Campus visitors celebrate Brazil throughout April

Campus partners including the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Brazil Initiative — an interdisciplinary initiative created in recognition of the growing global economic and political importance of South America’s largest country — will host a series of events throughout April to commemorate Brazil Month.

“The April events will bring more visibility to the Brazil Initiative on campus, and the community at large, as we wrap up our second year of existence,” says Severino Albuquerque, Brazil Initiative director and professor of Portuguese. “We look forward to another year promoting collaborative research, teaching, and outreach projects focused on Brazil.”

This special series will kick off on Tuesday, April 12, with a public lecture at noon in room 206 of Ingraham Hall, 1155 Observatory Dr. In his talk “Current Trends in Brazilian Education,” Leandro Tessler, professor of physics and director of International Relations at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Sao Paulo, will discuss higher education and offer opportunities to compare best practices with the United States and other countries.

Brazil, now the world’s eighth largest economy, has enjoyed a solid performance during the global financial crisis and is expected to rise in the world rankings. In recent years, Brazil and the United States have moved to deepen engagement and cooperation between the two nations in a diverse range of areas.

Campus partners supporting the Brazil Initiative’s presentation of Brazil Month events include Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies (LACIS) and the International Institute.

All events are free and open to the public.

Other Brazil Month events include:

Wednesday, April 20:
Lecture: “African Nations and Ethnic Identity in the Mina Coast and in Brazil: an Atlantic Comparative Approach” with Luis Nicolau Pares, professor of anthropology, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). Held at noon in 206 Ingraham Hall; sponsored by the Department of African Studies and the Brazil Initiative.

Thursday, April 21:
Lecture: “Sacred Double Consciousness: The Signs of Citizenship and Spirit Possession in the Afro-American World” with J. Lorand Matory, professor of anthropology and director of the Center for African and African American Research, Duke University. Held at 4:30 p.m. in 8417 Sewell Social Science (1180 Observatory Dr.); sponsored by the Department of Anthropology.

Monday, April 25:
Award Ceremony: Global Citizen Award presented to João Almino, Ambassador and Consul General of Brazil in Chicago. Held at 4 p.m. in 260 Bascom Hall (500 Lincoln Dr.).

Thursday, April 28:
Lecture by Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Held at 4 p.m. in 260 Bascom Hall.