The 2025 inaugural lecture of the National School of Tropical Botany (ENBT/JBRJ), held on Monday (17/3), was attended by Professor Evanilde Benedito, coordinator of the Biodiversity Area of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes). A biologist and professor at the State University of Maringá, she spoke about the role of Capes and the importance of JBRJ's postgraduate programs.

Before the class began, the new students were welcomed by the president of JBRJ, Sergio Besserman Vianna, and the director of ENBT, Marinez Siqueira, who highlighted the importance of the theme of the inaugural class. The coordinator of the Academic Postgraduate Program in Botany, Cassia Sakaragui, stressed that the School is a place “of great work, great ideas and great discoveries”. The coordinator of the Professional Postgraduate Program, Claudine Mynssen, highlighted the collaborative work of the ENBT, saying “the more you get involved, the stronger we become”.

According to Professor Evanilde Benedito, Capes plays a fundamental role in the expansion and consolidation of stricto sensu postgraduate courses (masters and doctorates) in all Brazilian states. “Capes is concerned with training researchers and consolidating science in the country,” she said. Evanilde Benedito explained how Capes' evaluation system works, which “is designed to improve the quality of programs and distribute scholarships, equipment and funds, as well as identifying asymmetries”.

Pointing out that, in the last four-year period, the two postgraduate programs at JBRJ obtained a grade of 5 (very good) from Capes, the professor invited the new students to collaborate in maintaining the result obtained. “Evaluation is a continuous and dynamic process, and the programs don't belong to the coordinators. The programs are of and for everyone, students, teachers and technicians. The two programs at the Botanical Garden got a 5, and I want to congratulate the institute for that,” concluded Professor Evanilde Benedito.

The lesson is available on the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden's YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/n8z0MBYNDXQ.