About my work here

I haven't written much about my academic work here. Here goes an update:

- I am teaching a graduate class that is having a nice impact. It is new stuff, and concerns interpretation of results. How to read, structure and write the interpretation of results. I proposed this course to my colleagues of the Department at UFSC and was accepted. I initiated the course in June and it should finish by mid-Sept.

- I am supervising one graduate and one undergraduate student. I already co-supervised two undergrad students in their Final Project.

- I have given a speech in Recife, invited by the Federal Univ of Pernambuco, last July.

- I initiated a collaborative effort involving 3 Brazilian institutions (possibly 4) and one (maybe two) Canadian Universities. A progress meeting is being held in Rio de Janeiro, on Friday Aug 14.

- I have participated as reviewer for two Masters thesis (one at UFSC and one at PUC-RJ).

- I was invited as key note speaker in a symposium to be held in the south of Brazil, next Oct. I don’t know yet if I can make it.

Other than that, I have adopted the same open doors attitude that I have adopted in my career, in Canada.I enjoy to keep close contact with young people's projects; even their non academic ones.

Meeting with Rotaract Club - Floripa-Trindade

Wishing to get involved with young people's projects here (that is what I have been doing in the past 7 years, with the GICUS), I attended a meeting of the Rotaract Club - Florianopolis-Trindade, for the first time.

I proposed to them a project to them that has the potential to involve several Rotaracts and - eventually - the entire Rotary. More about it at a later date, depending on how things evolve.

Campo Grande - Cidade Morena RC

I took the opportunity that I was living in Brazil to visit one region I always dreamed of visiting: the Pantanal, "the world’s largest freshwater wetland, a seasonally flooded plain ... almost 10 times the size of the Everglades" (from Nature Conservancy). My family and I went on vacation to this region, where we also visited Bonito, just south of the Pantanal, a fabulous place, loaded with incredible rivers, falls and caverns. Wanna see some pictures? Click here and here.

I asked my counselor back in Floripa, Joao Montardo, to put me in contact with Rotary clubs in Campo Grande, capital of the State of Mato Grosso, so that I could present my conference in the last day of vacation. Mr. Montardo new very well a past Governor there, Olimpio Ribeiro, who put me in contact with Brandao, prez of the Cidade Morena RC (Campo Grande). The speech took place on July 27 and lasted more than 45 minutes, with several question being asked.

In addition to Olimpio, past governors Antonio Elias Morais and Ivo Cezar, were also present (see picture with the three). Maria Ribeiro, a retired researcher from Embrapa (also in the picture), was also present and asked me to review a project she is about to propose to Rotary.


With past DG and Maria Ribeiro


With Prez Brandao

Introduction of new DG

Last June 27th I spent the ceremony introducing the new District Governor, Paulo F. Branco, with Rotaract members from the Kobrasol and Trindade clubs.

I met with Gov. Paulo F. Branco during his visit to the RC Floripa - Trindade, last Aug. 5th (see picture below). I took the opportunity to offer him a flag from the Sherbrooke RC.

Honorary Member - RC Florianopolis - Trindade

Last June 20th, I was honored by the RC Florianopolis - Trindade with the title of Honorary Member. Past DG -Marilene Souto introduced me and handed the title (See picture).

I have a particular attachment to this club for two important reasons: The first is the fact that there is a Rotaract there (who completed 10 years on the same day; see picture of Nara blowing the candles). Second, I leave in the neighbourhood (Trindade). I feel at home there and have returned a few times to meetings or "festivas".

Presentation to Fpolis - Jurerê (May 20th, 2009)

It's high time I updated my Rotary blog! So much has happened...
Last May 20th, I made my presentation to the RC-Florianopolis - Jurerê. This wonderful club, whose meetings are held on the community of Jurerê (located on the northern part of the island of Sta Catarina), allowed me more time than usual and my speech lasted nearly 45 min! Of course, there were lots of questions.

Actually, I feel there is a pretty good reception to what I say; I mean, the questions that I raise to myself about the role of service in my life (present and near future) and about this intriguing thing that is goodwill. These questions are certainly not only mine!

Many thanks to Elaine Dobes, who invited me and organized the conference. I lost several pictures taken after the meeting, but was able to recuperate this one above on the club's web page.