Six Brazilian Scientists Gain Recognition on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
18 February 2026
Helena Nader, president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC). Credit: Mário/Marques/ABC Press Office.
Report celebrates six Brazilian women scientists and underscores the importance of female representation in science as a driver of innovation, diversity, and inspiration for future generations.
On February 11, the date observed as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the news outlet Metrópoles published a special feature highlighting six Brazilian women scientists who have been making significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the country. The initiative underscores the significance of women’s presence in scientific research and the development of public policies that foster greater gender equity in the field.
Among those honored is Helena Nader, the first woman to serve as president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. An emeritus professor and a leading figure in biomedical research, she is also recognized for her advocacy of strengthening science and expanding opportunities for women in academia.
In the Amazon region, biologist Deliane Penha, a professor at the Federal University of Western Pará, conducts field research on tree mortality and the ecological factors that make the forest more vulnerable to environmental changes.
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials is represented by two female leaders: Tatiana Ometto, who oversees high-containment biosafety programs and the training of specialized teams, and Maria Augusta Arruda, director of the Brazilian National Biosciences Laboratory, with nearly three decades of experience in integrative biology and immunotherapy.
At the intersection of physics and health, Professor Fernanda Matias, from the Federal University of Alagoas, develops studies aimed at improving the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other medical conditions. Meanwhile, Liu Lin, head of the Accelerators Division at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, participated in the construction and operation of Brazil’s first synchrotron light source and plays a central role in the development of particle acceleration technologies.
The diversity of fields represented, from biology to applied physics, highlights the increasingly prominent presence of women in leading positions within Brazilian science. Their careers contribute to scientific advancement, inspire new generations, and reinforce the need to expand policies that support, retain, and promote women’s leadership in research.
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To read the full article and learn more about the trajectory of each of these scientists, visit the original report on the Metrópoles website.
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