Science Without Borders

Science Without Borders

March 18, 2013
Richmond hosts Brazilian undergraduates in new partnership

The University of Richmond will serve as a first-time host institution this fall for a program providing scholarships for Brazilian undergraduates to study abroad for one year.

Two international students initiated the partnership after arriving on campus this spring. Both were selected and funded through the new Brazilian Scientific Mobility Undergraduate Program.

The program — a Brazilian government initiative — is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and funded through a collaboration of the country’s ministries of education and science and technology. Brazil plans to grant 100,000 study abroad scholarships for students to develop skills in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) at universities throughout the world.

“UR joined dozens of institutions in the U.S. and around the world in welcoming young and academically motivated students to pursue and train in different areas of STEM disciplines,” says Rafael De Sa, a biology professor at the University.

“This is aligned with the efforts of the Office of International Education to increase the number of international teachers and scholars present in our campus, which in turn, provides unique international and multicultural experiences for the UR undergraduates and faculty.”

Cesar Augusto Marcelino dos Santos is one of the exchange students. At Richmond, he enrolled in computer science courses to advance his interest in computer engineering, but he’s also taking classes in Chinese and music.

“I applied for [the program] because it was an incredible opportunity to study abroad, learn new things, be acquainted with different cultures, and improve my language skills,” dos Santos says. “My idea was to have an international experience.”

Dos Santos also joined two student clubs at Richmond: Ritmo Latino dance and web design. At Richmond, his coursework has centered on the study of embedded systems, operating systems, and electronics.

“All of these topics related to my major in Brazil. I will start research next semester here, which will become my final thesis when I go back to my home country,” he says.

Back in Brazil, dos Santos hopes to use his expertise to teach, a career path he realized while volunteering as a tutor. His high school physics and electronics students have so far given him only positive feedback, encouraging Santos to become a professor later in life.

“One of my true passions in life is teaching,” he says. “I'm planning to work for three or five years after graduating college and then maybe enroll in a graduate program.”

(Photo: Cesar Augusto Marcelino dos Santos poses with the Brazilian flag in the courtyard of the Carole Weinstein International Center.)