Welcome to my website

Castanheira is the Portuguese name for the Brazil Nut tree. Just like the castanheira, I like to live in the forest among other trees and animals, I like to produce flowers for the bees and fruits for the animals, and to be part of a bigger web of life. I recognize my place in the universe, as an individual that has the privilege to live to learn, teach, bridge cultures and try to make a positive difference in a vulnerable world. 

I like to weave science and art, to work with people and nature, and to be an academic and a practitioner at the same time. I believe that Universities should wotk close with society to address complex problems.

I am a biologist, environmental anthropologist and educator with 20 years of experience in learning, teachind and doing research in the Mata Atlantica and Amazon regions in Brazil. Currently, I'm a Post-doctoral Research Associate at University of Florida, US, and a Research Associate at Instituto Socioambiental, Brazil.  

1. conservation and development
2. Amazon
3. socio-ecological systems
4. indigenous knowledge
5. social learning
6. environmental education
7. indigenous myths
8. science and art