Sir

Unlike Europe or the United States, where the demand for people with PhDs is relatively low in the scientific market, Brazil still needs these PhDs in research positions, mainly in the universities, which nowadays are seriously understaffed. Yet we have a dramatic problem, in that these posts are not being filled.

Brazil has a population of nearly 169 million people, about 0.02% of whom have doctorates. A large part of its scientific research is done in the 52 federal universities, supported by the national government.

The country currently lacks teachers and researchers. Areas such as ecology, sociology, economy, history and engineering require applied as well as basic research to address urgent national problems. However, no academic positions have been offered since a governmental decree was passed in November 1997, putting a freeze on both filling and creating research positions. Since then, no new permanent positions have been created, and even those that were already planned have been cancelled, jeopardizing public universities and basic research.

This government policy means that a whole generation of young PhDs will be lost to research. Between 1998 and 1999, for example, only 1,481 new doctors were added to the staff of the county's 52 federal universities, even though 8,790 Brazilian students obtained a PhD during this period.

These young doctors are the result of decades of investment on the part of the Brazilian government; some have obtained PhDs in the world's best scientific centres. Each of these students costs Brazil about US$22,680 per year if they study abroad, and $7,250 per year if they study in this country. According to the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil spent $65,631,910 in 1998, and $38,708,594 in 1999 (a significantly lower investment than the previous year) on grants.

This is the first time that so many well-trained scientists are available to work in Brazil, with the potential to fulfil the needs of our country in various scientific areas. They were intended to enhance Brazil's position in international science, and to open opportunities for collaborative enterprises.

After several protests at the beginning of this year, and long negotiations with the universities, the Brazilian government seemed to be willing to improve the situation. But the position has gone back and forth since then — on 20 March the government prohibited the creation of any new positions in the federal universities, even temporary contracts. Then, having come under pressure from the federal universities' rectors, the government backtracked and renewed its promise to create 2,000 emergency positions (of the 6,000 needed). But nothing has yet happened.

Brazil's scientific community lacks the political strength to make its protests heard. Therefore, we have decided to mobilize our community to show the government that there is public interest in the development of science in Brazil, and that there is also a qualified workforce available to help our country to overcome its social and economic problems.

Readers interested in supporting our efforts are asked to contact S.P.R. by e-mail at serviopr@mono.icb.ufmg.br.