Scientists from Brazil and Canada gathered at the University of Toronto recently to discuss advanced scientific topics at a symposium hosted by the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research.
The event - part of FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) Week 2012 in North America – built on the significant existing bilateral partnerships between U of T and FAPESP in areas such as life sciences, physics, engineering and geosciences.
Among the day’s highlights was the art exhibition: Brazilian Nature – Mystery and Destiny.
The exhibition, housed on the third floor of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology until October 31, 2012, showcases the work of one of the first European scientific expeditions to Brazil, led by German botanist Carl von Martius in 1832-1833. It resulted in the largest collection (to this day) of Brazilian flora. The 37 images of the Flora Brasiliensis exhibit include examples of von Martius’ work as well as contemporary images of Brazilian biodiversity.
(exhibition images courtesy of FAPESP)
Among the exhibit's contemporary images of Brazil's biodiversity: the jaguar or phantera onca. (Photo: F. Colombini)
A forest trail in the southeast of São Paulo (C.A. Joly).
Lithograph published in Flora Brasiliensis: Forest in the Serra dos Órgãos (Organ Mountain Range), Rio de Janeiro (Fl. bras.vol. I, tab. 6).
Lithograph published in Flora Brasiliensis: Floodable forest in the Pará, Eastern Amazonia (Fl. Bras. vol. I, tab. 40).
Floodable forest close to Manaus, Central Amazonia, in the time of river flooding (V.1 Bittrich).
This lithograph published in Flora Brasiliensis is an illustration of the plant helosis cayennensis.
A contemporary photo of the helosis cayenensis; the species' distribution pattern includes population in the Atlantic Rainforest of south-east Brazil, in Amazon and Central America up to Mexico. (V. Bittrich)
Contemporary images depiciting Brazil's biodiversity included this photo of a monkey from the Atlantic rainforest: brachyteles arachnoides (Photo: M. Boyayan)
From left: Dr. Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz (Scientific Director of FAPESP); Professor Paul Young (Vice-President, Research and Innovation, UofT); Professor Peter Lewis (Associate-Vice President, Research and Innovation, Global Research Partnerships, UofT); Ms. Judith Wolfson (Vice-President, University Relations, UofT); Afonso José Sena Cardoso (Consul General of Brazil)
(photo by Elissa Strome)
