São Paulo – Eleven Brazilian scientists will show their biotechnology research at a world congress in the area in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, on the 14th and 15th of February. They are from universities and research institutes in the country and are going to discuss several themes, like the study of tannase (a vegetable enzyme) originating in the Caatinga (Brazilian drylands), the use of coconut husk for the production of ethanol and ideal conditions for production of peptidase enzymes. The meeting is organized by Eureka Science, an event organisation enterprise based in Sharjah, in the Emirates, with the support of the Higher Colleges of Technology.
Brazil has strong international reputation in biotechnology, said the coordinator of the Biotechnology Post Graduate course at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes), Patricia Machado Bueno Fernandes, who will give two talks at the congress. In one of the talks, the researcher should speak about fermentation with yeast for production of spirits and fuel and, in the other, about the stress environment necessary for fermentation to take place. The themes are part of her Ufes research, aimed at increasing alcohol production and finding the ideal environment for such.
Also from Ufes, professor Antonio Alberto Ribeiro Fernandes will present a poster about his research on green coconut. In the poster, the researcher will exhibit his work and make himself available for clarification. Fernandes studies the possibility of production of ethanol from coconut husk, as much of this waste is left in the Northeast of Brazil, due to tourism. Both Patricia and Fernandes are part of the Northeast Biotechnology Network. It was through the network that Patricia learnt about the congress and enrolled to participate.
The researcher from Espírito Santo believes that the global meeting will be an opportunity not just to show Brazilian work, but also to develop partnerships with researchers and institutions from abroad. Patricia has never been to Dubai, but says that she did some research on the Emirates, after discovering where the congress would be, and found an institute that operates in biotechnology. The country hosts the Dubai Biotechnology & Research Park, the main hub for science development in the Middle East.
Also representing Brazil in the congress are researchers Ana Silvia Rocha Ipiranga and Diego de Queiroz Machado, from the State University of Ceará, Patricia Gomes Cardoso, of Lavras Federal University, Youssef Ali Abou Hamin Neto, from the University of São Paulo, M.A.F Saraiva, from the Federal University of Viçosa, Pierre Basmaji, from Innovatec’s research company, Mauricio Fonse, from the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality (Inmetro), Denize Dias de Carvalho, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Eliamar Aparecida Nascimbém Pedrinho, from the Júlio de Mesquita Filho São Paulo State University (Unesp).
*Translated by Mark Ament
