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- 2l - CONCLUSION In summary, the Brazil Chemistry Program was an experiment that provided a great deal of useful informa- tion. The model used was shown to be workable; new re- search lines in chemistry were implanted, substantial numbers of graduate students were trained, papers of international quality were published, and the research and teaching work in most of the projects continues. Most participants in the Brazil Program agree that it is beneficial to train graduate students in Brazil. Many also feel that a useful complement to the program concept would be to send Brazilians abroad for post- doctoral work. All agree that continuity of institutions and individual participants is important to the program, and that the model used will only be effective in host country universities that have existing departmental strengths in faculty and in facilities such as laborato- ries, basic equipment, library, and technical services. Experience proved that more attention needs to be given to the concluding stages of such a program. Tech- nical support and supplies still must be easily available for ongoing research projects. Starter grants or other mechanisms should be provided so that the products of the program â its graduates â can transfer their work to new locations. Overseas Research Fellows need special help in locating new positions when they return home. Provision should be made for travel grants and other de- vices after the program is finished to make possible on- going scientific collaboration among scientists of the participating countries. Without extensive analysis, the costs of the program are difficult to weigh in comparison with alternative models such as sending Brazilian students abroad for graduate work. During the seven years of the program, direct costs totaled about $24,500 per graduate student trained. These costs did not reflect most of the faculty
- 22 - and other educational costs of the participating univer- sity and chemistry departments. When one considers, how- ever, that the cost per student of the Brazil Chemistry Program provided certain benefits to the entire depart- ment such as equipment, visiting senior professors and lecturers, and capability in new areas of research, then the cost does not seem excessive. It should be noted that the model used in Brazil does not necessarily apply only to a Western country - Third World country relationship. Developing countries with strong capability in a particular discipline might usefully form a linkage with another developing country that happens to have relatively less strength in the chosen field. The so-called "middle tier" developing countries might help poorer countries begin graduate teaching and basic research in certain topics. These kinds of relationships would be very much in the spirit of the recommendations of the l978 U.S. Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC). The Brazil Chemistry Program is a model that does seem applicable for use in other countries and other disciplines. Careful planning should be done, however, for adaptations appropriate to the particular situations of the participating countries. The lessons learned in the Brazil program and summarized in this report should be useful in the adaptive process. The National Academy of Sciences is glad to provide more detailed information about the Brazil Chemistry Program or to answer specific questions. Inquiries should be sent to: Board on Science and Technology for International Development Commission on International Relations National Academy of Sciences 2l0l Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 204l8 The participants in the Brazil program hope that the ex- periment will be useful to other countries and institu- tions, and that it may stimulate interest in new experi- ments in international scientific and technological cooperation.
