Article Type : Research Article
Authors : Gomes da Silva MA
Keywords : Organic Chemistry; Organic electrochemistry; Scientific training; Higher education and scientific research
This article presents an overview of the
academic and professional trajectory of chemist Blanka Wladislaw, based on an
interview given to the CPDOC of the Getulio Vargas Foundation in 1977. Focusing
on scientific training, the challenges of research in Brazil, and the
development of Organic Chemistry as an autonomous field, the text highlights
her pioneering contribution to national science, especially through the
introduction of organic electrochemistry and the training of new researchers.
The history of Brazilian science is marked by unique
trajectories that, in addition to reflecting specific social and institutional
contexts, highlight the active role of its protagonists in building the
scientific field. In this scenario, the work of Blanka Wladislaw (1917-2010)
represents one of the most relevant contributions to the consolidation of
Organic Chemistry in Brazil, both in higher education and scientific research.
A Polish immigrant, Blanka arrived in Brazil at the
age of 14, bringing with her a solid European humanistic education that valued
reading, observation, and critical thinking. Her admission to the Faculty of
Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in 1937
marked the beginning of an academic journey closely connected to European
professors such as Heinrich Rheinboldt and Heinrich Hauptmann, both fundamental
in structuring Chemistry education in the country. During her undergraduate
studies, Blanka stood out for her interest in laboratory activities and her
affinity for Organic Chemistry. With Hauptmann's support, she began her
doctoral studies a few years after graduation, completing them in record time.
Her research on sulfur compounds was published in international journals,
inaugurating a new line of investigation at the university.
In the 1950s, with a scholarship from the British
Council, Blanka conducted postdoctoral research at Imperial College in London,
where she came into contact with new methodologies in the field of Organic
Electrochemistry. Upon returning to Brazil, she introduced these techniques to
the Chemistry Department at USP, which represented a significant advancement
for research in the area. Her tenure thesis, defended in 1958, addressed the
application of electrolytic methods to the synthesis of alpha-lipoic acid, and
was also published abroad. Following these contributions, Blanka structured a
research group that became renowned for its scientific productivity and for
training new academic and industrial professionals. Among her mentees are names
such as Hans Viertler, Roberto Rittner, and Paulo Olivato, who later also took
on academic roles at USP.
Throughout the interview, Blanka emphasized the
importance of the inseparability of teaching and research, arguing that a
university professor must also be a researcher. This perspective, which was not
yet predominant in Brazilian universities at the time, was consolidated in the
practices of her department and influenced the organization of postgraduate
programs at USP and other institutions. Blanka also warned of the risks of
academic talent being lost to industry due to salary disparities. Although she
viewed the strengthening of ties between the university and the productive
sector positively, she believed it was essential to ensure adequate conditions
for young researchers to remain in academia [1-7].
Blanka Wladislaw's trajectory is emblematic of
scientific development in Brazil in the 20th century, revealing the challenges
faced by women scientists, immigrants, and pioneers in still-developing fields.
Her contribution goes beyond Organic Chemistry, extending into the realm of
scientific policy and the training of qualified human resources. By combining
academic excellence, methodological innovation, and institutional commitment,
Blanka Wladislaw stands as a central figure in the history of Brazilian
science. Her legacy remains alive in the research institutes she helped build
and in the generations of scientists she trained.