery platforms, traceability, retail, food service, and solutions aimed at reducing waste. The goal is to make the food chain more efficient, safe, and sustainable while meeting the growing demand for high-quality food with a lower environmental impact.

The Foodtech FabLab

More than a laboratory, the Foodtech FabLab is a structured innovation platform designed to transform ideas into viable, sustainable, and regulatory-compliant solutions. Its organization is based on strategic pillars (disruptive technologies, sustainability, and regulatory affairs), which operate in an integrated manner to reduce risks, accelerate validation processes, and expand the market potential of developed projects.

The infrastructure includes the Food Maker Space, the Experience Box for sensory analysis, Kitchen 3.0, and meeting rooms for collaboration with partners. Within its technological core, the laboratory is equipped with tools such as a 3D food printer, a continuous pasteurizer, a protein extruder, a solvent-free aroma extractor, a nano-emulsifier, and drying systems. This combination enables the development and testing of solutions across multiple fronts, including minimally processed vegetables, functional beverages, animal- and plant-based proteins, emulsions, natural aromas, applications involving microorganisms, pasta, and bakery products.

In practice, researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs will be able to prototype new ingredients, reformulate products, validate industrial processes at a pilot scale, and test production models before investing in commercial-scale operations. The environment was designed to shorten the cycle between concept, technical validation, and market entry, reducing technological and economic uncertainties.

Sustainability is not only a guiding principle but also a measurable component of the production process. The experimental kitchen is equipped with sensors capable of monitoring the consumption of inputs, waste generation, leftovers, and water usage, enabling data-driven decision-making. This approach supports the development of products with a lower environmental footprint and contributes to the construction of more responsible and efficient supply chains.

The regulation pillar sets the Foodtech FabLab apart by integrating, from the outset, dialogue with municipal, state, and federal agencies. Regulation is one of the main challenges in the food industry, where strict standards of quality, safety, and public health are essential for the commercialization of new products. The laboratory will work closely with institutions such as the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, while also engaging with international regulatory references to ensure that innovations move forward with both technical and legal support.

The FabLab will provide technical support and consulting services to companies and startups, assisting them in understanding and meeting legal requirements from the early stages of development. As an intermediary, the lab will help streamline processes that are often complex, time-consuming, and frequently delay the launch of innovations due to regulatory non-compliance.

Another key commitment is talent development. The environment was designed to promote active, creative, and practical learning, stimulating both technical competencies and soft skills. The aim is to train specialists at UFSM (including students from the Bachelor’s programs in Nutrition and Food Technology, the Graduate Program in Food Science and Technology, and research groups in the field), as well as external professionals, thereby expanding its impact beyond the University.

Even before the inauguration, investments were made in human capital development. In 2025, InovaTec launched the FoodTech Skills program, focused on training students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to operate in food innovation environments. Initially centered on technical and regulatory content, the program now integrates theory and practice within the laboratory itself, preparing professionals to fully explore the potential of the new infrastructure. Approximately 100 individuals have already participated in Foodtech Skills activities covering product registration, laboratory best practices, sanitary regulations, advanced microwave systems, and food extrusion technologies.

The Inauguration

With a focus on openness and collaboration, the Foodtech FabLab is set to expand opportunities for connection between the university, the community, the market, and industry. Located in Building 61H at the InovaTec UFSM Technological Park, the space fosters strategic partnerships, stimulates the creation of science- and technology-based businesses, and strengthens regional development.

In the coming months, the goal is to fully integrate the laboratory into academic and business activities, consolidating it as a reference hub in the field of food innovation. Through this articulation, the facility is expected to drive new projects, attract investment, and further position Santa Maria as a recognized center on the regional and national innovation map.

On March 31, InovaTec UFSM opened its doors to welcome the community into this new space, connect ideas, and celebrate another milestone in innovation at UFSM.

Text: Jéssica Missias Medeiros, Technical Communication Assistant at the InovaTec UFSM Technology Park.
Translation: Amy Lee, translator at the International Affairs Office 

Dr. Marli Matiko Anraku de Campos, from the Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Professional Master’s Program in Health Sciences, won first place in the Health Products and Innovation category with the project “Rapid Molecular Test for Tuberculosis.” Dr. Vanessa Ramos Kirsten, from the Graduate Program in Health and Rurality and the Graduate Program in Gerontology, won third place in the Successful SUS Research Experiences category with the project “Qualification of Food and Nutrition Surveillance: A continuing health education proposal to enhance the quality of healthcare in municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul.”

The Rapid Tuberculosis Test

The Rapid Tuberculosis Test was developed at UFSM’s Mycobacteriology Laboratory, coordinated by Dr. Campos, and aims to optimize diagnosis and facilitate treatment. According to the researcher, the award recognizes the work she has developed throughout her career. “This test can contribute to public health in Brazil. It is also very positive for UFSM, as we represent the university in different health-related contexts and events,” she notes. The researcher adds that “the technology is being enhanced to facilitate the maintenance of the methodology.”

Although tuberculosis treatment is provided free of charge through SUS, delays in diagnosis remain a major challenge. On average, the time between symptom onset and the beginning of treatment is around 11 weeks. This delay is due both to patients’ late recognition of symptoms and to inefficiencies in the diagnostic process. These data were published in a study conducted by the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and Johns Hopkins University.

Campos emphasizes that the main strategy to combat the disease is the early initiation of treatment and, in her view, this test may contribute greatly to that. “Nowadays, when tuberculosis is suspected, the protocol is to request an X-ray and a sputum culture. The second procedure involves collecting a sample and placing it in a suitable environment for the bacillus to grow, if the bacteria are present. However, this growth takes around 20 to 60 days, which is incompatible with the patients’ needs. This test is an alternative to these traditional methods,” she explains.

Research on Improving Food and Nutrition Surveillance

Dr. Kirsten’s research began in 2021, after receiving funding through a SUS call for proposals. According to the professor, the award is a recognition of a topic that often receives less attention in research. “Many studies focus on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases, which is important, but our research addresses professional practices and the monitoring of the population’s food and nutritional status,” she explains.

The professor emphasizes that the award-winning project contributes to strengthening tools for addressing issues related to nutritional health. “People need to record these data so that we can identify existing problems in this area,” she states. Regarding the development of the research, Vanessa explains that the team issued public calls inviting healthcare professionals working in food and nutrition surveillance to share their experiences, in addition to developing a chatbot to support these workers. “We gathered these experiences, produced e-books, and created a chatbot that answers questions about professional practices related to improving food and nutrition surveillance,” she notes.

Regarding expectations for the future, Vanessa explains that a survey is currently being conducted across municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, in order to identify those interested in further developing knowledge in the area of food and nutrition surveillance. “Based on these findings, we are organizing training initiatives. We aim to implement them at the state level, within regional health coordination offices. Our goal for 2026 is to strengthen outreach and capacity-building efforts,” she adds.

About the Award

The Science, Technology, and Innovation Incentive Award for SUS is a partnership between CNPq and the Ministry of Health. Its purpose is to recognize researchers, faculty members, and professionals from all fields whose work has made significant contributions to SUS, in alignment with the National Policy for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health.

The award is divided into five categories:

• Doctoral Dissertations
• Master’s Theses
• Health Products and Innovation
• Successful SUS Research Experiences 
• Articles Published in an Indexed Journal

Information about future editions can be found on the Brazilian Government’s official website.

Text: Pedro Moro, Journalism student and intern at the News Agency
Photos: Marli Anraku’s personal archive
Editing: Mariana Henriques, journalist

A faculty member at the UFSM Physical Education and Sports Center (CEFD), Felipe Schuch is coordinator of the Research Group on Exercise and Mental Health (Gepesm) at UFSM. In addition, he serves as an advisor in the graduate programs in Movement Sciences and Rehabilitation at UFSM and in Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He serves on two task forces: one for the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, focusing on lifestyle medicine for depression, and another for the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, focusing on physical exercise and nutrition. For five consecutive years (2020 to 2024), he was listed as one of the most cited authors in the “Psychology and Psychiatry” field on the Clarivate/Web of Science list.

How the survey works

Bori and Overton’s analysis considers public policy documents released between 2019 and July 2025. This includes technical reports, expert opinions, guidelines, clinical guidelines, documents from multilateral organizations, and official materials produced by national and international governments. Each researcher listed has at least 150 citations in strategic documents, indicating direct influence on the development of public policies.

Overton, the database used in the study, tracks millions of documents worldwide and identifies where scientific knowledge is used to guide decisions. “It is not just about measuring academic impact, but real impact: which voices in science are mobilized when decisions must be made regarding health, climate, the economy, or inequality,” states the report.

Felipe Schuch notes that, although he was familiar with other lists, he was unaware of this specific metric. “I kept track of other metrics, but not this one in particular. It’s a great recognition for UFSM and for Brazilian science, because it shows that what we do isn’t irrelevant, but rather something that produces real results.”

Schuch’s work and why he appears on the list

Schuch works in the field that investigates the relationship between physical activity, lifestyle, and mental health. His focus is on understanding how different levels of physical activity influence symptoms, risks, and the progression of disorders such as depression and anxiety.

According to Schuch, some of his most cited studies in public policy documents are:

• A meta-analysis published in 2016, which assesses the effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms in people with depression;
• A 2018 study demonstrating how physical activity reduces the risk of developing depressive symptoms or disorders;
• A 2022 article in the American Journal of Psychiatry, which calculates the minimum amount of physical activity needed to generate benefits, as well as estimating the dose-response relationship.

This research has informed everything from general exercise recommendations to clinical guidelines and national mental health promotion strategies. “The importance of being on this list,” Schuch reflects, “is to show the impact our work has and how it can influence decisions, behaviors, and policies around the world.”

According to him, impact is measured not only by the number of citations but by the social utility of the knowledge. “This recognition shows that our research is making an impact beyond university walls. What matters most is seeing which documents feature this information and how it drives real social change.”

Ranking among the most influential Brazilian researchers

According to the published list, the professor is credited with 219 citations in public policy documents, stemming from 64 scientific articles. The ranking, led by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), shows that Brazilian science has played a fundamental role in the formulation of public policies, albeit unevenly across fields and researcher profiles. Health, the environment, and food account for the majority of the influence.

Professor Felipe Schuch also spoke about his research and projects in an interview with the program Radar Esportivo on UniFM 107.9 radio, which is available at this link.

Text: Marina Brignol, journalism student and News Agency intern
Photos: personal archive
Editing: Lucas Casali
Translation: Amy Graham Lee

This scale is usually used to assess depression, but in this project, it is applied to other diagnoses, such as generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and post-traumatic stress. The answers given to the 13 questions are analyzed using Item Response Theory (IRT), the same tool used by the National High School Exam (Enem) to calculate student performance, which assigns a diagnostic probability rate and symptom level for each condition.

IRT analyzes not only the patient's responses, but also the structure of the questionnaire and allows for an estimation of psychological disorders and their level of intensity based on the probability of each response. This methodology offers greater accuracy than Classical Test Theory (CTT), which is based solely on the total points obtained in the questionnaire.

“The idea is not to replace psychiatric diagnoses, which are complex and should always be done by professionals, but to serve as an aid, based on scientific evidence and statistical data, for the rapid screening of multiple conditions,” says Gabriele dos Santos Jobim (eighth-semester medical student at UFSM and undergraduate research scholarship recipient), who is the lead author of the project.

In addition to its application for multiple diagnoses and the use of IRT to analyze response patterns and offer more accurate and personalized results, the project stands out for its use of risk calculators, already popular in other areas of medicine but still little used in psychiatry. The work was published as an article in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, an international journal in the field of mental health.

The work was supervised by UFSM Professor of Medicine Maurício Hoffmann and involved researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP), the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), and the Center for Research and Innovation in Mental Health (Cism). The SMFQ Calculator is available online. To use the tool, the professional responsible for monitoring must register his or her email address.

Innovation in the application of questionnaires and calculation methodologies

The idea for the project came about when Gabriele was analyzing the database of the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort Study, a study that has applied several questionnaires on psychopathological disorders since 2010. In this research, several scales were applied to understand the symptoms and how often they appeared.

During the analysis, Gabriele began to think about applying these scales—which were used for specific disorders such as anxiety and depression—in a more comprehensive way, not with regards to specific conditions, but to a spectrum, the internalizing spectrum that covers conditions such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder. According to the student, this dimensional analysis of psychological pathologies has become popular within psychiatry.

“We arrived at this scale, the SMFQ, which is traditionally used for screening depression. But, when we analyzed the properties of the scale, we saw that it worked very well to detect other conditions on the internalizing spectrum within this database,” she recalls.

The internalizing spectrum refers to mental health conditions in which individuals often direct their suffering and negative emotions inward. Some of its conditions are anxiety, depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and post-traumatic stress, which are assessed by the calculator, and others related to them.

Within their group, the Mental Health Epidemiology Group, Professor João Pedro Gonçalves Pacheco and physician João Villanova do Amaral had been working on an application for the digital application of another scale, with the aim of improving its statistical accuracy.

“The ideas of digitizing the scale, using it to track more than one condition, and incorporating Item Response Theory for calculations that cannot be done with a simple sum by hand, were integrated and aligned with the idea of making this calculator.”

These scales are usually applied in printed form and the score is evaluated based on Classical Test Theory, which adds up the answers for each item to generate a final score. However, this form of analyzing results has been criticized by researchers in the field, and the application of IRT has been seen as a more efficient alternative, but one that requires more resources.

“IRT involves very complex calculations that cannot be done on paper; you need software to use it quickly in clinical practice. The calculator can do that,” explains Gabriele. With the analysis of the High-Risk Cohort data, a specific IRT was generated for the SMFQ scale.

Text: Bernardo Silva, journalism student and news agency intern
Graphic design: Daniel De Carli
Editing: Lucas Casali
Tranlation: Daniela do Canto 

Português:
Durante o período de férias acadêmicas (de 12 de dezembro de 2025 a 27 de fevereiro de 2026) a Diretoria de Relações Internacionais atenderá das 08h às 14h.

English:
During the academic break (from December 12, 2025 to February 27, 2026), the International Affairs Office will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Español
Durante las vacaciones académicas (12 de diciembre de 2025 a 27 de febrero de 2026), la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales atenderá de 08:00 a 14:00.

Français
Pendant les vacances universitaires (12 décembre 2025 – 27 février 2026), le Bureau des Affaires Internationales sera ouverte de 8h00 à 14h00.

UFSM has updated its first simplified call for the admission of international students to its graduate programs. For the new semester, a total of 20 openings in the master’s program and 09 openings in the doctoral program (two scholarships) are available across nine participating graduate programs.

Applications are open until August 20. The selection process is simplified and conducted remotely. The start date for course activities range from October to November, 2025.

Click on the button bellow to access the call for applications: 

Call for applications – Graduate Degree Programs for International Students

This pioneering initiative is the result of a joint effort between the Provost Office for Graduate Studies and Research (PRPGP) and the International Affairs Office (SAI).

We would like to inform you that, during the academic break, from July 18 to August 1, 2025, the International Affairs Office will operate from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Informamos que, durante el receso académico, del 18 de julio al 1 de agosto de 2025, la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales permanecerá abierta de 8h a 14h.

Nous vous informons que, pendant la pause académique, du 18 juillet au 1ᵉʳ août 2025, le Bureau des Affaires Internationales sera ouvert de 8h à 14h.

• Soil Science
• Food Science and Technology
• Astronomy / Physics
• Media and Communication
• Engineering / Sanitary Engineering
• Pharmacy

Application Period:
May 5, 2025, to June 3, 2025

Minimum Requirements:
1. A doctoral degree (PhD) awarded at least five (5) years prior to the application date;
2. Teaching experience and recognized expertise in the relevant area or sub-area;
3. Relevant academic output (scientific publications, research, etc.) from the past five (5) years.
Applicants must submit all required documentation as specified in the Call. The selection will be based on an evaluation of the candidate’s academic and professional curriculum.

Remuneration:
Compensation will be based on the professor's work regime, as outlined in the table available in the Call For Aplication. 

Contract Duration:
The selected candidate will receive a non-renewable contract for three (3) months, with the option to work remotely up to 50% of the time.

For additional information, see the full Call for Appliction:

Applications are open until February 28. The selection process is simplified and conducted remotely. The start date for course activities is flexible, ranging from April to July 2025.

This pioneering initiative is the result of a joint effort between the Provost Office for Graduate Studies and Research (PRPGP) and the International Affairs Office (SAI). It aligns with Challenge 1 – Internationalization of the Institutional Development Plan (PDI) 2016-2026 and contributes to strengthening UFSM's graduate programs. 

Click on the button bellow to access the call for aplications. 

An image featuring significant paleontological finds stored at the Center for Paleontological Research (CAPPA) of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) was highlighted in Nature magazine's annual selection of the best scientific images of 2024, one of the most renowned scientific journals in the world.

Excellence in Paleontological Research at UFSM

The Santa Maria region, globally recognized for housing one of the richest fossil heritages in the world, has been essential in understanding the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates. Located in São João do Polêsine, CAPPA/UFSM has stood out in research, in the training of new scientists, and in scientific outreach about the evolutionary history of vertebrates. "It is amazing to see how the paleontological research we produce at UFSM has gained worldwide recognition, increasingly boosting the internationalization of our University," says Temp Müller.

Text: Luciane Treulieb, journalist

Image: Reproduction/Nature. Photograph: Diego Vara/Reuters

During the academic break (December 23, 2024, to March 9, 2025), the International Affairs Office's working hours will be from 8 AM to 2 PM. Emergency assistance can be requested at the phone number +55 55 99166-0253.

Note: On December 24th and 31st, the International Affairs Office will provide remote services only due to the end-of-year celebrations. We wish everyone happy holidays and a prosperous New Year!

The event featured 41 Latin American universities

Undergraduate teams from UFSM's Chemical Engineering program have won 2nd and 3rd places in the 1st Annual AVEVA Process Simulation Academic Competition for Latin America, organized by the company AVEVA.

The international academic competition involved 40 teams and 80 students from 41 Latin American universities. Giovane Malakowski de Almeida and Bruno Roberto Pasa secured 2nd place, while Nícolas Lima Anése and Thiago Reschützegger took 3rd place (Nícolas Anése is a UFSM graduate and is currently pursuing a master's degree at UFRGS). The first place was awarded to a team from Peru.

In the competition, participants collaborated to learn, develop, and deliver the most innovative ideas to contribute to a "brighter and forward-looking" energy future.

For more information, visit the company website and Instagram.

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/08/19/estudantes-de-engenharia-quimica-da-ufsm-conquistam-premios-em-competicao-internacional

Second Place in Rio Grande do Sul

The 2024 edition of the Shanghai Ranking was released last week. This year, the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) climbed 4 positions in the national ranking, securing 7th place in Brazil, and ranking as the 4th best among Federal Higher Education Institutions. In Rio Grande do Sul, it maintained its position from previous editions, being the second best in the state.

This year, more than 2,500 universities worldwide were evaluated, with 1,000 making the list. Brazil has 18 institutions featured in the ranking. Globally, Harvard remains in the top spot.

Highly Cited Researchers

The Shanghai Ranking considers six pillars for classifying institutions: Alumni winning a Nobel Prize or Fields Medal; Number of Nobel laureates or internationally recognized awards in specific fields among the institution’s members; Highly Cited Researchers (HiCi); Publications in the journals Nature and Science; Articles indexed in the Science Citation Index-Expanded and Social Science Citation Index; and the institution's per capita academic performance.

One of UFSM’s highlights in this edition of the ranking was its classification in the "Highly Cited Researchers" pillar. In this category, the university ranks second in Brazil, behind only USP.

Marcelo Lopes Kroth, Coordinator of Information Planning at UFSM, explains that this result is very significant because, in the Latin American context, there are few researchers who make it onto this list, and being ranked 2nd in Brazil demonstrates the excellent work that has been consistently carried out at UFSM.

This sentiment is shared by Luiz Felipe Valandro, Director of Strategic Actions and Programs at the Provost Office for Graduate Studies and Research. He believes that this result reflects the knowledge building that has occurred at the institution in recent years. "Being well-positioned in a ranking is the recognition of a series of actions involving many people and sectors. The formation of highly skilled individuals and the creation and generation of quality knowledge in a solid and constantly improving graduate ecosystem are foundational premises that guide Research, Development, and Innovation," he explains.

Luiz Felipe also highlights that, externally, this index refers to UFSM's scientific visibility and reputation. "These data show the extent to which the knowledge generated by the research group in a given period has resonated with their peers, having a significant impact on the advancement of knowledge in various fields," he states.

The complete results can be consulted on the Shanghai Ranking website.

The Provost Office for Planning monitors and publishes on its website the main rankings in which UFSM is featured.

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/08/19/ufsm-esta-entre-as-melhores-universidades-do-brasil-de-acordo-com-shanghai-ranking

Applications are open for the 2025 selection process of the PEC-PLE (Portuguese as a Foreign Language) and PEC-G (Undergraduate Program) under the Brazilian Program for Exchange Students (PEC). This initiative, organized by the Brazilian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offers international students the opportunity to study in Brazil with free tuition for undergraduate courses or Portuguese language courses at Brazilian Higher Education Institutions, including UFSM.

The application period runs from July 22nd to August 23rd, 2024. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the Brazilian embassy or consulate in their respective countries to submit their applications.

For more information, please refer to the Official Announcement.

Contact Information: For further details, please visit the official website of the PEC program or contact us at sai.programas@ufsm.br.

Published in a manual on energy and economic growth, the article analyzes the economic impacts of Covid-19

As a result of the postdoctoral research in energy transition, green economy, and bioeconomy by Professor Valny Giacomelli Sobrinho from the Department of Economics and International Relations at UFSM, the international cooperation agreement between UFSM and the University of South Bohemia (USB) in the Czech Republic celebrates its 5th anniversary with a new publication. Authored by Valny himself (coordinator of the agreement for UFSM), Professor Eva Cudlínová (Czech coordinator), and Drs. Roman Buchtele and Nikola Sagapova, both from USB, the chapter titled "Pandemic or Climate Economics? Weathering the Trade-Off between Health and Wealth" is part of the "Handbook on Energy and Economic Growth", published simultaneously in the United Kingdom and the USA in July this year by Edward Elgar Publishing.

Through the combination of an epidemiological model (the McKendrick-Kermack model) and a bioeconomic model (the Verhulst logistic model), the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic are assessed to determine the critical points of each economy throughout the course of the contagion. In analyzing the cases of Brazil and the Czech Republic, two alternative hypotheses about the performance of the economies and the health policies adopted are considered: (a) the richer the economy, the healthier its population – a hypothesis considered by the Human Development Index; (b) the healthier the population, the richer the economy – a hypothesis underlying the health policies implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, it was investigated how much each of these hypotheses contributed (or not) to reducing carbon emissions or increasing energy efficiency.

Original publication: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/08/08/publicacao-celebra-os-cinco-anos-de-acordo-de-cooperacao-entre-ufsm-e-universidade-tcheca

Event Promotes Discussions on Public Health and Celebrates the Signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement Between HUSM, Conab, and Ebserh

The 16th edition of the International Congress of the Rede Unida began on Wednesday evening (31st) at the UFSM Planetarium. Entitled "The Thousand and One Healths of the Territories," this year's edition aims to discuss health, care, and freedom as ethical attributes of education and public health.

During the event's program, which runs until the 3rd, there will be discussion panels, round tables, and international forums, exploring much more than just the field of health, since, according to Law 8.080, health is not just the absence of diseases, but is determined by various factors such as housing, food, work, and income. During the event's opening, members of the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM), the National Supply Company (Conab), and the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh) signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement that will ensure that 30% of HUSM's institutional purchases come from family farming.

The Congress is held every two years. The last edition, in 2022, took place in the city of Vitória, in Espírito Santo. This is the first time the event is being held outside a capital city. The president of this edition and director of the Health Sciences Center (CCS) at UFSM, Maria Denise Schimith, comments that bringing the Congress to UFSM is very important to create greater horizontality in the discussion circles and forums, uniting academics, professors, and the community. The University, which, as Maria Denise highlights, is a reference in the implementation of health residency programs and stands out for its Student Assistance in Latin America, can make the debate much richer and more horizontal.

Technical Cooperation Agreement

During the ceremony, the president of Conab, Edegar Pretto, the superintendent of HUSM, Humberto Moreira Palma, and the president of Ebserh, Arthur Chioro, signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement. This commitment will make HUSM the first among federal university hospitals in Brazil to ensure that at least 30% of its financial resources are allocated to purchasing food products from family farming. The action will take place through the Food Acquisition Program (PAA), which is executed by Conab, in the Institutional Purchase modality.

The superintendent of HUSM, Humberto Moreira Palma, highlights that 470,000 meals are produced annually at the Hospital. For this reason, the Unified Health System is also a "distributor of income that stimulates the economy, as it works for social well-being, health, life, and food." He also emphasizes that, with the Agreement, in addition to improving the quality of food, it will be possible to enhance the regional economy through a global health approach.

After the signing, the Agreement will undergo a public call, so there is no forecast yet for when it will come into effect.

Representatives from the Ministry of Health, presidents of Brazilian and international universities, political authorities, and indigenous and quilombola peoples were present at the opening ceremony.

Rede Unida

The Rede Unida is an international association of professionals, health workers, managers, users of the unified health system, and professors. It began in the 1970s with the Brazilian health reform. "Unida" means a proposal to unite actions identified at the time as "Teaching-Service Integration". It is an important initiative for integrating students into the work dynamics of basic health units, as it aims to bring academia closer to the health services of the population and the territory.

Text: Andreina Possan, journalism student and intern at the News Agency

Photos: Gustavo Damascena, editorial production student and scholarship holder at the News Agency

Editing: Mariana Henriques, journalist

Translation: Amanda Petry Radünz, assistant translator at the International Affairs Office of UFSM

Original publication: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/08/01/16a-edicao-do-congresso-internacional-da-rede-unida-acontece-na-ufsm

Paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Müller reports the most recent discovery by CAPPA/UFSM: one of the most complete herrerasauridae dinosaurs known in history.

An almost complete fossil from a dinosaur that lived approximately 230 million years ago was recently found by researchers from the Center for Paleontological Research Support at the Federal University of Santa Maria (CAPPA/UFSM). The heavy rains that affected Rio Grande do Sul in May accelerated the erosive processes at fossil sites, exposing the bones of the animal, which was discovered in São João do Polêsine, near Santa Maria.

Below is the report by paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Müller, who coordinated the team responsible for the discovery of one of the most complete herrerasauridae dinosaurs known in history.

The team

Before starting the report, I would like to acknowledge those responsible for the discovery. Besides myself, this achievement also involved the participation of several others through field or laboratory work. They are: Fabiula Prestes de Bem, Lísie Vitória Soares Damke, Janaína Brand Dillmann, Mauricio S. Garcia, Jeung Hee Schiefelbein, Tamara Rossato Piovesan, and Vitória Zanchett Dalle Laste.

May 15 (Wednesday)

After a long period of heavy rains, they finally started to cease. We were anxious to begin the prospection work, anticipating that the significant amount of water would have greatly accelerated erosion at the fossil sites. This could potentially lead us to new fossils or destroy them if we did not rescue them in time.

In the early afternoon, we gathered our tools and equipment and set out with a team of five to our first stop, a site very close to the urban area of São João do Polêsine. This site is called Marchezan Site, where the complete skeleton of Gnathovorax cabreirai was previously found. This dinosaur belongs to the herrerasauridae group, which were apex predators. They had sharp teeth, long claws, and a bipedal posture. They were the first large-sized predatory dinosaurs, with some reaching up to six meters in length.

Now that you know how amazing the Gnathovorax cabreirai fossil is, you can understand why we always feel that we might find another similar fossil at this site. However, it was not the case this time. After meticulous scanning, we concluded that there were no other fossils to be collected at that moment. But the day would still surprise us.

When we returned to the vehicle and proceeded to the next stop, it was already the middle of the afternoon. After traveling only 1.2 kilometers, we arrived at the Predebon fossil site. This is a rock exposure area from the Triassic Period, located at the edge of a dam visible from the road. At this spot, we had previously collected numerous Rhynchosaurus fossils, which are reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs and are characterized by their snout-like appearance. After walking a short distance in the site area, I discovered some exposed fossil material. There was a kind of bone blade that was significantly damaged and a fractured cylindrical bone. Both were embedded in the rock, although they showed signs of erosion. We know that dinosaurs, unlike other animals from that era, had extremely thin bone walls, similar to that cylindrical bone. We all gathered around the find while a student and I began to partially expose the fossil remains. We were excited about the possibility of it being from a dinosaur, as they are rare components of the fauna from that time. Our excitement grew when we realized that the fragmented bone blade was part of the ilium, a bone of the pelvic girdle. Given our familiarity with dinosaur anatomy, it was easy to identify it as a part of the pelvic girdle associated with the leg bones of a herrerasauridae dinosaur, like the Gnathovorax cabreirai.    

We found at the Predebon site what we had been searching for at a neighboring site! But it was too early to celebrate. The sun was beginning to set, and the forecast indicated rain. We could not remove the fossil materials at that moment as they were extremely fragile. It would be necessary to excavate the entire rock to transport them adequately to our research center. To protect the fossil that night, we applied a plaster layer. This would be enough to protect it temporarily, but we needed to continue the collection as soon as possible since we did not know if heavy rains might return. I do not know if all the team members dreamed about the fossil that night, but I am sure they could not wait to continue the work the next day.

May 16 (Thursday)

The day dawned cold with a light rain. It wasn't the ideal condition for fossil collection, but we were dealing with unpredictable weather that could intensify into heavier rain at any moment. Therefore, we organized the necessary materials to continue the excavation and returned to the site. The plan was to excavate around the fossils to extract an entire block of rock containing them. After a few strikes with the pickaxe, more bone elements emerged. We were happy to see the quantity of bones from that fossil increasing, which meant we were likely uncovering a more complete skeleton. On the other hand, we would need to expand the excavation area to extract an even larger block.

While some team members focused on excavation, others continued searching for more fossils at the site. It didn't take long for the students to announce a series of discoveries. Various more fragmentary materials of rhinoceroses were scattered in different spots. These fossils were collected and cataloged. Meanwhile, at the main collection point, bones kept appearing without pause. We were certain we had stumbled upon an incredible find. We could observe vertebrae, ribs, femur, tibia, and pelvic girdle bones. Due to the large volume of fossils, we had to proceed with great caution. In the more delicate areas, we used hammers and chisels to break the rock. In areas where the likelihood of finding more fossils was lower, we could use the pickaxe, which is a heavier tool. By late afternoon, the entire rock block was almost delineated. Before wrapping up for the day, we applied another layer of plaster over the new bone elements. The fossil was well-protected to await another night.

May 17 (Friday)

We returned in the morning to continue the excavation work. We were still excited about the discovery and hoped to finish extracting the rock block that day. We worked all day. Another smaller block with remnants of a rhynchosaur was completed, while part of the team continued breaking the rock around the block with the dinosaur fossils. Since the dimensions of the block were already outlined and the entire upper surface was covered with plaster, most of the work could be done with pickaxes. While one or two team members used pickaxes against the rock, others removed the debris with hoes. This process was repeated throughout the day.

Late in the afternoon, the block was completely outlined. Now we needed to plaster the remaining parts. We had the sun in our favor; it was a relatively warmer day than the previous ones, which made the plaster drying process faster. After repeating the plaster mixing process a few times and applying a cloth mixed with it around the block, we had the material fully protected for transport. It was at this moment that we faced the next challenge. When we rolled the rock block to apply plaster to the base, it became evident that we had something very heavy to carry. We would need a strategy to move the block to the truck's bed. We decided to do this using a kind of stretcher made of wooden pieces and ropes. It was something we used frequently, but this block was a bit heavier than usual. Since it was already protected, we opted to leave the transport for the next day.

Before ending the workday, we prepared a makeshift stretcher at our research center. We didn't know the exact weight of the block, but the team thought it would be important to conduct a "pilot test." I, who weigh around 115 kilograms, ended up being the guinea pig. The group managed to lift me easily, and the stretcher held up perfectly. Not imagining that the block would be much heavier, we all went to rest to prepare for the final day of the collection.

May 18 (Saturday)

On that Saturday morning, the fossil skeleton would leave the spot where it had lain motionless for 230 million years. We parked the truck as close as possible to the location where the block rested. The first step in the transport work was to place the block onto the stretcher. During these initial movements, we realized that the task would be much more arduous than we had hoped. The block was much heavier than we had imagined; we now estimate that it weighed over 200 kilograms. As we lowered it onto the stretcher, we heard some creaking from the wood, indicating that it might break during the transport. One of the students on the team was assigned to secure the block with ropes to try to prevent any problems. Her experience as a scout always helps us in these moments.

The block was in position and securely tied to the stretcher. It was time to start the transport. We discussed a route that seemed the least uneven up to the top of the slope, where the truck awaited us. We counted to three and lifted the block together. We walked a few meters and then paused to reorganize. One of the wooden planks gave way, but we managed to continue. It took several moments until we finally managed to place the block in the truck's bed. The achievement was celebrated with joy by everyone. We had successfully rescued the dinosaur skeleton!

May 20 (Monday)

On Monday, we returned to the Predebon site to search for elements that might have been left among the debris from the collection or even in the surrounding area. We also needed to continue collecting some remnants of a rhynchosaur that appeared next to the dinosaur we had already collected. To our delight, we found the dinosaur's scapula and some phalanges still embedded in the rock. These materials were extracted and packed.

May 21 (Tuesday)

The next morning, we went to another site located in the municipality of Dona Francisca. Since we had spent the last few days collecting fossils in São João do Polêsine, we hadn't had the chance to check other sites that had also been affected by the rains. At the location, we gathered some fragments scattered on the surface and also collected parts of a dicynodont that were exposed in the rock. Dicynodonts are very distant relatives of mammals. They are herbivorous, quadrupedal, and characterized by a pair of large tusks. We did not identify anything that required excavation. Therefore, we returned once again to the Predebon site in São João do Polêsine to collect some final materials.

In the afternoon, we finally turned our attention back to the block with the dinosaur. We were about to begin the "preparation" work. This involves exposing all the bone elements by removing the sediment covering them. First, however, it was necessary to cut through the plaster. After removing the plaster from the top, we transported the block to the laboratory and began a surface cleaning. Seeing that well-preserved fossil was incredible. Every student who passed by was amazed. Not only because it was a dinosaur with many preserved bones but also due to the quality of the preservation. We could see very delicate details of the bones.

But there was still something left to make us completely satisfied. Without a doubt, when studying vertebrate fossils, what attracts the most attention is the skull. It is through the skull that we get a glimpse of the "face" of the extinct creature. However, until that moment, we hadn’t preserved any parts of the skull. Of course, that alone would have been an incredible find, but paleontologists always have that feeling that there might be something under the next rock. That’s exactly what happened: as we removed the coarser sediment, pointed structures with serrated edges emerged. Teeth. The teeth that, 230 million years ago, frightened smaller animals and pierced the flesh of others less fortunate. Along with the teeth, the parts of the skull began to appear. Our discovery was complete. Everyone celebrated with enthusiasm. We were facing one of the most complete Herrerasaurid dinosaurs ever discovered in history.

July

Since the discovery, we have identified almost all the bone elements in the block. Our research team has been working many hours on preparing the material. The sediment covering the fossil bones is slowly removed using scalpels, while a resin mixture is applied to the fossils to ensure their preservation. One of the most recent revelations has been the braincase region, which is intact. This portion will allow us to extract new information about the brains of the early dinosaurs.

Based on the size of the bone elements we have observed, we estimate that the dinosaur would have been around 2.5 meters in length, but it died before reaching its maximum size. We hope to remove all the bones from the rock over the next few months. After that, we will conduct comparative studies to determine the dinosaur's species and gain a better understanding of how this predator lived in our region so long ago.

Funding

The research is funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Text: Rodrigo Temp Müller, paleontologist at CAPPA/UFSM

Edition: Luciane Treulieb, journalist

Graphic art: Daniel Michelon De Carli, designer

Translation: Amanda Petry Radünz, assistant translator at the International Affairs Office of UFSM

Original publication: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/07/19/os-ossos-nao-paravam-de-surgir-estavamos-diante-de-um-achado-incrivel

Discovery by a paleontologist from CAPPA/UFSM was published in an international scientific journal

A paleontologist from UFSM published a study in the Scientific Reports journal on Thursday (20) describing a new species of fossil reptile from the municipality of Paraíso do Sul, in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. The discovery reveals the first Brazilian record of a group called Gracilisuchidae, which was previously known only in Argentina and China.

Before the emergence of dinosaurs, ecosystems were dominated by precursors to mammals and reptiles from various lineages. Among these lineages, one of the most diverse eventually gave rise to alligators and crocodiles. However, during the Triassic Period, this large lineage was much more diverse than it is today, with many terrestrial forms occupying the role of top predators, while others developed spiny armors for protection. Fossils of these reptiles are recorded in fossil sites in Brazil. However, one of the most enigmatic groups of this ancient lineage had not yet been recorded in the country. This changed when UFSM paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Müller noticed a different fossil amid a donation of materials received by the Center for Paleontological Research Support (CAPPA) in January 2024, which was provided by paleontology enthusiast Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurélio.

Reviewing the received fossils, the UFSM paleontologist selected specimens to begin the preparation work, which consists of removing the fossil from the surrounding rock. After a few hours of preparation, parts of the pelvic girdle (commonly known as the hip) were revealed. However, the most exciting moment of the process, according to the paleontologist, was when the animal's orbit region was revealed after the removal of a layer of rock. At that moment, it became clear that the organism's skull was also preserved.

After "freeing" the fossil from the rock, the diagnosis process began. With a series of unusual characteristics, it was possible to determine that the fossil belonged to an animal previously unknown in Brazil. However, the paleontologist knew that there were fossils with similar characteristics elsewhere. Specimens discovered in Argentina and China, which belonged to small predatory reptiles, shared many characteristics with the new discovery. These animals are part of a group called Gracilisuchidae, one of the many reptile lineages that existed during the Triassic Period. The only known close relatives of the gracilisuquids are alligators and crocodiles; however, unlike the living forms, the gracilisuquids were completely terrestrial animals, with limbs positioned directly beneath their bodies. They existed between 247 and 237 million years ago, even before the dinosaurs emerged.

A Small Predator

Preserving a complete skull, part of the vertebral column, pelvic girdle, and hind limbs, the new fossil was named Parvosuchus aurelioi. The first name means "small crocodile," as the fossil belonged to an animal that would have reached only one meter in length, while "aurelioi" honors Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurélio for his passion for paleontology and prospecting, which led to the discovery of the fossil in question.

According to Aurélio, who communicated to the CAPPA/UFSM team during the donation, the material was found in a locality in the municipality of Paraíso do Sul. Thus, Parvosuchus aurelioi becomes the first unique fossil from the municipality. The fossil site that produced the fossils is composed of rocks approximately 237 million years old, representing the transition between the Middle and Late Triassic.

Based on the shape of the teeth, it is possible to determine that Parvosuchus aurelioi fed on other animals. Additionally, the lightweight structure of the skeleton reveals that it was a fast animal. However, at only one meter in length, Parvosuchus aurelioi was not capable of hunting the large herbivores that existed 237 million years ago in Rio Grande do Sul. These large prey were part of the diet of much larger predators, such as Prestosuchus chiniquensis, which reached up to seven meters in length. Parvosuchus aurelioi had to focus on smaller prey. This discovery is particularly interesting because, until now, there were no such small fossils of members of the lineage that gave rise to crocodiles in layers of this age in Brazil.

Gracilisuchidae in Brazil

The first fossil of a gracilisuquid was discovered in Argentina and described in 1972. The following year, a similar animal was described for China. Years later, in 2001, another gracilisuquid was discovered in China. After this, no other unequivocal fossils of Gracilisuchidae were recorded in other countries. Thus, after more than two decades without new finds, Parvosuchus aurelioi draws attention back to this peculiar group of reptiles. Little is known about the biology of gracilisuquids. However, one interesting aspect is that no member of this group reached large body sizes, with the maximum length being about one meter. Additionally, the most recent unequivocal fossils of the group are around 237 million years old. For comparison, the oldest dinosaur fossils are found in rocks approximately 230 million years old.

However, the discovery of Parvosuchus aurelioi also sheds light on another Brazilian fossil. In 2022, a team of Brazilian researchers presented Maehary bonapartei, a reptile about 30 centimeters long that was discovered in the municipality of Faxinal do Soturno, Rio Grande do Sul. At the time, it was believed that Maehary bonapartei belonged to the group that gave rise to pterosaurs (a group of flying reptiles that existed during the Mesozoic Era). In 2023, another study suggested that this reptile could be a gracilisuquid.

In the new study presenting Parvosuchus aurelioi, this hypothesis is corroborated. Dating of the fossil site where Maehary bonapartei was discovered indicates an age of 225 million years. Thus, Parvosuchus aurelioi and Maehary bonapartei never coexisted, being separated by more than 10 million years. This is interesting information because, if new finds confirm that Maehary bonapartei was indeed a gracilisuquid, the group may have existed in the region that is now Brazil for a long time, something not yet observed for this group elsewhere in the world.

Center for Paleontological Research Support

The fossil remains of Parvosuchus aurelioi, along with a series of other fossils, are housed at the Center for Paleontological Research Support of Quarta Colônia (CAPPA), a UFSM research center located in São João do Polêsine. The center has a fossil exhibition that can be visited free of charge.

The study was conducted by UFSM paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Müller. The research received support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The paper titled “A new small-sized predatory pseudosuchian archosaur from the Middle Late Triassic of Southern Brazil” was published in the journal “Scientific Reports” and can be accessed for free via the link.

Source: Center for Paleontological Research Support of Quarta Colônia at UFSM

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/06/20/fossil-de-reptil-que-viveu-antes-dos-dinossauros-e-o-primeiro-de-seu-tipo-para-o-brasil

The Impact Ranking evaluates the achievement of 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 

The British magazine Times Higher Education (THE) reported last Wednesday (12) The Impact Ranking 2024, highlighting the most sustainable universities in the world, that measures sustainability efforts through the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. 

The big highlight for UFSM was its rise in the general classification in Brazil, moving up from 4^th to 2^nd position nationally and ranking 1^st among federal institutions. This year, 55 universities were classified in Brazil. Globally, UFSM maintained its position in the 301-400 range.  

Besides the general score, the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking also classifies universities according to each of the 17 SDGs. UFSM continues to excel in SDG 2 – Zero Hunger, ranking 2^nd in Brazil and 52^nd in the world. This SDG evaluates research on hunger, teaching on food sustainability, and commitment to avoiding waste, both on campus and in the surrounding regions of engagement.  

Another highlighting result for UFSM was in SDG 1 – No Poverty, ranking 2^nd in Brazil and 87^th in the world. This Goal evaluated research on poverty and their acting and support for poor students and citizens of local communities. 

UFSM also excelled in SDG 15 – Life on Land, ranking 3^rd in Brazil and within the 401-600 range globally. In this SDG, UFSM stood out in combating biodiversity loss, promoting sustainable forest management, and restoring devastated lands.  

The number of evaluated institutions has increased 

This year, The Impact Ranking included 1,963 universities worldwide, up from 1,591 in the previous edition. This makes it the largest sustainability ranking in the world, surpassing GreenMetric and QS Sustainability.  

For Lucas Langner of the Provost Office for Planning (PROPLAN), the increase in the number of evaluated universities is attributed to the approaching deadline of the 2030 Agenda, when global attention will focus on collective efforts to achieve the SDGs. Universities play a fundamental role in this process. Additionally, the rise is due to the ranking’s well-developed methodology, which evaluates each SDG individually and adopts rigorous evidence criteria for each piece of information received.  

“Almost 300 pieces of information related to the university’s efforts towards the SDGs are required, and nearly all questions necessitate documentary proof, which amplifies the challenge”, highlights Lucas, underscoring the rigor and seriousness of the ranking. 

Efforts by the entire academic community 

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/06/12/ufsm-sobe-e-e-a-2a-melhor-universidade-do-brasil-em-sustentabilidade-segundo-a-times-higher-education

This initiative will allow graduate students from PPGCTA to develop technical knowledge in scientific data analysis  

The international agreement signed by UFSM will allow students from the Graduate Program in Food Science and Technology (PPGCTA) to develop their skills in scientific data analysis using the statistics program SAS Viya, from the globally known SAS institute. The agreement, signed in December 2023, has been in effect since the first semester of 2024, placing UFSM among the 400 universities worldwide utilizing SAS for teaching and data analysis.  

The program is integrated into the courses Applied Statistics, taught by Professor Renius Mello, and Multivariate Analysis, taught by Professors Fernanda Cristina Breda and Renius Mello. To freely access the program, students need to create an academic profile on the SAS Academic Programs webpage using their institutional email address (@ufsm).  

PPGCTA students will develop their skills in the classroom using the SAS Viya for Learners platform, an academic version of the SAS Viya software. In the theoretical portion, students will acquire technical knowledge of scientific data analysis, while in the practical portion, they will use the program to work with and analyze data. Upon completing the courses, students will receive an Academic digital stamp that highlights their expertise and experience using SAS Viya. The program offers tools such as BI (business intelligence), AI (artificial intelligence), machine learning, and deep learning.  

Four other universities have established an agreement with SAS, but only UFSM offers a specialization in applied statistics analysis. “SAS is an excellent choice because it offers a wide variety of tools that encompass the entire analytical life cycle”, highlights Professor Renius Mello. The validity of the agreement is indefinite.  

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/06/13/ufsm-firma-acordo-internacional-com-instituto-sas-para-disciplinas-de-pos-graduacao

Franciele Rocha de Oliveira’s dissertation focuses on black families during the post-abolition period in southern Brazil

Latin America Studies Association (LASA) awarded its prestigious prize for best dissertation at the LASA Brazil Awards 2024 to the paper titled “Negros laços: trajetórias coletivas das famílias dos nascidos de Ventre Livre no pós-abolição (Santa Maria/RS, 1871-1941)”, authored by Franciele Rocha de Oliveira. Presented in 2023 as part of the Graduate Program in History at UFSM, the dissertation was supervised by professor Luís Augusto Farinatti, with co-advising from professor Carlos Eduardo Coutinho da Costa from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The author has been an active participant in the Group of Studies on Post-abolition (GEPA) since 2016. 

The thesis delves into the experiences of black families during the post-abolition period in southern Brazil, specifically focusing on the lives of 532 children, enslaved daughters, and mothers who were born without assistance in Santa Maria. It analyzes their life conditions and the families they formed between 1890 and 1941, through marriages and other relationships. The research employs methods such as micro-history, serial history, and oral history to trace social relations, patterns, and singularities between slavery and freedom. The dissertation offers original insights into these families and their relatives, as well as inheritance practices, living arrangements, and marriage customs. 

The judging committee for the LASA Brazil Awards 2024 comprised Lua Gill da Cruz from PUC-RIO, David Thompson from Simon Fraser University, and Ana Luiz Morais Soares from Vanderbilt University. 

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/06/10/tese-defendida-na-ufsm-ganha-premio-da-latin-american-studies-association

Professor Alencar Zanon, from UFSM, a consultant at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), presented the preliminary results of the rice/soy rotation system project in Venezuela. This project is part of the master's thesis by João Souza, at the Graduate Program in Agricultural Engineering (PPGEA) and the final paper by Cintia Piovesan in the Agronomy program at the Rural Sciences Center (CCR). Both are participants in the FieldCrops Team. 

On June 4 and 5, directors of the agriculture sector, farmers, and experts engaged in this project discussed the preliminary results in the technical room of the Asoportuguesa project. This association, along with Fundarroz, Polo Agropecuario, Fondesoya, and Flar, leads the development of this initiative. 

The results, although not yet final, indicate a potential yield in Venezuela of 5.8 tons per hectare for soy and 9.8 tons per hectare for rice, based on the country’s environmental conditions, according to Zanon.  

Based on the project’s results, a realistic goal would be to achieve yields of 4 tons per hectare for soy and 8 tons per hectare for rice. This target represents approximately 80% of the potential yield, as striving for 100% would involve higher risks and costs.  

Data from over 400 crops and more than 40 producers in the states of Portuguesa, Guárico, and Cojedes were analyzed, covering a total surface area equivalent to 7,139 hectares. José Luis Pérez, president of Fevearroz and director at Fedeagro, emphasized that there has never been such a detailed study on this system before.  

On June 6 and 7, technical visits were conducted to evaluate the demonstration plots of soy in the fields of producers Venturino Cicconetti and Aurelio Cazulani. 

Zanon comments that the results of this project have contributed to the development of high-quality human resources and will position Venezuela at the forefront of sustainable food production in global agriculture.  

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/06/10/equipe-fieldcrops-da-ufsm-apresenta-resultados-de-um-dos-maiores-projetos-de-producao-sustentavel-da-venezuela

The survey evaluated 1503 universities in 106 countries 

The results of the 2025 evaluation of the QS World University Ranking were published last Tuesday (04). In this edition, UFSM holds the 16^th place in the general category in Brazil and 11^th among Federal Universities. Globally, it maintained its position in the 1201-1440 range. 

Despite the large number of public and private universities in Brazil, only 35 entered the ranking. Nonetheless, Brazil contributes the highest number of universities in Latin America, which, in this edition, was represented by 195 universities in 18 countries. This number is justified by the stringent criteria of the ranking, particularly regarding research metrics.  

This year, 17 million papers were evaluated by the ranking. To determine the final grade, the criteria included research metrics such as indicators of scientific publication and citations resulting from these papers, the proportion of students per faculty and international academics, sustainability, and a comprehensive survey on global academic reputation involving more than 280,000 researchers and academic staff worldwide.  

The complete results can be found on the QS World University Rankings website. 

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/06/05/ufsm-esta-entre-as-melhores-universidades-do-brasil-segundo-qs-ranking

Authorities from China and Brazil participated in the event 

On Wednesday, the 3rd of this month, UFSM inaugurated its Chinese Smart Classroom in room 3302 of Building 16. Chinese Smart Classrooms (CSC) are equipped with specific technology for teaching Chinese language and culture. The main equipment and native teachers, who will be present at UFSM, are funded by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China. The presence of these teachers and the opportunity for direct interaction play a fundamental role in the learning process, establishing the CSC as a center of excellence in Mandarin teaching.  

The inauguration of UFSM’s Chinese Smart Classroom represents a historic milestone for Brazil-China cooperation, being the first of its kind implemented in our country and in Latin America. This achievement was made possible through the long-standing and robust partnership established between UFSM and Chinese institutions, largely due to the efforts of Prof. Qiao Jianzhen (Hebei Normal University/Confucius Institute at the Fluminense Federal University). 

Developing the future 

The inauguration of the Chinese Smart Classroom (CSC) reaffirms the city of Santa Maria and UFSM’s national and international prominence, showcasing their pioneering actions and projects. Currently, China boasts over 60 universities offering undergraduate courses in Portuguese, whereas Brazil has only one program at the University of São Paulo (USP). This underscores the immense potential for the development of new courses in the country, with the CSC serving as a vital catalyst for similar initiatives to be established. 

For UFSM, forging this collaboration with China signifies not just the enhancement of linguistic and cultural exchange but also the advancement of science, technology, and innovation in both nations. Beyond merely advancing UFSM's integration into the global academic arena, this initiative will also unlock myriad opportunities for students and faculty members, equipping them with additional tools and avenues to foster academic, scientific, and business connections with a nation that holds a pivotal position in global geopolitics. 

It is also worth emphasizing that the entire Santa Maria community stands to benefit from this project. While the classes are initially targeted at the academic community of UFSM, the eventual goal, once operations are firmly established, is to extend these offerings to the general public as well. 

Start of Classes 

Classes at the Chinese Smart Classroom will be available both online and in-person, although specific details regarding the academic schedule, including dates and times, are not yet finalized. Planning for these activities is anticipated to commence in the second semester of this year, and further information will be extensively communicated through official UFSM channels in the upcoming months. 

Inauguration Ceremony 

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Pércio Reis auditorium, located in the Technology Center (CT). It commenced with a captivating performance of the dance “Playing Carimbó” by the UFSM extension project "Mojubá: Brazilian Popular Dances". Following this, the Department of Gaucho Traditions (DTG) at UFSM delighted the audience with a display of regional culture through traditional Gaucho dances. Professor Xie Jinyu then showcased a piece of Chinese culture with an ancient form of Chinese dance known as the “Dance of the Fans”, while Professor Guó Jiayi performed the song "Singing in the Rain of Yangzhou" on the flute. 

During the opening of the official panel, which included Brazilian and Chinese authorities, Prof. Paulo Bayard Dias Gonçalves, the director of the International Affairs Office (SAI) at UFSM, expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the realization of the project. He underscored the significance of the moment in strengthening educational and cultural relations between the two countries, stating, "Today, we are inaugurating a relationship that goes far beyond CLEC, encompassing interaction in science, technology, and innovation between Brazil and China". Prof. Paulo Bayard also highlighted that the establishment of the Smart Classroom represents the culmination of a partnership that has spanned several years and various areas, from language teaching to technological development driven by collaborations with Chinese companies. 

Prof. Qiao Jianzhen, representing China and serving as a professor at Hebei Normal University and Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), expressed gratitude for the support and acknowledged the growing cooperation between the two countries. "The inauguration ceremony of the Smart Classroom is the result of the efforts of the entire UFSM community, Hebei Normal University, and CLEC in supporting Mandarin teaching. With the new classroom, we hope to have more opportunities to expand Chinese culture," she stated. Prof. Qiao also emphasized that, especially in the post-pandemic period, it has become evident that the world needs to use language as a bridge to promote understanding and communication between different peoples. 

Prof. Gil Negreiros, Director of the Arts and Languages Center (CAL), emphasized the numerous challenges universities face in transcending national and regional boundaries. He also highlighted that CAL is committed to collaborating with other languages and sees the Smart Classroom project as a significant catalyst for future initiatives aimed at teaching languages to both the academic and Santa Maria communities. 

Prof. Liu Jingze, president of Hebei Normal University, participated via video conference from China, expressing that the inauguration of the Chinese Smart Classroom at UFSM holds significant importance for the international promotion of the Chinese language and culture. He expressed hope for increased exchanges and cooperation in Chinese language education across more cities in the future, providing Brazilian students with greater opportunities to study and engage with China. 

The director of the Division of North American and Oceanian Affairs (DAOA) at CLEC, Prof. Yuan Li, emphasized the significance of this year being the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "I believe that the Smart Classroom will be a new model for Chinese language education in Brazil. It is an interesting place for young people to learn about Chinese culture, and it facilitates interaction between the two countries", commented the director. 

Finally, Luciano Schuch, president of UFSM, underscored the university's commitment to achieving global excellence. "The global shift happening in the world today, which is turning towards China, is important for us to understand this ancient culture and to strengthen our partnerships", highlighted the president. He expressed optimism that the Smart Classroom would catalyze enhanced intercultural interaction and learning opportunities. 

After the speeches, the audience had the chance to tour the new Smart Classroom. The occasion was also marked by a coffee break and a performance by saxophonist Hudson Garcia. 

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/orgaos-de-apoio/sai/2024/04/08/ufsm-inaugura-a-primeira-chinese-smart-classroom-da-america-latina-voltada-ao-ensino-de-lingua-e-cultura-chinesas

This opportunity is open to the UFSM community and students from other Higher Education institutions  

Through the ANDIFES* Network - Languages Without Borders, the Languages Unit at UFSM provides both in-person and online Portuguese courses. The courses will be held from April to June.  

Courses offered:  

Preparatory Course for the Foreign Language Reading Sufficiency Test (TESLLE) in Portuguese (32 hours) - IN-PERSON 

• Intended for the UFSM community interested in taking the TESLLE 
• Applications are open until April 11 in the form 
• Classes will be held on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., from April 15 to June 03 

Reading and Textual Production in Portuguese: Basic Principles (32 hours) - ONLINE 

• Open to the UFSM community and students from other Higher Education Institutions 
• Applications are open until April 17 in the form
• Classes will be held on Fridays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., from April 19 to June 07 

The result of the subscription will be emailed no later than noon on the day of the first class of the chosen course. 

*National Association of Managers of Federal Higher Education Institutions  

Original text: https://www.ufsm.br/2024/04/04/nucleo-de-linguas-da-ufsm-oferta-de-cursos-de-portugues-para-estrangeiros