Chemical engineer Fábio Pereira dos Santos has more than the academic backing of major educational institutions. A Federal University of Rio de Janeiro graduate, Fábio specialized in scientific computing when he obtained his doctorate in chemical engineering, also from UFRJ. The engineer, who often refers to himself as the son of Ogum, the orisha of iron, science, and technology, had the protection of his father when he embarked on postdoctoral research in mathematics at the Institute of Applied Mathematics.

The scientist is optimizing the data from partial differential equations (PDEs) that describe turbulence to be processed using current technology. In addition to translating nature’s problems into equations and calculations, Fábio is a passionate martial arts practitioner. A Carioca who knows how to enjoy his city, he is often found at a good samba or forró in Rio de Janeiro. When the academic world overwhelms him, Fábio finds relief by playing a few chords on his guitar.