Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro Honors Professor Othon Henry Leonardos with the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Award

President of CPNq Mario Neto Borges gives award to Professor Leonardos.

In February, we reported that Professor Othon Henry Leonardos won the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Award as Researcher Emeritus, one of Brazil’s most prestigious science and technology awards. Three months later, on May 11, 2017, the award ceremony was held at the Naval School in Rio de Janeiro. It was attended by distinguished figures such as Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications and the president of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

RTE would like to congratulate Professor Leonardos, for his recognition as a researcher and pioneer of remineralization in Brazil. Through Professor Leonardos’ pioneering research and projects with Suzi Huff Theodoro in the Quilombola communities and his work with indigenous communities, he has been dedicated to sustainability for many decades. Professor Leonardos’ works have inspired RTE and served as a model of how remineralization could be implemented by policies and applied in the field.

Othon Loenardo with Suzi Huff Theodoro on the left and his wife Simone Gonçalves de Oliveira on the right. (Click to enlarge.)

Professor Othon Henry Leonardos was one of ten who were awarded the title of Emeritus Researchers, a title granted to professionals who have made significant contributions to research in Brazil. He is also the Professor Emeritus at the University of Brasilia, where he started his career back in 1974 and earned the title in 2013.  In the 39 years that he worked, he has been included as an author for over 200 publications and supervised dozens of theses and dissertations. At the ceremony, Research Productivity Scholar at CNPq Samuel Goldenberg told the recipients: “All of you represent great contributions to the advancement of Brazilian science.”

Amongst Professor Leonardos’ students were Professor Suzi Huff Theodoro, who have continued his work in the Quilombola communities of Brazil, and Embrapa lead researcher Eder De Souza Martins, who has continued to research remineralization throughout many locations of Embrapa. They continue to be influential figures in the remineralization movement in Brazil and drew inspiration from Professor Leonardos. Today, as a result of their achievements, Brazil has emerged as the leader in the remineralization movement.

Further information about Leonardos research studies can be found on our online database. Professor Leonardos has also narrated a video on remineralization in Brazil that can be accessed here.

We look forward to updating readers on the continuing impact of the work of Professor Leonardos and on the ongoing progress of remineralization in Brazil.

Zu Dienle Tan recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master’s degree in natural resources and environment. She specializes in conservation ecology and is passionate about biodiversity conservation, agroecosystems and sustainable development.