In this InterDialogue recorded at the 17th General Conference of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in October 2025, The InterPlex founder Daniel Henryk Rasolt speaks with Brazilian physicist Marcelo Knobel about his background and career trajectory, science communication, the importance of TWAS, his tenure as the Executive Director of TWAS, the current state of science in Brazil, issues of brain drain, and his own research projects, among other timely topics.
In addition to serving as the current Executive Director of TWAS, Knobel is the former rector of the University of Campinas, where he fostered interdisciplinary collaborations and innovative education programs. He has also done research on what he calls “effective communication” between higher education institutions and the public, while practicing what he preaches by disseminating articles, opinion pieces, books, and a podcast intended for a non-specialized audience. He is a global leader in science communication, international and interinstitutional collaborations, and science development in the Global South.
Chapters
0:00 – Introduction
2:13 – Knobel’s Background and Career Trajectory
5:37 – Scientific Censorship in Argentina under the Dictatorship
7:57 – Importance of Effective Science Communication
11:58 – Lessons from Knobel’s Science Communication Experience
14:52 – Communicating Nuance and Adaptable Communication Techniques
20:00 – Interinstitutional and Interdisciplinary Communication and Collaboration
23:45 – Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaborations at TWAS
25:54 – History, Importance, and Current Situation of TWAS
28:19 – Knobel’s Tenure as Executive Director of TWAS
30:06 – Knobel’s Vision for the Future of TWAS
31:35 – TWAS in the Global Funding Landscape
35:45 – Current Situation of Science in Brazil
37:22 – Brain Drain and the Consequences of Disinvesting in Science
39:47 – Current Situation of Science and Brain Drain in the US
41:16 – Knobel’s Current Research Projects
48:43 – Knobel’s Book and his Science Communication Efforts
50:57 – Conclusion
