"Changing places opens up your mind"
Eleven scientists travelled from Brazil to Münster to exchange ideas with their German colleagues at the University of Münster. Since 2015 the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has been supporting the strategic partnership between the Universities of Münster and São Paulo. Numerous academic events have already taken place in recent years to strengthen the cooperation with Brazil. In this context, a scientific workshop and a Winter School for professors and doctoral students of Münster University and the University of São Paulo took place for the fourth time. The Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry and the Brazil Centre of Münster University hosted the event entitled "Cells under Fire - Research in Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry at USP and WWU". The participants discussed new strategies to combat infectious diseases. Prof Thomas J. Schmidt, the German coordinator of the WWU.USP project "Neglected Diseases", organized the scientific part of the event. "Our network consists of twelve research groups each at Münster University and the University of São Paulo. Each of our meetings leads to new ideas and joint research projects, but also to many new German-Brazilian friendships. Especially in the field of infectious diseases, intensive and multidisciplinary networking is an important key to success. In order to make this as sustainable as possible, young scientists are intensively involved."
The junior researchers Dr. Kamila Tomoko Yuyama from the University of São Paulo and Lara Szabó from Münster University report in a video about the Winter School and the German-Brazilian cooperation.
Brazil Centre of Münster University
As a strategic partner country, the University of Münster cooperates with Brazil for many years. The Brazil Centre was established in 2010 and unites all Brazil activities under one roof. The team advises all institutions at Münster University on their respective Brazilian activities in research, transfer, teaching and studies, arranges contacts and offers organizational and administrative project advice. Since 2012, the University of Münster has maintained a regional office in the German Science and Innovation House (DWIH) in São Paulo. This liaison office is a contact point for Brazilian universities and students interested in research and study opportunities in Münster.