By Lucas Guaraldo*
Ecologist Julia Shimbo, a researcher at IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute) and scientific coordinator of the MapBiomas Network, was one of the winners of the Social Impact category at Brazil Conference 2025. The award recognizes her work in building innovative and accessible technological solutions for monitoring deforestation and land use.
“Participating in the Brazil Conference was a great opportunity to present collaborative and open Brazilian science and the impact it has – and can have – on the world. This type of local scientific production promotes initiatives in various places, but also ensures that they have a global impact and serve as a basis for decision-making,” Shimbo points out.
The Brazil Conference’s Social Impact program values and promotes talents whose initiatives have “transformative potential for Brazilian society”. Focused on science, technology, culture, the third sector, entrepreneurship and public service, the program recognizes individuals who promote innovation, social inclusion and sustainable development, giving visibility to leaders capable of inspiring a new generation and contributing to the future of the country.
With a degree in ecology from Unesp (São Paulo State University), Julia joined IPAM more than 10 years ago as a postdoctoral fellow. Since 2016 she has been working as a researcher, having taken part in the preparation of the Third National Inventory of Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Land Use sector, which calculated the changes in carbon stocks that occurred between 2011 and 2015 according to the parameters defined by the IPCC (United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
Julia Shimbo during her presentation at the Brazil Conference 2025
In the MapBiomas Network, Julia coordinates an alliance that brings together more than 100 non-governmental organizations, universities and research institutes in Brazil and 14 other countries. The network develops historical series on land use based on high-precision satellite images, in partnership with local organizations and researchers, promoting an understanding of regional contexts.
The data is released openly and free of charge, directly contributing to the development of public policies aimed at conserving natural resources, controlling deforestation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This material has also contributed to scientific production, being the basis for more than 4,000 studies around the world.
“As an ecologist and mother, I hope that our scientific production will lead to a better world for generations to come,” adds Shimbo.
The Brazil Conference is an annual event organized by Brazilian students at US universities. Since its creation in 2015, the conference has brought together leaders, researchers and innovators with the aim of promoting debates about the future of Brazil, highlighting transformative initiatives in the areas of science, politics, education, the environment and entrepreneurship.
Julia Shimbo had previously been recognized with the Skoll Award for Social Innovation and the Geospatial World Award, due to the relevance of her work in monitoring changes in land use and the application of technologies.
The awards ceremony was held in Boston, USA, and the broadcast is available on the Brazil Conference YouTube channel. Outstanding initiatives were also recognized in the areas of public service, culture, research, activism and entrepreneurship, with notable performances in the fields of human rights, fashion, health and artificial intelligence.
IPAM journalist, lucas.itaborahy@ipam.org.br*