Brazil Honors Rex Nazaré Alves, Luminary of Nuclear Science and Public Service

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI) has officially mourned the passing of Rex Nazaré Alves, a pioneering physicist and prominent public servant in Brazil's nuclear science sector, who died on January 6, 2026. Alves’s contributions profoundly shaped the country's nuclear landscape and institutional framework.

Alves served as President of the National Commission of Nuclear Energy (Cnen) from 1982 to 1990. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in strengthening the technical and institutional foundations of Brazil's nuclear industry. Among his notable achievements was the establishment of the Institute of Radioprotection and Dosimetry (IRD), a critical institution for ensuring nuclear safety and radiological protection in Brazil.

Alves also led the government’s institutional response to the 1987 cesium-137 radiological accident in Goiânia, one of the worst nuclear accidents in Brazil, demonstrating his leadership in crisis management within the nuclear field. Beyond these roles, he held key strategic positions at notable scientific and technological organizations, including the Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (Finep) and Eletronuclear, influencing the broader development of Brazil’s science and technology policies.

The MCTI recognized Alves as an exemplar public servant and scientist, whose legacy continues to inspire Brazil’s scientific development and growth. A farewell ceremony is scheduled for January 9 at 9 AM at the Crematório do Memorial do Carmo in Rio de Janeiro.

This tribute underscores Alves’s enduring impact on Brazil’s nuclear science and institutional strength, marking the loss of a visionary leader who significantly advanced technological progress in the country.