‘IMPA is global standard A+’, says Armínio Fraga in IMPA Tech master class
The event was also attended by Fernanda Scovino, MEC’s data coordinator
19/3/2025
Armínio Fraga, former president of the Central Bank of Brazil and founding partner of Gávea Investimentos, and Fernanda Scovino, general coordinator of data governance at the Ministry of Education and co-founder of Base dos Dados, kicked off IMPA Tech’s second academic year on Monday afternoon (17).
To an auditorium packed with students, Fraga and Scovino shared their academic and professional careers, addressed relevant issues in their respective fields and highlighted IMPA’s relevance to the country.
“Education in Brazil, the world of research in Brazil, is something that very few people have the chance to do. So you also carry a certain responsibility. I think this is very worthwhile, regardless of where you end up. Some of you will follow the IMPA path, others may go to work in the third sector, others may go into government. This has everything to do with Brazil,” said the economist in reference to IMPA Tech.
Earlier, he praised the institute’s history and results over the years. “IMPA is a global A+ standard. Brazil needs to bring to our educational and professional world more weight, more density in all these areas linked to the sciences. IMPA is top and in a wonderful way it is looking for talent. There are students here [at IMPA Tech] from 22 different states. With scholarships, housing and even psychological help,” the economist told reporters present at the event.
With the students, Fraga also analyzed the development of the Brazilian economy over the years; he talked about inflation and investments.
Fernanda Scovino shared the challenges of her career with the students. The mathematician talked about some of the work she has done, including a tool that allows Rio’s Municipal Transportation Department (SMTR) to monitor GPS data from the city’s buses. The dashboards created allow the department’s technicians to find out whether the companies are operating with the fleet determined for each line on a daily basis.
Scovino stressed the importance of students being braver than ever at this time. “If you asked me when I was entering college, I would never say that in six, seven years’ time, I would be where I am today. I think the main tip I can give you is to experiment a lot. Make mistakes! If I hadn’t tested a lot of things and taken risks with my system, I wouldn’t be talking to you today about our entire journey. So make a lot of mistakes, believe in yourself and use the opportunities you have here.”
Marcelo Viana, director-general of IMPA, made a point of highlighting the weight of the careers of the speakers invited to the master class. “Dr. Armínio Fraga has been a long-time friend of IMPA and has always been very enthusiastic about IMPA Tech. He is one of the most respected voices on our scene. Fernanda, on the other hand, is a kind of you-tomorrow. She has a degree in mathematics from FGV’s School of Applied Mathematics, went on to work in the private sector, founded Base dos Dados, and is currently working with the government on data management policies.”
Aula Magna presents IMPA Tech to students
On Monday (17), IMPA Tech welcomed the new students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation. In all, 96 students will join the second graduating class. After the first day’s activities, Maria Izabelli Souza, 23, described the opportunity to join the degree course offered by IMPA as positive. “The reception was incredible, with informative lectures that showed what is to come. I think my life is going to change a lot from now on and my mind is going to open up a lot,” said the student, who lives in Rio de Janeiro and got her degree through Enem.
Ingrid Silva Carvalho, 18, is from Vitória da Conquista and joined IMPA Tech through the selection process designed for medal winners in knowledge Olympiads. She was also enthusiastic about her first day at school. “I really liked IMPA Tech’s proposal and found the staff very receptive. It’s a shock to leave my hometown and come here. I thank IMPA for making it possible for young people like me to have this opportunity to come to Rio de Janeiro to study what they love.”
Marcos Abílio Esmeraldo is 20 years old and from Fortaleza. He entered IMPA Tech in 2024 through the Enem and said he was excited for another year of studies. “The reception was very warm, especially with the new students joining us. The expectation for this year is to overcome the new challenges of this new period. Now, after the subjects we’ve already taken, we have an even better basis for learning even more.”
Read more: Registration open for the 35th Brazilian Mathematical Colloquium
