SBGf President’s Foreword to the Special Issue: IAG 50th Years

Abstract

We at the Brazilian Geophysics Society (SBGf) proudly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first undergraduate Geophysics course created in Brazil in this celebratory issue of the Brazilian Journal of Geophysics (BrJG).
On May 26, 1972, the University of São Paulo (USP) audaciously and successfully opened the Department of Geophysics at the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG). In foresight, this achievement laid the foundations for the academic and professional development of Geophysics in Brazil.
This pioneering Geophysics course inspired several universities to create their own courses while allowing the IAG/USP graduate students to spread their knowledge to various regions of the country.
In this special celebratory moment, we look to the past, recognizing the invaluable contribution offered by the USP course, and we follow the research advances achieved by members of its academic community. Furthermore, and more importantly, we are excited to see the USP legacy being perpetuated by new generations, bringing immense benefits to Brazilian society.
At 44 years old, SBGf is proud to be part of this trajectory and to have supported various course activities throughout its history. Presently, SBGf remains committed to collaborating to promote knowledge by supporting the eight undergraduate Geophysics courses and many other postgraduate courses, helping to write more success stories.
On behalf of SBGf and the Brazilian geophysics community, which started with the implementation of this course, we express our deep gratitude to the visionaries who left a legacy of academic excellence and we express our desire that all other institutions teaching Geophysics continue to grow mirroring the IAG/USP example.

Roberta Mary Vidotti
SBGf President, 2021-2023.