A report prepared by the communication agency Bori, using data from Overton, a global platform dedicated to mapping the interface between science and public policy, reveals that 22 USP researchers are among the Brazilian scientists who most influence decision-making. The document was released today, November 6.
According to the report, which listed a total of 107 researchers, these professors have at least 150 citations in strategic documents, technical reports, and expert assessments used by governments, international organizations, and civil society institutions, published from 2019 up to the date of data extraction (July 2025).
The researchers were classified into nine macro-categories based on the predominant themes of their work and their influence on decision-making: ecosystems and land use; infectious diseases and vaccines; climate and atmosphere; non-communicable diseases and services; food and nutrition; economy and finance; public policy and governance; energy and transition; and education.
USP is the university with the highest number of scientists on the list. According to the report, USP researchers have authored more than a thousand academic papers that have received over 6,700 citations in decision-making documents. Among the ten most influential are: Carlos Augusto Monteiro, Renata Bertazzi Levy, Geoffrey Cannon, Samuel Osório, and Maria Laura da Costa Louzada from the School of Public Health (FSP); Paulo Saldiva and Paulo Lotufo from the Medical School (FM); Pedro Brancalion from the “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (Esalq); Carlos Nobre from the Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA); and Micheline de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coêlho from the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG). The full list is available below.
Given that COP30 will be held in Brazil, the document also includes an analysis using the filter “Related to SDG 13: Climate Action,” identifying policies linked to the theme. This analysis considered documents published from 2019 up to the date of data extraction (October 21, 2025). In this case, 50 names were identified, with more than 7,600 mentions in documents related to the topic.
Among these, USP professors Paulo Artaxo, from the Institute of Physics (IF), cited in the AR6 Climate Change 2022 report (IPCC), which has been referenced by more than 3,500 other policy documents, and Micheline de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coêlho, from IAG, cited in the Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis report, published by the IPCC and referenced by more than 4,200 other policy documents — stand out.
According to the report, “this scenario creates opportunities for universities, research centers, and civil society organizations to strengthen their communication strategies, ensuring that scientific results circulate more broadly and effectively. It is also recommended to expand monitoring mechanisms, such as those used in this report, to identify in real time how science is incorporated into public decisions. Understanding the presence and impact of Brazilian researchers in the public policy space is not only a recognition of their current relevance, but also a way to anticipate the areas in which science can decisively contribute to the country’s challenges.”
