His Excellency Fred Arruda, Ambassador of Brazil to the UK and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Robin Mason
His Excellency Fred Arruda, Ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (left) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Robin Mason.

The Brazilian Ambassador visited the University of Birmingham to launch the Birmingham Brazil Forum and learn more about the University’s work with his country.

His Excellency Fred Arruda, Ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, met academics and senior leaders heading the University’s Brazil engagement, as well as some of its Brazilian students.

The Ambassador’s first visit to the University saw him co-launch the new Forum with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Robin Mason at a networking reception.

His Excellency Mr Arruda was accompanied by Minister-Counsellor Roberto Doring Pinho da Silva, Deputy Head of Mission, and Secretary Carlota de Azevedo Bezerro Vitor Ramos, Head of the Academic Section.

The Birmingham Brazil Forum is the University’s new initiative for engagement with Brazil, promoting academic co-operation and partnership, funding opportunities, and cultural events. It will support a wide range of activities throughout the year.

Professor Robin Mason commented: “The University of Birmingham has extensive partnerships with top universities in Brazil and seeks to answer some of the most challenging questions of the 21st Century.

“As a strategic region of importance, we are investing in Brazil to develop purposeful partnerships that lead to enhanced collaborative research with leading universities, institutions and private organisations.

“We are honoured that the Ambassador joined us to launch the Birmingham Brazil Forum, which forms the central hub of our engagement with Brazil, promoting academic co-operation, partnership and funding opportunities, and cultural initiatives.”

The University of Birmingham has more than 70 researchers engaged in partnerships with top Brazilian universities. It has particularly strong links with institutions in the Sao Paulo region, including Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), University of Sao Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of ABC (UFABC).

Priority research areas include: sustainable cities; energy—oil and gas/earth sciences; energy storage and policy; bio-materials; and infectious diseases. The University’s signature ‘Brazil Visiting Fellows Programme’ is now in its seventh year with 70 Brazilian fellows having now developed research relationships with Birmingham collaborators.

His Excellency Mr Arruda commented: “Science, technology and innovation are key to Brazil-UK relations and the University of Birmingham plays a central role as an academic hub in the UK. We are very happy to launch the Birmingham Brazil Forum which will certainly enhance this robust co-operation we have in many areas of knowledge.”

Ambassador Fred Arruda was born in the city of Fortaleza, in the Northeast of Brazil, in 1957. He graduated in Economics from the University of Brasília in 1979 and joined the Brazilian Foreign Service the following year. He took office as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in October 2018 and prior to that, he served as the Chief Diplomatic Advisor to the President of Brazil (2016-2018).

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