“I hope to take what I have learned here and work to improve waste management in Brazil,” he said. “I’ve liked seeing how Americans manage their resources, and it can be done better at home.”

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Silva is one of 12 students enrolled in classes in fisheries, forestry, water and waste resources, physics, computer information systems and athletic training at UW-Stevens Point. The students are sponsored by the Brazilian government through the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program. In its second year, the program aims to have 100,000 Brazilian students enrolled in universities across the world to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The students take an intensive English language course, a year of university courses then hold a summer internship in the area that is paid by their government. At the end of their experience, they are required to return to Brazil.

A majority of these students come to the United States, said Brad Van Den Elzen, director of UW-Stevens Point’s International Students and Scholars Office. They are among more than 200 international students at UW-Stevens Point.

“We’re excited to be a part of this program,” he said. “These are some of the best students from Brazil. They have a clear set of goals and make many contributions to our campus.”

Silva’s interest in helping preserve Brazil’s water sources began in high school. He took undergraduate courses at the Federal University of Lavras and applied for the mobility program with only one semester to go in his senior year.

“I could have stayed in Brazil and finish my degree,” he said. “I choose instead to study in the United States.” Because of his focus on waste management, he was placed at UW-Stevens Point.

“I had never heard of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point,” he said. “So I researched the College of Natural Resources program. I got so excited, and I knew I’d be in the right place. I’m sure of that now.”

Silva is learning to speak English fluently and is experiencing American culture, as all the Brazilian students are living in UW-Stevens Point residence halls.

“I wasn’t expecting Americans to be so friendly,” he said, “but I’ve made some good friends here.”

Americans are serious students, Silva added. “They are on time. In Brazil, we take things slower. Here I’ve learned to be on time, and I like it.”

Silva has enjoyed the close relationships he’s had with faculty members at UW-Stevens Point. “Professors are more open, and they’ve helped me a lot.” One in particular, professor Jacob Prater, made a difficult soil physics class his favorite.

His field work has included research in Schmeeckle Reserve and visits to a Marathon County landfill and a local wetland. He is looking forward to more experiences as part of his internship, which he hopes will be in a wastewater treatment facility or for a waste management company.

Businesses with summer internship opportunities in natural resources, computing or athletic training may call Van Den Elzen at 715-346-3845.

“All of their experiences in the U.S. offer the Brazilian students long-term professional development for their careers, with many opportunities to network with professors, professionals and fellow students,” Van Den Elzen said. “They’ll take their skills back home, as well as the connections they’ve made.”

Silva’s experiences have encouraged him to continue graduate studies after he completes his degree in Brazil. Seeing how landfills are managed in the United States has inspired him to help reduce the problems landfills are causing to the water and soil in Brazil.

“I miss my family, my friends, my girlfriend, so I’m looking forward to going home,” he said. “But when I go back, I’ll miss Stevens Point. So I plan to come back sometime.”

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