(07.10.16) In the second week of September, the institution Intercom, founded in 1977 in São Paulo, held its 39th annual congress at the School of Communication and Arts of the University of São Paulo (ECA/USP). The event was organised by the Brazilian Society of Interdisciplinary Communication Studies (Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos Interdisciplinares da Comunicação), which promotes the exchange of knowledge between researchers and practitioners in the communication sector. The organisation also publishes communication-related books and journals and nurtures partnerships with other institutions pursuing the same goal, as well as with research funding organisations in Brazil and abroad.

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The theme of this year's congress was “Communication and Education: Integrated Paths in a Changing World”. Among other issues, delegates debated the question of what phenomena the interdisciplinary linking of the two areas could give rise to and how the principle of social inclusion and the democratisation of access to tangible and intangible cultural assets should guide this process. The congress also considered the contribution which this interface can make to a society in the midst of change – from improved quality of life to aspects of education and training in both areas.

On 5 September, representatives of the Research in Germany campaign staffed an information table to provide participants at various academic career stages with individual advice on research and funding opportunities in Germany. In the afternoon, the DFG also organised a workshop on ‘Studying and Researching in Germany’, which in addition to the funding organisations of the DFG and the DAAD also included contributions by representatives of the Free University of Berlin, the University of Münster and the Technical University of Munich from the German House for Research and Innovation São Paulo. In a room filled to capacity, around 50 people gathered to learn more about the universities and Germany as a place to research and showed great interest in fellowships and other funding instruments.

At the official opening of the congress in the evening, there were words of welcome from Prof. Marialva Carlos Barbosa, president of Intercom and professor of journalism in the Faculty of Communication Sciences at the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). In her address, she emphasised the importance of academic training in communication in relation to the current challenges facing the Brazilian research sector. After the welcome, the musical programme was opened by renowned pianist Dr. Eduardo Monteiro, who also teaches at ECA. Another highlight was a performance by ECA’s professional chamber orchestra together with the Italian violinist Emmanuele Baldini.