Boaventura Santos is a sociologist, Full Professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and current Director of the Center for Social Studies and the 25 de Abril Documentation Center at the same university. He is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has actively participated in the World Social Forum.
Boaventura Santos is an influential researcher in the area of the constitution of new rights, with pioneering work in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and Recife. He is one of the current thinkers with a significant contribution to the debate of social issues, among which we can mention: the importance of new forms of production, the political role of the World Social Forum and the new forms of democracy. Another aspect of the researcher’s performance is related to the impact that his reflections have had on building the future of the University. This issue is a priority worldwide and, in particular, is on the agenda of the Brazilian federal government through its proposal to promote changes in the current Brazilian university structure. Prof. Boaventura has collaborated with the Brazilian government and developed scientific work in conjunction with Brazilian researchers, including those from UFMG.