‘I want to bring much more than a Nobel to Brazil’, says Amazonian who detected 46 asteroids

Geovana was raised in Jorge Teixeira and currently lives in Ceará to study Physics (Photo: Ricardo Oliveira/Cenarium)

January 29, 2022

11:01

Malu Dacio – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – Geovana Sousa Ramos, 21, detected 46 asteroids during the “Asteroid Hunt” project, an activity of Citizen Science from IASC/Nasa (International Astronomical Search Collaboration) and science promotion, in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI). The activities took place between June and November.

Geovana came to visit her parents in the capital of Amazonas last week, and took the opportunity to visit the editorial staff of CENARIUM MAGAZINE.

The young woman, who grew up in the Jorge Teixeira neighborhood in the East zone of Manaus, revealed the dreams and projects she wants to fulfill. Just like the celestial bodies she detected – not discovered, as often wrongly publicized – she flies high and is already a prominence, even in the first period of college.

“I want to focus on my international career so I can propagate education in my country. It will never be just Geovana, over there. She is a woman, a Brazilian, a Northerner. And still representing the North and Northeast regions that are always invisible in our country”, she says.

The Amazonian dreams big and wants to dedicate herself to an international career. (Photo: Ricardo Oliveira/Cenarium)

“No Brazilian has ever brought us a Nobel Prize, but if I go abroad and run after it, I will bring us much more than a Nobel Prize”, she highlighted.

Currently, Geovana lives in the city of Tianguá, in the countryside of Ceará, and is taking her first term of a degree in Physics at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará (IFCE – Sobral Campus).

“When I graduated in 2021, there were no openings at Ufam and the opportunity in Ceará is very good for my area, there are many investments in astronomy and I feel very embraced by my faculty, teachers, etc. They encourage me in absolutely everything”, says the student.

Geovana believes that going to Ceará was the best choice she made and that she doesn’t believe she would have the same support in the capital of Amazonas and even at the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam).

“Are we looking for the best college? Of course we do. But the best college is the one that supports you, your dreams, and the one I study at does exactly that. If I tell them now that I need to go to Nasa next week, they will support me financially, giving me strength and even helping me pack my suitcase, if necessary”, she explains.

Geovana left Manaus ‘on a shoestring’ and counted on the shy support of her family. She lives alone and currently dedicates 100% of her time to research and education. She is studying Licentiate, and her line of research is astrophysics.

Geovana was invited to go to Brasília to receive honors. (Photo: Promotion)

Research and detection

Geovana explains that she entered the ‘race’ in the last days of the project and more than 17,500 images captured by the Pan-STARRS telescopes, managed by the University of Hawaii, were made available.

“I saw other scientists and researchers participating and even though I didn’t understand I gave myself the opportunity to participate, not as a leader, and I already made my first detection right away. Next year there will be another one and I will certainly win the trophy for the top hunter, because the second time I went as a leader and detected the other 45 asteroids. Anyone who wants to be part of a team can contact me!”, she invited.

In her very first participation, Geovana discovered an asteroid, which earned her a medal from the Ministry of Science. (Photo: Promotion/Personal Archives)

Using the software Astrometrica, it was possible to identify the patterns of possible asteroids, belonging to the region between Mars and Jupiter, or in close Earth orbit (NEOs), contributing to the detection of new ones or improving the precision of the orbits of the already known ones.

Until the moment of the research when the Amazonian woman can decide the names of the unpublished asteroids and even the confirmation of the celestial bodies arrives, it may take an average of 6 to 8 years.

“There are many people who contact me wanting to pursue the field and asking what to do, many children. This is the most beautiful thing a person can receive”, she celebrated.

Honorable Mention

Geovana also received certificates of recognition signed by MCTI, IASC, NASA, and was invited by MCTI to participate in the 18th edition of the National Week of Science and Technology, in Brasília, and received a medal and certificate of honor to merit by astronaut and Minister of Science Marcos Pontes.

Geovana received a medal and certificate from astronaut and minister Marcos Pontes. (Photo: Promotion)

“Again, it’s never going to be just about Geovana. It will never be about me and that’s amazing. I’m just being a tool, but there’s a galley with me, when I look back I know there’s the smiles of many involved,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to face your purpose. Live your truth. Get out of the pattern that is house, money or material things and let’s go for something real. It’s more than your name, it’s a story. Your story you carry and that’s what’s worth living”, she concludes.

Certification obtained by the Amazonian woman (Photo: Promotion)