MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK at Amazon biodiversity, sustainability and innovation seminar in Brazil

Sir Ghillean T. Prance, British expert on Amazonian Botany will be attending the seminar

The year 2013 is a special one for researches in the northern region of Brazil: the Ferreira Penna Scientific Station, research base of the Emílio Goeldi museum and research unit of the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, completes 20 years of existence.

Between September 30 and October 4, a seminar called “Biodiversity, innovation and sustainability; Amazon and United Kingdom: experiences and opportunities” will take place in Belém and in the Caxiuanã national forest to celebrate the anniversary of Ferreira Penna.

The event has the support of British Science and Innovation Network and will bring together professionals and researchers from Brazil and Britain to encourage the exchange of practices in the areas of biodiversity, biotechnology, technology transfer and intellectual property.

The United Kingdom’s relationship with Brazil in the area of scientific research is long standing. A good example of this is Ferreira Penna station itself, which included the active participation of the British in the 90’s”, says Caroline Cowan, Science and Innovation Director of the British Embassy in Brasilia. “The seminar will be another opportunity for exchanges in this area,” she adds.

The agenda of the event starts at the 30th with a meeting between the event’s coordination, and Brazilian and British researchers. On the 1st and 2nd of October, a group of experts and officials will discuss, inside Ferreira Penna station, possibilities for consolidation and expansion of scientific and technological cooperation between different research groups that act in Caxiuanã and in the United Kingdom.

The official opening of the seminar will take place on October 3 in the auditorium of the Zoobotanic Park of Emilio Goeldi Museum. At the same day, the 20 year anniversary commemorative stamp of Ferreira Penna Station will also be launched.

A special guest of the event is the prestigious Sir Ghillean T. Prance, British expert on Amazonian Botany and former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, who was responsible for the negotiations for the United Kingdom investment in the installation of Ferreira Penna Station.