Brazilian demography bids farewell, this Thursday (16), to mathematician, statistician and demographer Elza Berquó, founder, in 1982, of the Population Studies Center at Unicamp (Nepo-Unicamp), which has borne her name since 2014. Berquó turned 100 on October 17, 2025, when she received a series of tributes. The wake will be held in São Paulo, where she lived with her family.
A graduate in Mathematics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), with a master's degree in Statistics from the University of São Paulo (USP) and a doctorate in Biostatistics from Columbia University in the United States, Berquó was one of those responsible for founding and leading institutional spaces for the development of Demography in Brazil. She spearheaded the creation of the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (Cebrap), the Brazilian Association for Population Studies (Abep), and Nepo, one of the four Brazilian institutions responsible for training and developing researchers and specialists in the field of Demography and Population Studies.
“Today is a sad day because we lost a fantastic woman, an inspiring scientist. But, looking at Elza's life, we celebrate her achievements, the people she trained, the institutions she created, and her incredible journey,” commented social scientist, anthropologist, and demographer Gláucia Marcondes, current coordinator of Nepo.
Last year, the Scientific and Technical Council of Nepo celebrated the centenary of its founder's life with the launch of a website that brings together her rich collection of works. "It was important to pay this tribute while she was still alive so that she could receive everyone's affection and show the academic community and the general public her ideas, studies, and the vibrant, inspiring, and innovative work she promoted throughout her professional career," he added.
“Elza is the history of demography in Brazil and, particularly, of Unicamp, which became a pioneer in studies in the area and opened an important flank for the development of research and teaching,” adds José Marcos Cunha, coordinator of Nepo from 2002 to 2006 and president of Abep from 2009 to 2012. “The entire history of Brazilian demography is linked to her visionary character,” he concluded.
A member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and recipient of national and international awards, Berquó demonstrated a profound commitment to public policies and to the training of professionals for the country and for public universities. A pioneer in studies of fertility, demographic transition, gender, race, and reproductive health, she coordinated major national research projects and trained dozens of masters and doctoral students who now lead demography and social sciences in Brazil and internationally.
In 2021, Berquó became the first woman from Unicamp to receive an honorary doctorate, awarded remotely at the ceremony. During the ceremony, she said: “I would like everyone to know that this honor, which I receive today, will be like a star that I will carry with me until the end of time. My time is short, but it has been long enough to see and hear you all with such affection. Young people, continue to study! Continue the fight for democracy!”
Visit the website commemorating the centenary of Elza Berquó.
Timeline of Elza Berquó's career:
Cover photo:
