The head of the Brazilian Association for the advancement of science (BAAS) said: "We demand still if it is preferable to have a Minister [science] with real political power or someone from the scientific community." Now Marco Antonio Raupp and the rest of the country scientists are about to learn the answer.
This month, newly elected President Dilma Rousseff chose as Minister of science Aloizio Mercadante, a powerful Senator from the State of São Paulo, with little stock in the area. (His appointment is not official until December 15, but a spokesman for Mercadante says accepted offer of Rousseff).
Not only its pale diplomas alongside current Minister for science Brazil, Sérgio Rezende, a physicist who has published a solo theoretical paper this year b review Bose-Einstein condensates physics driven microwaves. Mercadante is also overwhelmed by its earlier applications recognized as incorrect, as he held a doctorate from the University of Campinas (Unicamp) in economics.
Brazilian companies science are carefully walk on the appointment. BAAS and the Brazilian Academy of sciences issued a joint (in Portuguese) statement on transition expressing their "high expectations and confidence that the Ministry of science and technology will continue to benefit conditions allowed to perform its mission successfully. Raupp, says the company is simply reminding politicians of the importance of gathering a Minister on the basis of technical merit. Neurobiologiste Miguel Nicolelis, Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, who campaigned on behalf of Rousseff, is just as coy. "This is an appointment very surprising," he explains.
Rezende, who is retiring after 5 years the position of this month, created new bridges to the industry chaired growth budgets, is widely popular in universities. "It will be very difficult to replace Rezende," explains physicist Sérgio Mascarenhas of the University of São Paulo of Institute of advanced studies. "But he built such a large infrastructure policies will probably continue.
Although Mercadante has not been active on issues of science, he has experience in related fields. As a Senator, he has defended the improvement of education and the installation of broadband Internet services in schools and opposed a bill that would have censored speech on the Internet. Political commentators say that the position of science might be just a prelude for Mercadante, which could last the Mayor of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2012.
In the meantime, Mercadante concerning his doctorate statements continue to dog him. Although he claimed in an interview televised 2006 graduate diploma and his official biography noted once he "did his master's degree and doctorate in economics at Unicamp", never been Mercadante completed doctoral. Today, a spokesman for blame them staff memberss error.
Current resumé of Mercadante said that he holds a master's degree. But that may soon change. Next week, 56 years old politician will defend her doctoral thesis on the economic policy of the Party of labour administration, to which it belongs.
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