IMPA Tech students attend lectures at the Serrapilheira Institute

A Training in Quantitative Ecology at the Serrapilheira Institute – an interdisciplinary program that integrates different areas of knowledge to address questions of ecology – has occupied the classrooms of IMPA Tech over the last few weeks. The course is aimed at students from all areas of knowledge who are at the end of their undergraduate or master’s studies, but part of the program was open to students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation.

The IMPA Tech students attended weekly seminars on different areas of biology and how quantitative methods can be applied in each of them. Participation was counted as a Directed Study Topic for the period. Based on an analysis of contemporary scientific issues, guest experts addressed central topics in ecology and its interfaces with other areas, such as invasive species, emerging diseases, restoration and urban ecology.

“It was very interesting to see the integration of biology with mathematics, physics and technology. Understanding the basic concepts of the ecology of each theme, seeing all the research that is done, and actually seeing the application of knowledge from the exact areas to this was something that opened up a horizon of possibilities for interdisciplinarity,” said student David Farina.

For the IMPA Tech graduate, the lecture on the ecology of invasive species was remarkable, especially the use of machine learning to map animal behavior. “I had no idea that some of the most common plant and animal species were invasive. Seeing how we can mathematically model the potential success of an exotic species, and how this can help in the control of these species, was something that impressed me,” he said.

Kathleen Mahra, who holds a master’s degree in Ecology and Conservation from the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS) and is a doctoral student in the Cerrado Natural Resources Program at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), was one of the 30 people who received the call for proposals for Serrapilheira training. For her, IMPA Tech’s space was a differential in the course. “It’s a pleasant and safe environment. Everything is very new, clean and organized. The structure is above average compared to public universities in the country. What’s more, it’s a great opportunity to have a degree focused on applied mathematics. I was positively surprised by the course,” she said.

As well as interacting in the classrooms and corridors of Port Maravalley, the IMPA Tech undergraduates had contact with the students outside the academic space. “We had a lecture day in the bar, style pint of scienceWe talked about other subjects besides the lectures. They’re all very intelligent and I’m sure they’ll go far in their careers,” said Kathleen.

For Farina, the experience was important for a complete education. “Seeing beyond the theory, all the practical applications and real possibilities, opens doors and horizons within our field. In addition, integration with people is also essential, because in the academic and corporate world, cooperation is fundamental,” she said.

Created in 2021, the Serrapilheira Institute’s Quantitative Ecology Training entered its 6th edition this year and, for the first time, classes in January and February took place at IMPA Tech. “The rapprochement between the Serrapilheira Institute’s Quantitative Ecology training and IMPA Tech is very rich, as it brings together students with diverse backgrounds, skills and perspectives. This first experience has already shown the enormous potential of the partnership, and we hope that this is just the start of a recurring collaboration,” said IMPA Tech’s academic manager, Nara Bobko.