Citation by William R. Brice
I first met Silvia during the summer of 1989 when she came to Cornell looking for information about Charles Hartt, who founded the geology department at Cornell, and worked in Brazil in the 1800s. That was the beginning of a wonderful professional collaboration and personal friendship which has continued through the years.
Silvia has published and presented material about the history of geology in several languages; with a concentration on the development of the understanding of the geology of her native Brazil, and how that knowledge has been advanced by people from many countries, such as Charles Hartt, but she also advances and expands our knowledge about the history of geology in other countries as well. She has published and/or presented well over 300 papers, books, presentations, other articles, and book chapters. Frequently Silvia brings to light the important contributions of people who may not be well-known internationally until she describes their work. A good example is her recent paper about Nérée Boubée and his contribution to the founding of the Société Géologique de France. Silvia is known, and here I speak as one who has often worked with her, to be a very cooperative and supportive co-author. A quick look at her published material reflects how well she works with others, for many of her published works have co-authors.
In addition, through her various academic positions at the State University at Campinas (UNICAMP), she has influenced many students, both undergraduate and graduate, on the importance of understanding the history of how our science of geology has developed. Her influence extends internationally through her membership in, and service to, various international organizations devoted to the history of geology and, more broadly, the history of science, such as: President of the Latin American Society of History of Science and Technology (SLHCT) (1995-1998); International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO), serving as President 2008-2012; and President-elect (1999-2001) and President (2001-2002) of the History of Earth Sciences Society (HESS)—just to mention a few.
Silvia Fernanda de Mendonça Figueirôa is a worthy recipient of the Mary C. Rabbitt Award for 2024.
Response by Silvia Fernanda de Mendonça Figueirôa
It is with immense honor and joy that I receive this award, which has become, over time, one of the most important in the area of History and Philosophy of Geological Sciences. Created in 1981 and awarded since 1982, this award has significant and recognized researchers among its winners. Also, only eight women were awarded before me, including Mary Rabbitt herself, who lends her name to the award. Therefore, being on this list is a great honor, mainly because I am the second person from the Southern Hemisphere (and the first woman) to receive it.
Furthermore, and no less relevant, the award is yet another international recognition of the growing quality of contemporary research in the History of Science and Technology in Brazil, which has already come a long way since the creation of the Brazilian Society of History of Sciences in December 1983.
Just over 40 years ago, when I started my postgraduate degree in History of Science at the University of São Paulo, I could not imagine being included one day. I faced many challenges throughout my research and teaching career, particularly the distrust of Brazilian colleagues regarding the relevance and usefulness of the area of History and Philosophy of Geology, which is still very incipient in Brazil. The main obstacle was to show that there was science in Brazil before the 20th century, which led me to investigate many unknown characters, to give them their due dimension within the context of their times. Esse percurso de pesquisa conduziu meu foco nos intercâmbios científicos em âmbito internacional, tanto entre pesquisadores quanto entre instituições, revelando uma significativa riqueza de atividades científicas. Intercâmbios que foram particularmente frutíferos entre o Brasil e os USA, efetivados por meio de pesquisadores como Charles Frederick Hartt, Orville Adelbert Derby e John Casper Branner.
Looking back, I realize that my academic life partly mirrored my object of investigation. From an early age, I established contacts and networks of collaboration and exchange with my foreign colleagues, especially thanks to my involvement with the International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO) from 1984 onwards. Among my many colleagues, I highlight professors Hugh Simon Torrens, the late Martin Guntau, and, in particular, William Riley Brice, whom I thank for his partnership since 1989 and, in a unique way, the gentle and moving Citation we have just heard.