Karina Custódio*
Researchers from IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute) are among the 50 most cited Brazilian scientists in scientific articles and documents that guide public policies internationally. The survey was published on Thursday (6) by the Bori and Overton Agency and is based on an analysis of documents related to decision-making published between 2019 and July of this year.
The publication mapped the 107 most cited Brazilian researchers, and IPAM members were among the top 50 positions. Ane Alencar, IPAM’s Director of Science, is in 21st position, being the third most cited woman. Paulo Artaxo, president of IPAM’s Board of Directors and researcher at USP (University of São Paulo), was the 41st most cited. Paulo Moutinho, senior researcher at the Institute, was the 50th most cited.
In all, the three were cited in 1,034 scientific articles, strategic documents, technical reports and opinions used by governments, international organizations and civil society organizations in political decisions.
“I was very honored to find out I was on the list, it was especially gratifying to be among the few women in this group, and especially women from the north of Brazil and the Amazon. The most important thing for me is when science manages to cross walls and influence political decisions that affect the entire environment and society. This report has shown that our work at IPAM has achieved this,” said Ane Alencar.
Ane Alencar has also been recognized as one of the world’s leading fire scientists by the scientific journal Fire. Photo: Ivan Canabrava/IPA
The researcher is also one of the five influential women in the “Ecosystems and land use” field, which is the most voluminous in the survey, but where women are in the minority. Among the documents that cite research carried out by Alencar, the survey highlights the report “The State of the World’s Forests 2020: Forests, Biodiversity and People”, prepared by UNEP (United Nations Environment Program), which is widely used to support forest-related actions around the world.
“It’s a great satisfaction to be mentioned on the list. We do science to build a better world, and there’s nothing like structuring public policies to effectively build a fairer and more sustainable society. It’s also a joy to see IPAM researchers on this list, because the institute really does research aimed at improving the quality of life of the Amazonian population,” commented Paulo Artaxo.
“The list reveals that Brazilian science is capable of leaving legacies, serving as a basis for directing important public policies for the country’s population. In a way, it is recognition of the scientific contribution that IPAM has made and is making to the protection of our biomes,” said Paulo Moutinho.
The researcher recalls that the Institute has been present in the construction of environmental public policies since its foundation. “A major contribution of IPAM’s research was in the construction of the first National Climate Change Policy, approved by Congress in 2009. We also influenced the inclusion of tropical forests in developing countries in climate negotiations. Together with partners, IPAM brought the role of the Amazon rainforest into the global climate balance,” adds Moutinho.
Mercedes Bustamante, a former IPAM advisor, is also cited in the survey. A researcher at UnB (University of Brasilia), Bustamante’s work has been cited in 416 documents and scientific articles that have supported political decisions.
Action against climate change
Marcia Macedo and Leonardo Macarahipes during research at the Tanguro Research Station (MT). Photo: Paulo Brando/IPAM
The report also mapped 50 scientists who influence documents that underpin public policies related to SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 13: Action against global climate change. Six IPAM members appear on the list: Marcia Macedo, Paulo Brando, Daniel Nepstad, Ane Alencar, Paulo Artaxo and Paulo Moutinho.
This survey shows 902 documents and scientific articles in which the researchers were cited. IPAM is the only non-governmental organization with researchers on the list.