Silvia Fernanda de Mendonça Figueirôa: Brazilian Historian of Geology and First Woman President of the International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO)

Abstract

Silvia Fernanda de Mendonça Figueirôa served as the first, and as of 2025, only woman president of the IUGS International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO). Trained as a geologist she became the first historian of geology in Brazil and the first historian of Brazilian geology. This paper outlines her personal account of her education and motivations, career choices, her achievements, and her involvement with and presidency of IUGS INHIGEO. She has made major contributions to the history of geology, history of science and empire, and science education in STEM fields. Her story especially highlights the challenges and successes of women in the field of the geological sciences and those who have created cross-disciplinary bridges within the history of science. Silvia Figueirôa, through her efforts in raising awareness of the role of studies on the development of geology, has been instrumental in forging links between the Unions on Geology and the History of Science for the benefit of both communities.For the special issue: Empowerment of women in geoscience towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), ed. Heejung Kim, Maria Dolores Pereira, Kathleen Histon, Martina Kölbl-Ebert, forthcoming March 2026; https://www.episodes.org/content/about/special_issues.html#n.EPISODES is a high visibility journal, open access, peer reviewed: https://www.episodes.org/content/about/aims.html