FQxI and the Paradox Science Institute supported the recent school in quantum biology in Paraty, Brazil. The First School of Quantum Biology brought scientists together in Brazil and marked the beginning of a national research network. The event was organized by IDOR Pioneer Science in Paraty (RJ) and consolidates an emerging field that bridges quantum physics and biology, positioning Brazil as a leading player.
From their press release:
From August 11 to 15, the city of Paraty (RJ), Brazil, hosted the first edition of the School of Quantum Biology, an initiative by IDOR Pioneer Science that brought together 40 students and researchers from universities across the country for a weeklong immersion in one of the most promising frontiers of science.
The event celebrated the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, declared by UNESCO, and marked the beginning of efforts to build a national network of quantum biology researchers—a field that seeks to understand biological phenomena through the laws of quantum physics, with potential applications in health and biomedicine.
The school’s scientific program featured five intensive courses, poster sessions, networking activities, and an International Seminar.
Among the international speakers were:
- Paul Davies (Arizona State University, USA), physicist and best-selling author of The Origin of Life, who discussed profound questions about life through the lens of quantum mechanics;
- Peter Hore (University of Oxford, UK), a world expert in studies on the magnetic navigation of migratory birds;
- Clarice Aiello (Quantum Biology Institute, USA), pioneer in experiments on quantum effects in biological development;
- Fabrisia Ambrosio (Harvard Medical School, USA), who presented applications of quantum approaches in musculoskeletal regeneration.
Other courses were taught by Marucia Chacur (USP), Marcelo Terra Cunha (Unicamp), Marcos César de Oliveira (Unicamp), and Pedro Pascutti (UFRJ), covering topics from the fundamentals of physics and cellular biology to the use of quantum sensors and computational modeling applied to life sciences.
The School fostered scientific exchanges between different generations, including poster sessions in which participants presented their work. The best posters were awarded books signed by Paul Davies and will be published in the journal Frontiers.
Another highlight was the space created for female professors, speakers, and students, who engaged in an open conversation that strengthened the presence of women in a field still facing equity challenges.
The event was also connected to the IX Quantum Information Workshop, part of the Paraty Quantum conference, enhancing interdisciplinarity and dialogue with the international community.
For Clarice Aiello, Scientific Director of the Quantum Biology Institute, the event highlighted Brazil’s potential in this emerging area: “This is a very new field with enormous potential. Brazil has the opportunity to play a leading role and to expand this network more and more.”
The initiative is part of a broader effort by IDOR Pioneer Science to support frontier science. In this context, quantum biology joins other research lines that explore novel intersections between the exact sciences, biomedicine, and health.
The project was supported by FAPERJ (Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro), the Quantum Biology Institute, FQxI (Foundational Questions Institute) and the Paradox Science Institute, all dedicated to advancing frontier science.
As a follow-up to the School, another initiative is already underway: an international essay competition promoted by FQxI and the Paradox Science Institute, which will award up to US$53,000 in prizes for the best proposals in the field. More information about how to enter here.
About IDOR Pioneer Science
IDOR Pioneer Science is an independent philanthropic initiative by the Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (IDOR) to support frontier science in Brazil. Nonprofit and privately funded by the Moll family, controlling shareholders of Grupo D’Or, the project will invest more than R$500 million (approx. US$100 million) over the next ten years in groundbreaking research at the intersection of biomedical and health sciences and the exact sciences.