Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Ivy is an autonomous underwater vehicle created by Terra, a competition team at UFSC Joinville. Photo: UFSC Joinville

The Terra competition team, an outreach project of the Department of Mobility Engineering at the Joinville Campus, represented the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) and Brazil in RoboSub, an international robotics competition held in August in Irvine, California, United States.

The group developed an AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle), nicknamed Ivy, equipped with artificial intelligence to detect objects in the aquatic environment. The team was the only one from South America to participate in the in-person competition in the United States.

With image recognition and decision-making capabilities, the technology also contributes to research on reef species preservation and environmental conservation, the Terra team reported.

The Ivy vehicle has the potential to operate in a variety of fields, including inspecting vessel hulls in port areas without the need for drydocking, collecting data and samples for scientific research on the environment and its species, monitoring seabeds and marine animals, operating in hard-to-reach locations, and even conducting search missions, according to the Terra team.

In addition to detecting objects, Ivy has control systems that, in future versions still under development, may allow the machine to physically interact with its environment. This could, for example, enable Ivy to pick up items with a claw.

Autonomous operation

Naval architecture and marine engineering students Elisa Silva and Rafael Rui and automotive engineering student Pedro Strieder at RoboSub. Photo: UFSC Joinville

The vehicle, while still in its early stages, was designed to operate autonomously, serving as a foundation for future improvements. It was built by students under the coordination of Professor Andrea Piga Carboni, with the support of Professors Anelize Zomkowski Salvi and Tamiris Grossl Bade. The Fundação Stemmer para Pesquisa, Desenvolvimento e Inovação (FEESC) provided financial support for the project, which also benefited from collaboration with Connor Soluções.

During the RoboSub competition, from 11 to 17 August, Ivy passed the inspection stage. However, it encountered a problem with a battery purchased in the United States during the competition. The Brazilian project only scored points for design documentation. Even so, the Terra team reported exchanging knowledge with more experienced teams, who offered support ranging from adapting tools to the North American standard to providing technical contributions during the competition’s challenges.

Good results in other competitions

The Terra team has already achieved strong results in other competitions. At COBRUF 2019 – a competition that brings together teams developing technology for use in different environments – the UFSC Joinville team took first place in both the COBRUF Subspace category and overall, in addition to receiving awards for excellence in gender equality, educational outreach, agile development, among others. At RoboSub 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Terra team participated only online, thus missing the semi-finals and finals. In that edition, they placed 23rd out of 39 participants.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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Professor Marcelo Callegari Scipioni analyzes a sample from a disc. Photo: UFSC Curitibanos

 The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) is one of the institutions that contributed to an international study on the impacts of droughts on tropical tree growth published in the journal Science. The study analyzed more than 20,000 tree-ring series spanning 483 locations in 36 tropical countries.

The results indicate that, over the last century, droughts reduced stem growth by an average of 2.5%, with significant recovery in the year following the drought. However, the researchers warn that the effects of droughts are intensifying and may compromise tropical forests’ ability to sequester carbon in the future, exacerbating climate issues.

UFSC contributed unpublished data generated at the Curitibanos Campus, based on the analysis of growth rings of the Araucaria angustifolia species, obtained from a native forest remnant located in the campus’ experimental forest area. These data were produced as part of research projects on giant trees, funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Research and Innovation Support Foundation of the State of Santa Catarina (FAPESC). The participation was coordinated by Professor Marcelo Callegari Scipioni, from the Department of Agriculture, Biodiversity and Forests, affiliated with the Forest Resources Laboratory of the School for Rural Sciences at UFSC.

The research used methods from dendrochronology, the science that studies the annual growth rings of trees as indicators of past environment and climate. According to Professor Scipioni, these rings serve as natural records of climatic and ecological events. “The Araucaria is the species with the largest number of dendrochronological studies in southern Brazil. The database generated by several researchers on this species was essential for filling geographic information gaps in the global study published in Science. It functions as a keystone species, both ecologically and scientifically, allowing us to understand the responses of subtropical forests to climate change,” explains the researcher.

Carbon sequestration capacity

Extractor used to take a sample from the tree trunk. Photo: UFSC Curitibanos

As the effects of droughts intensify, the ability of tropical forests to sequester carbon may be compromised, the authors warn. “When forests stop sequestering carbon, or when previously stored carbon is released, as occurs during deforestation and fires, there is an increase in the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect and, consequently, global warming,” explains Professor Scipioni.

Large trees, in particular, store significant amounts of carbon, the researcher points out. This is why their felling results in proportionally higher emissions. However, some of this carbon can remain stored for longer if the wood is used for durable purposes – such as furniture, building structures, or wooden flooring – as long as it is not burned, the professor adds.

Study brings together more than 100 researchers

The research also involved Professor Amanda Köche Marcon, from the Department of Natural and Social Sciences at UFSC Curitibanos, who contributed growth ring chronologies of Araucaria angustifolia and Cedrela fissilis derived from her doctoral research.

The international study published in the journal Science was led by teams from Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Bangladesh) and the University of Arizona (United States), and authored by more than 100 researchers from various tropical regions of the planet.

Giant trees: challenges and equipment

Giant trees are the subject of research at UFSC. Photo: UFSC Curitibanos

Professor Marcelo Scipioni coordinates the cataloging of giant trees in southern Brazil and manages the website “Giant Trees in Brazil“. According to the researcher, the work aims to date the largest Araucaria and Imbuia trees — the latter a symbol of Santa Catarina — in addition to investigating the environmental records contained in their growth rings. “Studying these trees is challenging: they are rare and often present anomalies, such as missing or false rings, which makes cross-dating difficult. To overcome this, we also use many young trees in dendrochronological studies,” explains the professor.

Currently, the UFSC Forest Resources Laboratory in Curitibanos has a digitizing table specifically designed for large wood samples — the well-known discs. According to Professor Scipioni, this equipment is unique in the world. The table is equipped with an A3 scanner, and the images generated are being used in a research mission at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the United States to develop artificial intelligence-based tools, in a project funded by CNPq.

In addition, bark and wood samples will be analyzed using carbon-14 dating to help determine the age of giant trees. The work also involves producing seeds and seedlings from these trees, aiming to preserve the species in the face of climate change by promoting planting at higher altitude areas in the Santa Catarina mountain region – a process known as assisted migration. These projects are supported by FAPESC and CNPq.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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International students from more than 20 countries are welcomed at UFSC. Photos: Gustavo Diehl/Agecom

Last Friday, 8 August 2025, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) hosted a welcome event for international students from 20 countries in the Shared Building (EFI) Auditorium, on the Trindade Campus in Florianópolis. The event marked the start of the second semester of 2025 and featured a diverse day-long program.

Organized by the Office of International Relations (SINTER), in partnership with the Prorectorate for Undergraduate Studies and Basic Education (PROGRAD) and other institutional projects, the initiative aimed to support international students in adapting to university life and local culture. Their study buddies – volunteer UFSC students who help newcomers integrate – were also invited for the event.

The official welcome ceremony began at 9:00 a.m., with opening remarks from Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza, Secretary for International Relations Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho, and Director of International Relations Fernanda Leal. In their speeches, they stressed the role of internationalization in strengthening the University and presented the services and infrastructure available to the 1,643 international students currently enrolled at UFSC and who chose our university as part of their academic journey.

UFSC Rector, Irineu Manoel de Souza

Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza highlighted one of UFSC’s core pillars:

“UFSC has grown significantly in terms of internationalization, reflecting our collective work and commitment to excellence. The internationalization of our University occurs, above all, through our people. The work of our students, faculty and staff ensure that UFSC is recognized not only in Santa Catarina, but throughout Brazil, Latin America, and the world. We are a well-established University, with approximately 120 undergraduate programs and 156 graduate programs – all supported by our commitment to quality teaching, research, and outreach.”

He also reaffirmed UFSC’s commitment to inclusion:

“Even in the face of financial challenges, UFSC maintains solid student support policies, as we believe that inclusion and retention are fundamental pillars of the institution. We work tirelessly to ensure that all students entering UFSC have the necessary conditions to complete their degrees.”

Following the speeches, Secretary for International Relations Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho presented an institutional video showcasing UFSC’s history, values, and social impact, featuring testimonials from students. He also introduced the new international students by country, underscoring the diversity of backgrounds and academic programs. Of the 127 students, 120 are participating in the Incoming Program, coming from countries such as Germany, Spain, Canada, France, China, and Norway. Another seven joined UFSC through the Escala Estudiantes de Grado Program, of the Association of Montevideo Group Universities (AUGM), coming from Argentina and Uruguay. The Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) brought four students from Angola, Cape Verde, Chile, and East Timor, who are studying at the Florianópolis and Joinville campuses.

About UFSC

Rector Irineu Manoel de Souza, Secretary Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho, and Director Fernanda Leal welcoming the students

Founded in 1960, UFSC has played a key role in the socioeconomic and cultural development of Santa Catarina. Present in five cities – Florianópolis, Araranguá, Curitibanos, Joinville, and Blumenau – the University is a multi-campus, democratic institution committed to diversity.

Ranked among the best universities in Brazil and Latin America, UFSC offers programs from early childhood education to doctoral degrees, with an academic community of around 40,000 people. Its inclusion policies include pioneering initiatives such as reserving places for Black, Indigenous, and Quilombola people, alongside student retention and assistance programs that benefit thousands of students.

In research and outreach, UFSC maintains partnerships with public agencies, civil society organizations, and private companies, reinforcing its role as a driver of innovation and social transformation.

Internationalization is another defining feature of UFSC, fostering the mobility of faculty, students and staff, and encouraging global knowledge exchange. For international students, UFSC strives to provide an enriching academic, professional, and cultural experience.

The welcome day also featured a performance by the Devassa Percussion Band, from the Medicine Student Athletic Association (AAAMEDUFSC). Afternoon activities included cultural workshops and guided tours; however, the visit to the São José da Ponta Grossa Fortress was postponed due to bad weather. Other activities on the Florianópolis Campus went ahead as planned.

For more information about the mobility programs and welcome initiatives for international students, visit SINTER website.

Rosiani Bion de Almeida | SECOM
imprensa.gr@contato.ufsc.br

Photos: Gustavo Diehl | Agecom | SECOM
agecom@contato.ufsc.br

Translated  by SINTER/UFSC.

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Four representatives from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) will be sworn in as members of the Council for Sustainable Social and Economic Development (CDESS) on 5 August 2025, at the Planalto Palace in Brasília. The Vice-Rector Joana Célia dos Passos, Professor Marcelo Henrique Romano Tragtenberg, doctoral student João Carlos Nogueira – from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Sciences (PPGICH) – and Ligia Moreiras Sena, a graduate of the doctoral programs in Collective Health and Pharmacology, will be officially appointed to the Council by the President of Brazil. This strategic forum plays a key role in advising the President by developing recommendations on public policies aimed at Brazil’s sustainable development.

Joana Célia dos Passos and Marcelo Tragtenberg are joining the CDESS for the first time, while João Carlos Nogueira and Ligia Moreiras Sena are beginning their second terms. The first three are also associated with the Antonieta de Barros Chair at UFSC, and Sena contributed to the formulation of the National Integrated Policy for Early Childhood, signed by President Lula in 2024. The UFSC representatives will join a body whose mission is to strengthen ties between the Federal Government and civil society, promoting plural dialogue among different sectors and contributing to the formulation of proposals essential for economic, social, and environmental progress.

The composition of the Council reflects a commitment to territorial, ethnic, racial, and gender diversity, ensuring it is representative and inclusive. Currently, 40% of its members are women and 30% are mixed race, Black, or Indigenous.

In addition to its diverse membership, the Council is organized into five Thematic Committees: Economic Affairs; Combating Inequalities; Law and Democracy; Environment and Sustainable Development; and Technology and Digital Transformation. These committees analyze government initiatives, develop specific recommendations, deepen debates, and offer solutions on topics such as energy transition and early childhood.

The appointments reaffirm UFSC’s commitment to developing public policies based on interdisciplinary knowledge and social inclusion. The presence of UFSC representatives in the CDESS not only highlights the University’s role as a leading voice in national debates but also provides opportunities to help shape guidelines and propose actions that positively impact the country, fostering economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

Rector’s Office  – Press Service / SECOM
imprensa.gr@contato.ufsc.br

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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Through two international projects, a research network will investigate the health of oysters farmed in Florianópolis and identify possible causes of mortality (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

A pioneering research network involving the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) and institutions in France and Chile is launching a major project aimed at improving oyster health. The goal is to identify pathogens potentially involved in oyster mortality during the summer and to help develop preventive farming strategies aligned with the One Health concept.

At UFSC, 13 researchers from the School of Biological Sciences (CCB), the School of Agricultural Sciences (CCA), and the School of Health Sciences (CCS) will take part in the network, along with a collaborator from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB). International partners include the universities of Montpellier and Perpignan, Ifremer (a French ocean research institute), and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), in France; and the Pontifical Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), the Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) and the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), in Chile. In total, about 30 researchers will participate in the network activities. The network will also include postdoctoral fellows and master’s and doctoral students from five UFSC graduate programs: Aquaculture, Biotechnology and Biosciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, and Food Sciences.

Researchers participating in the network during the launch of the initiative, held in May in Florianópolis (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

The work will center on two major international research projects: EcoHealth4Sea – International Consortium on One Health Applied to Coastal Ecosystems, funded by CNRS, and Sentinels – Ecological Health in Coastal Marine Environments Used for Oyster Farming, funded by the Capes/Cofecub Program, which supports joint Brazil-French research. UFSC will host the Brazilian headquarters for the initiative in an international laboratory to be established at the School of Biological Sciences (CCB). The effort also has support from the Research and Innovation Support Foundation of the State of Santa Catarina (Fapesc): the DiagnOSTRA project was approved under Call for Proposals 21/2024 (Universal Research Program), enabling the acquisition of consumables and equipment.

One Health

Professor Rafael Diego da Rosa, from CCB, researches oyster immunogenetics and is one of the partnership coordinators. He explains that aquaculture is an economic activity highly impacted by emerging or existing marine pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, which affect not only farmed animals but also the human populations that depend on these ecosystems.

One Health applied to coastal ecosystems means looking at the health of the entire environment, not just humans or other isolated species. “Oysters are sentinel organisms. Because they filter large volumes of water, they accumulate everything present in it. So studying oysters also means studying water quality and the overall health of the marine ecosystem,” he explains.

Oyster spat of the Magallana gigas species produced at the UFSC Marine Molluscs Laboratory (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

According to Professor da Rosa, the causes of high mollusc mortality during the hottest months of the year — a phenomenon similar to that studied in other oyster-farming countries — are not yet fully understood. Since the 1990s, when farming of the Japanese oyster Magallana gigas  (formerly Crassostrea gigas) began in Santa Catarina through the Marine Molluscs Laboratory at UFSC, high mortality rates have been observed during the summer, with losses reaching up to 50% of production, according to data from the Santa Catarina State Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Agency (Epagri-SC). Possible causes include predation, pathogen infections, pollution, or limited resistance to environmental stressors such as temperature, salinity and PH fluctuations.

Investigation

Over the coming years, UFSC researchers will conduct sampling and analyses of oysters farmed in Florianópolis’ North and South Bays to determine whether the mortality causes resemble those found in Europe. There, research has identified polymicrobial infections known as Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) as the main cause of oyster mortality, with Vibrio bacteria and the oyster herpesvirus OsHV-1 recognized as the principal etiological agents.

“Because these are very distant locations with different environmental conditions, it is possible that here the situation will be different, with mortality caused by other infectious factors, such as viruses and bacteria distinct from those found in Europe, or by some aspect related to climate change,” explains Professor da Rosa. The network will exchange information to identify common phenomena and seek solutions to ensure oyster health, preventing losses and the spread of pathogens that may affect other organisms.

Oyster farming overview

Oyster samples will be collected from farms in the North and South bays, such as those in Ribeirão da Ilha (Photo: CCB/UFSC)

Brazil ranked as the world’s 13th largest aquaculture producer in 2024 – an industry covering molluscs, fish, crustaceans, algae, and other commercial species. In 2022, global fishing and aquaculture production reached a record high in aquaculture production of aquatic animals, surpassing capture fisheries for the first time, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The organization recognizes aquaculture production as a key solution for improving food and nutritional security, alleviating poverty, and driving socioeconomic development, especially in coastal communities. The sector employed approximately 61 million people in 2022.

The state of Santa Catarina is Brazil’s leading producer of oysters, scallops and mussels, accounting for 93.2% of national production in 2023, according to data from Epagri. The main oyster farms are located in the municipalities of Florianópolis, Palhoça, and São José. In 2023, the state produced 1,731 tons of oysters, 98.5% of which were Magallana gigas, with the remainder consisting of native species such as Crassostrea gasar.

Ana Paula Lückman | ana.paula.luckman@ufsc.br
Agecom Journalist | UFSC

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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In Chemistry alone, 13 UFSC researchers appear in the ranking, with more than 3,200 publications. Photo by Daiane Mayer/Agecom/UFSC

The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)  has 34 scientists across 12 disciplines among the most influential in the world, according to the ranking Best Scientists in the World By Discipline 2025, published by Research.com, which measured and disclosed the impact of their work.

Compared to the 2023 edition, which included 26 UFSC researchers, this year’s ranking reflects an increase in citations of work associated with UFSC and its scholars, based on Research.com’s evaluation criteria. In the field of Chemistry alone, 13 researchers stood out, with a total of 3,264 publications recorded.

In the national ranking by discipline, UFSC ranks second in Electrical Engineering, third in Chemistry, and seventh in fields such as Medicine and Engineering and Technology.

According to Research.com, UFSC researchers have produced a total of 6,766 publications, with an average of 199 publications per researcher. The total number of citations among the highlighted scientists is 249,032, with an average of 7,324.47 citations per researcher.

List of UFSC scientists in the ranking

See the names cited in the ranking, as they appear on the platform. The disciplines, also defined by the platform, are listed below in alphabetical order.

Animal Science and Veterinary

Maurício Laterça Martins
Maria José Hötzel

Chemistry

Bernhard Welz (in memorian)
Antonio L. Braga
Rosendo A. Yunes
J. Vladimir Oliveira
Moacir Geraldo Pizzolatti
Debora de Oliveira
Ademir Neves (in memorian)
Eduardo Carasek
Regina de Fátima Peralta Muniz Moreira
Adailton J. Bortoluzzi
Roseane Fett
Valdir Soldi
Faruk Nome

Ecology and Evolution

Sergio R. Floeter
Paulo Antunes Horta
Malva Isabel Medina Hernández

Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Ivo Barbi
Julio E. Normey-Rico
Richard Demo Souza

Engineering and Technology

Roberto Lamberts
Enedir Ghisi

Environmental Sciences

Marcos L.S. Oliveira

Materials Science

Dachamir Hotza

Mathematics

Ruy Exel

Medicine

João B. Calixto

Microbiology

Álvaro José Romanha (in memorian)

Neuroscience

Ana Lúcia S. Rodrigues
Reinaldo N. Takahashi
Roger Walz
Peter Wolf

Plant Science and Agronomy

Marcelo Maraschin
Miguel Pedro Guerra

About the platform

Research.com is an educational platform designed to helps students find the best schools, academic opportunities, and career paths. The platform features popular rankings of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries around the world, with an overview of each institution based on various metrics. In the 2024 ranking, UFSC ranked seventh in Brazil and fourth among Brazilian federal universities.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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Luzia Maweza shares her experience with the project. Photo: UFSC

Difficulties with language, challenges adapting to the classroom and feelings of exclusion from her peers were some of the obstacles faced by Luzia Maweza, a migrant student from Angola, when she joined the Social Work program at UFSC and began her new life in Santa Catarina. Things began to change when she became involved with the UFSC sem Fronteiras [UFSC without Borders] project – an outreach initiative that promotes the integration and retention of international, migrant and refugee students at the university.

Like Luzia, many other students face similar struggles. According to a survey conducted by the Prorectorate for Undergraduate Studies and Basic Education (PROGRAD) on 13 May 2025, UFSC currently has around 73 undergraduate students enrolled through the Brazilian government’s mobility program Programa de Estudantes-Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) along with 583 international undergraduate degree-seeking students. Many of these students arrive in Brazil without institutional support and experience difficulties adapting – challenges similar to those reported by Luzia.

Elisa Schemes, PEC-G representative at UFSC and a staff member at the Office of International Relations (SINTER), explained that the UFSC sem Fronteiras project originated from existing support initiatives for PEC-G students. The PEC-G is  a Brazilian government program that offers free places in undergraduate programs to students from developing countries that maintain educational and cultural agreements with Brazil. According to Schemes, the project aims to expand the support already provided by SINTER and the Institutional Program for Educational Support to Students (PIAPE) to include all international students at UFSC.

The project is coordinated by Janaina Santos, who also coordinates PIAPE. Santos holds a doctoral degree in the field of ​​migration and refuge and has collaborated with various groups and organizations that support migrants and refugees. She was part of the UFSC committee that implemented a specific undergraduate admission process for refugees, asylum seekers and humanitarian visa holders. This special admission process has been in place at UFSC since 2022 and offers 10 undergraduate seats per year.

According to Santos, UFSC sem Fronteiras brings together migrant, refugee, asylum-seeking, and international undergraduate and graduate students to carry out welcoming activities, support academic integration, monitor student trajectories, and promote cultural and artistic engagement.

How the project works

Discussion group with UFSC international, migrant and refugee students.

The project operates through two main branches: one focused on the internal university community and the other on external audiences.

For students already enrolled at UFSC, the project aims to build a support network and offer academic and pedagogical assistance. Activities include discussion groups with international, migrant and refugee students to hear their experiences, understand their backgrounds, and support their academic integration and retention.

These students also receive guidance on academic life, information about PIAPE’s educational support services and the university’s Psychological Care Service (Sapsi), as well as assistance on immigration procedures with the Federal Police. Additional support includes information on opening a bank account, accessing public healthcare, and navigating other UFSC services.

For the external audience, UFSC sem Fronteiras works to disseminate the specific admission processes for refugees and migrants. The project also seeks to raise awareness about human rights, the importance of inclusivity, and to combat misinformation around migration and refuge, making society more welcoming. It also aims to build connections with the students’ countries of origin, providing guidance on how to study at UFSC.

Janaína Santos presents the UFSC sem Fronteiras project during a tour through academic schools. Photo: UFSC

The implementation of the specific admission process for refugees and migrants in 2022, UFSC has opened 30 seats (10 per year), but only around 20 students are currently enrolled.  Santos explains that many dropped out due to a lack of academic and institutional support. “The project is precisely intended to combat this dropout, ensuring that students feel supported once they enroll”, she says.

According to Santos, international, migrant and refugee students face specific challenges that make support essential. These may include separation from family and country of origin, previous experiences of violence, language barriers, cultural differences, and academic difficulties stemming from different educational backgrounds. Many also struggle with organizing their studies, experience isolation, and have trouble understanding academic codes and integrating into university life.

Luzia Maweza now works as an intern with the UFSC sem Fronteiras project. She arrived in Brazil in 2022, first settling in the state of Bahia before moving to Santa Catarina. Luzia describes her own challenges in becoming a UFSC student and adapting to the new environment. She observed that African students tended to group together, while she often felt the need to “prove she was good enough” to be included in other groups. She also criticized some instructors for overlooking the language and integration difficulties faced by international students, often leaving them to manage group work on their own. In addition, she pointed out cultural differences in food and explained that the prejudice she experienced in Santa Catarina, though more subtle than in Bahia, ‘hurts more’ because it isn’t spoken aloud—but is still clearly felt.

Participating in UFSC initiatives such as the Antiracist Praxis Project and the UFSC sem Fronteiras, was a transformative experience for Luzia. Initially hesitant to express her knowledge, she gained confidence and visibility through these projects, which helped her better understand Brazilian society and race relations, and develop a more critical perspective. This shift helped challenge the prejudices held by some classmates—such as the belief that she lacked the ability to contribute academically—and changed the way she was perceived.

One of the key points emphasized by both Santos and Luzia is the need for wider dissemination of the project. Many migrant and refugee students are unaware of where to seek support within the university. Luzia, who felt lost when she first arrived on campus, underscores the importance of informing other students about the project, which exists to ensure they don’t feel alone—and to help them realize that their challenges are shared, and that there is a welcoming space for them at UFSC.

Learn more about the project in their official website.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina is ranked as the 8^th best university in Brazil in the QS World University Rankings 2026, released on 19 June. The University rose two positions compared to last year’s edition.

The ranking evaluated 1,501 institutions across 106 countries and territories, including 32 Brazilian universities. In the overall ranking, UFSC is placed in the 801-850 range. The exact position of universities within the range is not specified.

Published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the ranking uses the following indicators:

• Academic reputation (30% of the final score) – based on a global survey of academics;
• Citations per Faculty (20%) – measures the impact of scientific research;
• Employer Reputation (15%) – measures the job market’s perception of the institution’s graduates;
• Faculty Student Ratio (10%) – evaluates teaching capacity;
• International Research Network (5%) – measures international collaboration in research;
• Sustainability (5%) – evaluates institutional efforts related to social and environmental sustainability;
• Employment Outcomes (5%) – considers the impact and success of graduates;
• International Faculty Ratio (5%) and International Student Ratio (5%) – reflect the ability to attract global talent and foster an international academic environment.

UFSC has also performed well in other international rankings, such as the THE World University Rankings and the THE Impact Rankings.

Access the full ranking results at the QS official website.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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The Times Higher Education (THE), a British magazine specializing in higher education, released the results of the Impact Rankings 2025 on 18 June. The ranking evaluated 2,526 universities from 130 countries or territories based on their progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the ranking, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) outperformed more than half of the institutions evaluated worldwide in eight SDGs. THE lists the top 100 universities with the highest scores for each goal, and then groups the remaining institutions into bands according to their scores.

UFSC ranked in the third range (positions 201–300) in the following goals:

• SDG 3 – Good health and well-being (among 1,788 universities evaluated).
• SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy (among 1,181 universities evaluated).

In six other SDGs, UFSC was placed in the fourth range (positions 301-400):

• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger (among 955 universities evaluated)
• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation (among 1,042 universities evaluated)
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (among 1,156 universities evaluated)
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production (among 973 universities evaluated)
• SDG 14 – Life Below Water (among 711 universities evaluated)
• SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (among 1,256 universities evaluated)

Research on health and well-being was considered as part of the ranking methodology. Photo: Mateus Mendonça/Agecom/UFSC

In the overall ranking, UFSC is placed in the 601-800 range, with a score of 66.4. The Impact Rankings methodology considers factors such as: research in the areas indicated by the UN; staff and resource management; local, regional and global reach; teacher training and graduate career outcomes.

THE is a British magazine that publishes news and articles on higher education. It annually produces a set of rankings considered among the most comprehensive, balanced and reliable in the world.

According to the official website of the United Nations (UN) in Brazil, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The 17 goals are ambitious and interconnected, addressing the most pressing development challenges in Brazil and around the world.

Translated by SINTER/UFSC.

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Professor Michelle Fossati receives SDG Education Seal at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Environmental Management Coordination Office/UFSC

The Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) has been awarded the SDG Education Seal, in recognition of its commitment to advancing the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda in Brazil. The award ceremony took place on 20 March at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together representatives from 74 Brazilian educational institutions honored for their contributions to social impact in ​​education. Organized by Instituto Selo Social, 2030 Agenda Working Group, UNB 2030 and UFRJ, the event highlighted initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostered discussions on education, sustainability, and SDG 18: Ethnic-Racial Equality.

Representing UFSC at the ceremony was Professor Michele Fossati, from the Department of Architecture, who registered one of the recognized projects. UFSC received the seal for five initiatives promoting environmental management, education for sustainability, art, and conscious consumption – aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goal). The awarded initiatives were:

• Sustentabilidade é coisa de criança:  abordagem da sustentabilidade com escolas públicas do ensino fundamental [Sustainability is a child’s thing: approach to sustainability in public primary and lower secondary schools] – Coordinated by Professor Michele Fossati;
• Disseminação de conhecimentos sobre sustentabilidade [Dissemination of knowledge on sustainability] – Coordinated by Professor Michele Fossati;
• Semana de Arte com Educação Ambiental [Art Week with Environmental Education] – Coordinated by UFSC Sala Verde [Green Room];
• Semana de Acolhimento da Comunidade [Community Welcoming Week] – Coordinated by UFSC Sala Verde [Green Room];
• Trabalhando a cultura popular com educação ambiental através do folclore catarinense: “O Boi de Mamão” [Popular culture and environmental education through Santa Catarina folklore: “O Boi de Mamão”] – Coordinated by UFSC Sala Verde [Green Room].

For more information about the award, visit seloods.org.

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Translated by SINTER/UFSC.