Marcia Barbosa is a theoretical physicist from a low middle-class family in the south of Brazil. Since her early academic days, she balanced her career in science with active participation in science policy. In this dual role, she became the first chair of the IUPAP Working Group on Women in Physics. This initiative was key to raise awareness about the situation of women in physics across the World and led to the creation of national teams in over 60 countries that still work to increase and improve the participation of women in physics. This movement led to numerous policy changes within IUPAP, earning her the American Physical Society Nicholson Medal. Marcia also served as vice-president of IUPAP, during which time she acted as the first Gender Champion of the Union, implementing policies that promoted women to leadership positions within the organization.
In addition to her work in gender equality, Marcia Barbosa is also a renowned expert in wateranomalies. Her groundbreaking research in this area earned her the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO Prize for Women in Science. Her work, which focuses on developing new methodsfor producing clean water, is particularly vital given the current global challenges of waterstress. In recognition for her contributions to science, she was inducted as a member of both the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and The World Academy of Sciences.
During her tenure as director of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Marcia played a key role in the creation of an Ethical and Conduct Code and actively promoted outreach programs. Asa science communicator, she has delivered numerous public lectures. Her efforts in promoting science have earned her several Brazilian awards, including the Anísio Teixeira Award from CAPES (the Brazilian Council for Higher Education), the Silvio Torres Award from FAPERGS, and the Medal of Scientific Merit from the Brazilian presidency.
Additionally, Marcia is engaged in research on open science. The scientific discoveries made by her, and her students have been instrumental in shaping new policies, particularly the “read and publish” programs designed by the Brazilian Higher Education Council, CAPES.
More recently, she spent a year as Secretary of Strategic Programs and Planning at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Brazil (a role equivalent to vice-minister),where she promoted the creation of a platform on diversity within the G20 Innovation Group. She also advocated for an international initiative on tropical forests and encouraged countries to include biodiversity in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Marcia returned from her federal government role when her home state, Rio Grande do Sul, faced a devastating flood in May 2024. She organized a team of researchers to monitor the situation and propose initiatives to the local and federal governments for reconstruction on new foundations. This Climate and Environment Emergency Network became an instrument for creating action plans, including a program to teach Climate and Environmental studies in schools.
This page was updated in January 2025.