The Engineering for Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship (ESES) extension program, carried out by the School of Mines in the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), has been selected to participate in a panel discussion at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, United States.
The initiative is coordinated by Professor Máximo Martins of UFOP’s Department of Production Engineering (Depro). The international invitation stems from the professor’s selection as one of Brazil’s emerging leaders through the Serving Brazil (Servindo o Brasil) Program, promoted by Brazil Conference. Considered one of the largest conferences focused on Brazil held outside the country, the event is organized by students from Harvard and MIT and brings together leaders, experts, and young talents to discuss the main challenges and opportunities facing contemporary Brazil.
The Brazil Conference aims to identify individuals capable of presenting innovative solutions to structural issues affecting Brazilian society. In this context, ESES was recognized for demonstrating that engineering must engage directly with community needs by integrating technical knowledge, social responsibility, and local impact.
FROM THE LOCAL TO THE GLOBAL - For the city of Ouro Preto, this international recognition helps increase global awareness of the region’s potential for sustainable development by showcasing the experiences of local waste pickers at some of the world's leading centers of academic excellence. By bringing the daily realities of community associations into the context of scientific production, the program contributes to a more human-centered academic education for students at the School of Mines and promotes an inclusive, critical, and socially engaged educational model.
Recognition at the Brazil Conference also validates a vision of public service that acknowledges the value of local workers and transforms everyday challenges into examples of best practices at the national level. The distinction comes in a strategic moment for Brazilian higher education, marked by the advancement of the curricular integration of extension activities, a process that strengthens the connection between universities, society, and local communities.
Professor Máximo Martins emphasized the importance of the event as an opportunity to increase visibility for the work carried out by waste pickers, particularly regarding the low wages earned by professionals in the sector: “My main expectation is to use the international visibility provided by Brazil Conference 2026 to highlight the basis of the recycling chain in Brazil: waste pickers. This sector is facing a profound crisis of undervaluation. Although 90% of recycling in Brazil passes through the hands of these workers, their average monthly income is still only around R$600 [less than US$120.00], according to a report by the National Association of Waste Pickers (ANCAT).”
To learn more about the work developed in partnership with waste pickers, visit the official ESES Instagram profile.
For more information about the Brazil Conference, visit its website.
