Brazil scientists’ representative says 30,000 researchers awaiting funds, protests budget cuts

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to the vice president of the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science Fernanda Sobral, the cuts in science in Brazil mean the crippling of research in the country.

“The CNPq is the main agency promoting research, and when it was about to be voted on in the mixed budget committee a letter came from the Ministry of Economy requesting that 90% of it be used for other purposes,” she said.

Fernanda explained the implications of the cuts on scientific advances in the country. “CNPq has been deprived of R$690 (US$126) million, and the public notice that enables the financing of research in all areas of knowledge, including emergency issues for the country, had already been issued,” she said.

The vice-president pointed out the situation of researchers whose work was paralyzed by the cuts. “Some 30,000 researchers applied for funds for their research and these funds have been withdrawn, grants for young researchers in universities while they are unable to stabilize themselves are suspended,” she said.

“The Ministry of Economy still needs to release R$2 billion, it’s another of our demands, because unless it’s released by December we won’t be able to spend, it will be used to pay the public debt,” the representative said.

Source: CNN Brasil