Fermi’s trip to Brazil in 1934 and his interviews and conferences

In 1934, the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi traveled to South America and, in Brazil, gave five lectures, two in São Paulo and three in Rio de Janeiro. In this work, the intention is to complement investigations already carried out on this trip, bringing new information about it. We reproduce an interesting interview by Fermi to a Rio de Janeiro newspaper about his impressions of Brazil, and we present the summaries of four of his conferences, published in newspapers of the time. Such contents, in addition to being significant for the history of science in Brazil, may be of interest to teachers and students in understanding Fermi’s scientific contributions and his vision of science. The analysis of visits by prominent scientists to Brazil, in the first decades of the 20th century, can bring historical elements that allow a better understanding of the initial paths of modern physics in the country and the emergence of the first institutions and more organized research groups. They contributed to stimulating local researchers, to valuing incipient scientific institutions and to to highlighting the importance of “pure science”, since they were events that were widely publicized in the media and had repercussions among the academic world and local authorities and institutions. This work also intends to show that Fermi’s interaction with Brazil left important legacies for Brazilian science.

Keywords:
Fermi; history of physics in Brazil; nuclear physics