S.U. Dani
Published: December 15, 2009
Genet. Mol. Res. 8 (4) : 1496-1497
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-4gmr734

Cite this Article:
S.U. Dani (2009). Science in Brazil: not just a matter of economy and natural resources. Genet. Mol. Res. 8(4): 1496-1497. https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-4gmr734

About the Authors
S.U. Dani

Corresponding author
S.U. Dani
E-mail: srgdani@gmail.com

Gene Russo’s account on the prospects of life sciences in Brazil (Russo, 2009) raises the important question as to whether a booming economy and abundant natural resources could help this country become ‘a life-science juggernaut’. The interviews he carried out in Brazil make it clear that unless critical steps are taken to correct priorities, the answer to his question is clearly ‘no’ (Dani, 2009). Russo indicates that Brazilian science has promise, but he makes it clear that institutional obstacles need to be overcome. Some of the reasons pointed out by the Brazilian scientists, entrepreneurs and a policy-maker that he interviewed are insufficient private and public investments allocated to science, low salaries, brain drain, excessive bureaucracy, and an academic culture that does not support entrepreneurship. Read more. . .