Partner countries – China, Canada, Denmark, the United States, France, Japan, Italy, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom.

 

Graduation Courses – Animal Sciences, Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology), Clinical Psychology and Culture, Chemistry, Informatics, Ecology, Economics, Plant Pathology, Geology, Geography, Medical Sciences, Healthy Sciences, Sustainable Development, Molecular Pathology.

 

The planet is undergoing extreme and rapid changes in environmental, climatic, and socio-demographic respects, calling for better understanding and management of biological, chemical, and geological processes. From an environmental perspective, there are hardly any natural systems that are free of human impacts. Alongside global warming, exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions and their serious consequences on the climate system, other environmental changes caused by humans include: changes to the physical environment and landscapes, such as the destruction of mountains or diversion of water courses for mineral exploitation; interference in biogeochemical cycles and the emission of persistent contaminants; and changes to biodiversity and ecosystem functions. In 2015, the United Nations proposed a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to which Brazil is a signatory, in a strategy designed to build a fairer, more sustainable world with new forms of development. The SDGs propose a global plan of action to put an end to poverty, promote prosperity and wellbeing for all, protect the environment, and tackle climate change. In many countries, universities are engaging in efforts to address the challenges of just and sustainable development, forming interdisciplinary teams doing research to support sustainable practices. The challenge of how to maintain and enhance the contributions of nature to people’s quality of life has spurred global efforts into the study of biodiversity and ecosystems. Sustainability-oriented biodiversity research is fundamental for Brazil. A model needs to be formulated that combines production, consumption, and conservation, giving due value to goods and services deriving from natural resources using novel technologies and knowledge. UnB could make inroads in two areas related to this theme: knowledge and sustainable use of Brazilian biodiversity, focusing particularly on the Cerrado (the most biodiverse savanna in the world) and its potential to provide new molecules, microbes, and nano/biotechnology products with applications in health (new pharmacological targets and therapeutic interventions), farming, the environment, energy, industry, etc.; and the development of models and technologies for ecological restoration/conservation, minimizing the impacts of human actions. Nature preservation/conservation actions should include traditional population groups in local and autonomous management processes.

 

Subtheme 4.1. Improvement of techniques for managing natural resources in an integrated and sustainable manner, including traditional population groups

• Improvement of techniques for managing natural resources in an integrated and sustainable manner, including traditional population groups. It is important for models and technologies to be created for ecological restoration and conservation, minimizing the impacts of human activity, including nature preservation/conservation actions that include traditional population groups in local and autonomous management.

 

Subtheme 4.2. Development of biotechnological methods and techniques that enable the creation of novel industrial processes

• Building a model that combines production, consumption, and environmental conservation, giving due value to goods and services deriving from natural resources.

 

Subtheme 4.3. Production of new knowledge about Cerrado biodiversity with a view to developing technologies to protect this biome from human impacts and climate change

• Consolidate and expand on scientific knowledge concerning the biodiversity of the Cerrado with a view to developing technologies to protect this biome from human impacts and climate change, joining international research efforts targeting biodiversity, and ensuring the maintained and enhanced contribution of nature to people’s quality of life.

 

Subtheme 4.4. Identification of new pharmacological targets and development of new forms of therapeutic intervention

• Identification of new pharmacological targets and development of new forms of therapeutic intervention, harnessing the potential of the Cerrado biome – the most biodiverse savanna in the world.