The 4th act of the Silver Jubilee Symposium of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) began this Thursday (04/12), in the auditorium of the Arthur Neiva Pavilion, bringing together audiovisual launches, exhibitions, tributes and debates on strategic themes for the present and future of science.  

The opening panel featured the director of IOCTania Araujo-Jorge, and directors Eduardo de Mello Volotão, Luciana Garzoni, and Guilherme de Beaurepaire, emphasized the importance of the event's theme—Past and Future: Agenda 2050—for considering future institutional cycles.  

In highlighting the historical relevance of the Institute, one of the speakers emphasized how the trajectories are interconnected:  

“Talking about the past and the future made me think that these two always meet in the present. They are never far enough apart, so looking back is looking forward. We see these 125 years and everything the Institute has been through, and that gives us a lot of hope and a lot of pride in this institution,” emphasized Eduardo Volotão. 

In her speech, director Luciana Garzoni reinforced the dialogue between memory and innovation as a strategic guideline for the project. IOC.   

"We are at a point where Fioc"Cruz discusses research into the future. The Oswaldo Cruz Forum brought this reflection to the units, and when we talk about the future, there's no way to avoid revisiting our past. Today's topic is especially aligned with this movement."   

Also present at the table, Guilherme addressed the challenges for the next institutional cycle:  

“What kind of direction do we need to continue being as strong an Institute as we have been throughout these 125 years? We need to be attentive to building the future and paving the way for the next 125 years.”   

The MOSAIC project kicks off the day's activities.   

The program began with a presentation of the MOSAIC project, led by researcher Paulo Peiter, who shared the results of the first year of activities. The exhibition “MOSAIC: experiences from the first year of the international project” was open to the public in the Pavilion's hall throughout the day.

The project brings together 15 partners from five countries (Brazil, Kenya, France, Portugal, and Poland) and arises in the context of climate change and environmental degradation that directly impact vulnerable populations. Considering the existence of large databases that are underutilized by local communities, the initiative seeks to integrate this knowledge and generate tools to strengthen responses to climate events in international border regions.   

In presenting the steps already taken, Paulo explained the path the team has taken, including stakeholder mapping, community engagement, and the integration of data and knowledge.   

“When we started the field surveys, we realized that several proposals had already been developed by the local actors themselves to deal with the effects of climate change. We are documenting these initiatives to understand how we can contribute effectively.”   

Documentary 'One Health, One World' promotes debate on the integration of knowledge.   

Next, the documentary “One Health, One World: When Territories and Knowledge Unite in the Face of Epidemics” was shown, followed by a discussion with Vincent Corbel (IRD/France) and Claudia Codesso (Fioc(ruz). The production discusses the concept of One Health, integrating human, environmental, and animal dimensions.   

During the discussion, Vincent highlighted the film's central theme:   

"The goal was to propose a holistic view of global health. It is necessary to look beyond human health and understand how it connects to environmental and animal health, especially in the face of zoonoses and vector-borne diseases."  

Claudia added, emphasizing the inter-institutional nature of the work:   

"This work exemplifies cooperation between institutions. It was presented at COP30, which allowed for a broader debate on One Health and the integration of different organizations." 

Tania Araujo-Jorge highlighted the relevance of the discussions and inquired about the next steps for disseminating the production. In response, Claudia explained that the team plans to expand screenings to schools, institutions, communities, and workshops, transforming the film into an ongoing tool for education and dialogue.   

The release of the film 'Haemagogus' addresses the behind-the-scenes aspects of yellow fever surveillance. 

Documentary filmmaker Genilton Vieira presented the film "Haemagogus: Primary Vectors of Sylvatic Yellow Fever," which documents the biology, behavior, and reproductive cycle of the transmitting mosquitoes. Based on previously unpublished footage, the production shows the dynamics of yellow fever in nature and highlights the importance of epizootic surveillance. 

Genilton commented on the challenges involved in the job:  

“It took me 15 years to photograph mosquitoes laying eggs in tree holes. For me, this film marks a high point in my work and represents a scientific achievement.”

After the screening, the discussion was opened to the public, and researcher Ricardo Lourenço highlighted the role of the production as a tool for education and health surveillance: 

“Having all these resources within the Oswaldo Cruz Institute gives us the confidence to offer high-quality information. This is not just about entertainment; it is an essential message for public health and for the prevention of yellow fever.”   

Awarding of the Henrique Lenzi Medal recognizes scientific excellence.
 

Five researchers from IOC They received the Henrique Lenzi Medal of Merit in Science and Technology, awarded to scientists who have ranked among the most influential in the world, according to international rankings. The honorees were:   

Ademir Martins Júnior – Laboratory of Biology, Control and Surveillance of Vector Insects

Denise Valle – Laboratory of Physiology and Control of Vector Arthropods   

Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo Moreira – Entomology Laboratory   

Rubem Menna Barreto – Cell Biology Laboratory   

Ricardo Lourenço – researcher at IOC   

Researchers retiring in 2025 receive special tribute.  

To conclude the day's activities, the five researchers who retired in 2025 were honored: Alexandre Madi Fialho, Dalia dos Prazeres Rodrigues, Maria de Fátima Ferreira da Cruz, Nataly Araujo de Souza, and Maria Helena Saad — who was present at the ceremony, representing the group.

Commenting on the tribute, Tania Araujo-Jorge highlighted the symbolism of the moment:  

"I thank the DGP, which carries out this recognition with such care every year. In 2025, the tribute takes on a special meaning, with the awarding of the 125th anniversary medal." IOCMaria Helena Saad, present here, represents this period of dedication to the Institute in such a significant year for our history.”