This year, for the first time, a woman gave the ITA’s Aula Magna
Air Force Agency – ITA, by Aspirante Leonardo and Captain Alcoforado
The Brazilian Air Force’s Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), located in São José dos Campos (SP), held on March 06 another edition of the traditional Aula Magna, which officially marks the beginning of a new academic year at the Institute. The ceremony was attended by civil and military authorities, as well as first year undergraduate students and ITA staff members.
The president of the Institute for Technological Research of the State of São Paulo (IPT) and member of the Superior Council of the Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP), Professor Dr. Liedi Legi Bariani Bernucci, was the invited speaker, being the first woman to give a Magna Lecture in the ITA history.
During the presentation, Dr. Liedi Bernucci spoke about the importance of Engineering for the future of Brazil and the need to follow this path as soon as possible, still in the present. “Engineering can be a protagonist in the creation of a more sustainable society. Engineers master a plethora of subjects, and will broaden the frontiers of knowledge to have new technologies, materials and processes to face the complex challenges that humanity and the planet present, working to create a better future [Click here to download the original image] for all,” pointed out the speaker.
DCTA’s General Director, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Maurício Augusto Silveira de Medeiros, congratulated the Magna Aula and, addressing the ITA’s new students, said that the sum of their talents is what will lead them to find the best solutions for our country’s development. “In São José dos Campos we observe in practice the triple helix model, with the interaction of the University, Government and Industry, working towards the development of Science, Technology and Innovation in Brazil”, he added.
The Dean of ITA, Professor Anderson Ribeiro Correia, took the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of another study period. “We left here full of inspirations based on the knowledge transmitted by Professor Bernucci, and we hope this will reflect in the coming months of dedication and learning,” he celebrated.
[Click here to download the original image] On the occasion, honors were presented to undergraduate and graduate students who excelled in the 2022 academic year. Among the honorees is Computer Engineer Ana Paula Lopes Schuch, who obtained the best performance among all students last year, receiving the Ministry of Defense Merit Award and the Brazilian Air Force Award.
For the Engineer, it is a moment of extreme happiness and the materialization of the dedication of the past years. “I have always been inspired by women who graduated before me, who were important during my path, so I believe in an aspect of encouragement for other women as well,” she pointed out.
Besides the Awards offered by the Ministry of Defense (MD) and the Brazilian Air Force, the companies Litoral Engenharia e Desenvolvimento, Business Propulsion LAB, Embraer, Boeing, and the Casimiro Montenegro Filho Foundation, participated in the ceremony awarding outstanding graduates.
Representativity
The positive milestone of being the first woman to give the ITA’s Aula Magna took place during the week of celebration of International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8. In her speech, Professor Liedi advised the new students about the importance of studying the history of the Institute they are part of, to learn about the path taken by those who preceded them. “I always had a huge admiration for ITA, but in my time women were not admitted. Today I am very happy to see how they are so well accepted and inserted”, she pointed out.
At ITA, the first female students arrived in 1996, and since then the number of women has been increasing. That same year, the first female cadets entered the Air Force Academy (AFA), in Pirassununga (SP), and reached the rank of Colonel in 2017.
In the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) there are more than 40 years of female presence, with women exercising various functions on behalf of the nation.
Photos: Corporal J.Alves / DCTA *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***