Olival Freire Junior Appointed CNPq President as Science and Technology Workers Mobilize for Career Transitions
Brazil appoints Olival Freire Junior as CNPq president amid Science and Technology workers' assemblies advocating career advancement reforms.
- • Olival Freire Junior appointed as new CNPq president, replacing Ricardo Galvão.
- • Olival holds extensive academic credentials and previously served as CNPq Scientific Director and UFBA pro-rector.
- • Minister of Science highlights Olival's qualifications and commitment to scientific research continuity.
- • Science and Technology workers hold assemblies on December 8 to discuss career transitions and institutional changes.
- • Sindsprev-RJ is actively lobbying for the swift approval of PL 3.102/2022 to support career reforms before parliamentary recess.
Key details
On December 5, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) announced Professor Olival Freire Junior as the new president of Brazil's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), succeeding Ricardo Galvão, who assumed a deputy position. Olival, a physicist and historian of science with notable academic credentials including a Physics degree from UFBA and a PhD from USP, previously served as CNPq’s Scientific Director and pro-rector for Research and Graduate Studies at UFBA. Minister Luciana Santos praised his qualifications, stating he possesses all necessary attributes to lead CNPq and advance Brazil’s scientific research. Olival emphasized continuity and improvement in scientific management, declaring the commitment to maintain science as a foundational public policy under President Lula’s administration.
Simultaneously, on December 8, key assemblies for federal Science and Technology workers from the Into and Hospital Federal dos Servidores (HFSE) units are scheduled to discuss crucial career transition issues. The HFSE meeting will also deliberate on challenges following its merger with Gafrée e Guinle and integration into Ebserh. The workers, supported by Sindsprev-RJ, advocate for the approval of Project Law 3.102/2022, aiming to facilitate career pathway reforms in the sector. Sindsprev-RJ leaders recently met with government officials, including the Secretary-General of the Presidency and Senator Davi Alcolumbre, pressing for swift Senate approval before the December 22 parliamentary recess.
This period marks significant leadership and workforce mobilization in Brazilian science and technology, with institutional changes at the top level coinciding with active efforts to reform career structures for sector employees.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.