UK-Brazil partnership showcased through research and youth engagement in São Paulo and the Amazon

In a landmark celebration of 200 years of UK-Brazil diplomatic relations and the 125th anniversary of the University of Birmingham (UoB), a series of high-level events held in São Paulo and the Amazon highlighted the strength of bilateral cooperation in advancing sustainability, diplomacy, and inclusive development.

Organised by the University of Birmingham Brazil Institute in partnership with the British Embassy in Brazil, the programme featured a Global Leaders Dialogue (GLD), academic meetings, and a celebration of the Immerse Amazonia summer school. These events underscored the UK and Brazil’s shared commitment to environmental preservation and inclusive research in the lead-up to COP30.

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Brazil, Mrs. Stephanie Al-Qaq, delivered the opening remarks and toast at the reception and met with University of Birmingham academics and students participating in the Immerse Amazonia programme. Her presence reaffirmed the UK’s dedication to fostering international partnerships that address global challenges.

“The UK and Brazil share a deep and enduring relationship, rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision for a more sustainable future,” said Ambassador Al-Qaq. “These events were a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when diplomacy, science, and education come together to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.”

The Global Leaders Dialogue, which opened the International Studies Association’s conference on Development and Diplomacy in the Global South, brought together leading voices in international relations, science, and policy. The panel featured Mrs. Stephanie Al-Qaq, HM Ambassador to Brazil, Professor Celso Lafer, Founder of CEBRI and former Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Professor David Hannah, UNESCO Professor of Water Science and Director of the University of Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action.

Chaired by Dr Adriane Esquivel Muelbert, Academic Director of the UoB Brazil Institute (UBBI), the discussion explored how diplomacy and science can work hand-in-hand to promote sustainable development and climate resilience in the Global South.

Youth Leadership and Immersive Learning in the Amazon

The Immerse Amazonia summer school was celebrated during the visit. Hosted by UoB and Museu Goeldi, in partnership with FAPESPA, the multidisciplinary summer school brought together students from Belém, Caxiuanã and Birmingham for an immersive experience at the Estação Científica Ferreira Penna in the heart of the Amazon forest.

Immerse Amazonia’s aim is to cultivate future environmental leaders and amplify youth voices in global climate advocacy. Students engaged with Indigenous riverside communities, researchers, and local stakeholders to better understand the complexities and beauties of Amazonian ecosystems and the socio-political dynamics.

Isabel dos Santos Rocha, a student from UEPA, Belém commented:

"This experience allowed me to create connections with the forest and as someone from Belém, it made me feel I am also part of the Amazon." 

Debora de Souza Flores, a student based in Caxiuanã, said:

"The summer school made me aware how much the world depends on our way of living in Amazonia and our role in preserving this ecosystem. I don’t have words to describe how important this realisation was to me."

Megan Bancroft, a University of Birmingham student, added:

"I am grateful to experience the beauty of the forest and the experience of the people from Caxiuanã first hand."

Research for Social and Environmental Justice:

The UBBI’s Engage Amazonia 2025 programme is complemented by major research collaborations at UoB which exemplify impactful UK-Brazil cooperation in the Amazon region or with indigenous communities:

Gigante: Quantifying and upscaling the causes and drivers of large tree death:

Integrating field ecology and drone technology and aiming to understand the life and death of giant tropical trees, Gigante is a partnership between UoB, the Universidade do Estado do Mato Grosso (UNEMAT) and Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) as well as the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the US. Beyond its scientific objective, this NERC/NSF-funded project aims to contribute to capacity building across the four tropical countries it investigates (Brazil, Panama, Cameroon and Malaysia).

Breathe Well South America:

This four-year programme,funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR),is led by Professor Rachel Jordan (UoB) and Professor Paulo Lotufo (USP). It addresses the urgent need for equitable access to quality primary healthcare for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the fourth leading cause of death in South America. The project focuses on underserved populations, including those in the Amazon, where COPD often goes undiagnosed and untreated. The Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) is a key partner, contributing to comparative studies in remote and urban settings.

Building Reproductive Justice with Indigenous Women:

Funded by the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), this project is led by Professor Krajewska (UoB) in collaboration with Indigenous researchers from the Xukuru and Pankararu peoples and scholars from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). The initiative seeks to co-produce knowledge and policy recommendations that support reproductive rights and justice for Indigenous women in Northeast Brazil, addressing historical inequalities and promoting culturally grounded health advocacy.

These research programmes exemplify how academic collaboration can work together with Amazonian peoples to promote health equity, and advance environmental and social justice.

Education for Social Justice:

The UBBI delegation also strengthened collaboration with Eastern Amazonian institutions at a meeting hosted at CAPES HQ on 23 July 2025 to inaugurate the University of Birmingham’s new Abdias Nascimento Development partnership with the Federal Universities of Pará, Maranhão and São Carlos. This CAPES-funded programme will support international placement opportunities for well-qualified Black, indigenous and minority graduate students at the University of Birmingham over the next three years, with up to 42 Masters and PhD students coming from UFSCar, UFPA and UFMA.