Fostering Global Collaboration of Young Scientists

The rising scientific denialism in Brazil and consequent budget cuts to scientific research within the last years have hindered international collaborations, significantly affecting early-career Brazilian scientists (Diele-Viegas et al. 2021, Guedes et al. 2023). Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic, with its restrictions on inperson events, has added another layer of challenge, further impeding international cooperation (Subramanya et al. 2020). The 8th edition of the BRICS Young Scientist Forum (BRICS YSF), held in South Africa in August 2023, started with the challenge of being the first post-pandemic event to connect promising early-career scientists from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS 2023). The event is timely for Brazilians since it occurred after the democratic election that led to the resumption of policies toward scientific, technological, and educational investments (Soares et al. 2023).

Unlike typical networks of experienced researchers (Parker & Welch 2013), BRICS YSF empowers young scientists to exchange ideas globally and fosters new, potentially enduring international cooperation. This collaboration might unfold throughout their careers, drive breakthrough research, and open new paths in diverse scientific domains. Despite their advantages, one-time events may yield passive outcomes, potentially achieving more enduring collaborations when supplemented with additional provocative elements.

The post-pandemic context, where the scientific community is eager to strengthen international collaborations and resume face-to-face meetings, represents an opportunity to highlight the central role of young scientists in international multilateral partnerships. Active strategies can support connections, cultural exchanges, and science and technology development. Suitable strategies to promote young scientists’ protagonism include creating global collaboration platforms for researchers and innovators, allowing early-career leadership in working groups, providing accessible funds for early-career collaborative networks, and promoting follow-up events. Examples include opportunities from funding agencies such as the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, which recently released a call to support international scientific, technological, and innovation research projects (CNPq 2023). If we recently experienced the rise of barriers that divided us, let the fraternal scientific relationship be one of the paths capable of breaking them down. Believe in the potential of young scientists to foster global collaborations.

REFERENCES

• BRICS. 2023. Young Scientist Forum https://brics-ysf.org/
  » https://brics-ysf.org/
• DIELE-VIEGAS LM, HIPÓLITO J & FERRANTE L. 2021. Science denialism threatens Brazil. Science 374: 6570. doi: 10.1126/science.abm9933.
• CNPQ. 2023. Chamada CNPq n.º 14/2023 - Apoio a projetos internacionais de pesquisa científica, tecnológica e de inovação.
• GUEDES TB, DINIZ-FILHO JAF, DIELE-VIEGAS LM, TONINI JFR & ANTONELLI A. 2023. Invest in early-career researchers in Brazil. Science 379: 6631. doi: 10.1126/science.adg4131.
• PARKER M & WELCH EW. 2013. Professional networks, science ability, and gender determinants of three types of leadership in academic science and engineering. The Leadership Quarterly 24(2): 332-348 doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.01.001.
• SOARES BE, HÖRMANSEDER B, FONTES-DUTRA M, BELLO M, OLIVEIRA W & DIELE-VIEGAS LM. 2023. Lula’s third mandate reignites hope in Brazilian early-career researchers. An Acad Bras Cienc 95: e20230090. doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202320230090.
• SUBRAMANYA SH, LAMA B & ACHARYA KP. 2020. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the scientific community. Qatar Med J 2020(1): 21. doi: 10.5339/qmj.2020.21.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  01 Mar 2024
• Date of issue
  2024

History

• Received
  5 Sept 2023
• Accepted
  13 Oct 2023