Zeferino Vaz
Encyclopedia
Zeferino Vaz led the construction, establishment and development of the Unicamp
university, in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil
in the 1960s and 1970s. The main campus
is named after Zeferino, who strived to bring together some of Brazil's best scientists to form a recognised research institution.
Zeferino was born and lived his childhood in São Paulo
. He attended the Medicine school
of the University of São Paulo
and got his M.D. degree in 1932, with specializations
in Parasitology
, Parasitic Diseases, Biology
, Genetics
and Zoology
.
Shortly after his graduation, Zeferino became professor of Zoology and Parasitology in the Veterinary Medicine School of the University of São Paulo
. He was the director of the Veterinary Medicine School from 1936 to 1947. From 1951 to 1964 he was the director-founder of the Medical School
of Ribeirão Preto
, and during this period, in 1963, he was state secretary of public health. From 1964 to 1965 he was the first president of the São Paulo State Council of Education and rector of the University of Brasília
.
In 1965 Zeferino was designated president of the organizing commission for the Universidade Estadual de Campinas
. Zeferino became rector in 1966 and stayed in the office until
1978. Zeferino led the construction of the university campus, now named after him, which had its first building inaugurated in 1968. Zeferino was responsible for bringing scientists from other universities, and this helped Unicamp
become one of the most productive and respected research institutions of Latin America
. By the end of Zeferino's administration, the university had evolved from the Medicine College to a university with 7 institutes, 6 colleges, 2 technical schools and 10 service units.
Zeferino retired in 1978, but remained president of the Unicamp development foundation (Funcamp) until 1981, when he died of coronary problems.
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Universidade Estadual de Campinas is one of the three public universities of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, along both USP and UNESP....
university, in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in the 1960s and 1970s. The main campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
is named after Zeferino, who strived to bring together some of Brazil's best scientists to form a recognised research institution.
Zeferino was born and lived his childhood in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
. He attended the Medicine school
of the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
and got his M.D. degree in 1932, with specializations
in Parasitology
Parasitology
Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life...
, Parasitic Diseases, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, Genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
and Zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
.
Shortly after his graduation, Zeferino became professor of Zoology and Parasitology in the Veterinary Medicine School of the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
. He was the director of the Veterinary Medicine School from 1936 to 1947. From 1951 to 1964 he was the director-founder of the Medical School
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto is a medical school of the University of São Paulo located in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, founded 1952...
of Ribeirão Preto
Ribeirão Preto
Ribeirão Preto is a municipality and city in the Northeastern region of the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is nicknamed Brazilian California, because of a combination of an economy based on agrobusiness plus high technology, wealth and sunny weather all year long. With 605,114 inhabitants,...
, and during this period, in 1963, he was state secretary of public health. From 1964 to 1965 he was the first president of the São Paulo State Council of Education and rector of the University of Brasília
University of Brasília
The University of Brasília , is one of the largest and most prestigious Brazilian public universities funded by the Brazilian federal government...
.
In 1965 Zeferino was designated president of the organizing commission for the Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Universidade Estadual de Campinas is one of the three public universities of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, along both USP and UNESP....
. Zeferino became rector in 1966 and stayed in the office until
1978. Zeferino led the construction of the university campus, now named after him, which had its first building inaugurated in 1968. Zeferino was responsible for bringing scientists from other universities, and this helped Unicamp
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Universidade Estadual de Campinas is one of the three public universities of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, along both USP and UNESP....
become one of the most productive and respected research institutions of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. By the end of Zeferino's administration, the university had evolved from the Medicine College to a university with 7 institutes, 6 colleges, 2 technical schools and 10 service units.
Zeferino retired in 1978, but remained president of the Unicamp development foundation (Funcamp) until 1981, when he died of coronary problems.