About IAG

The Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics, and Atmospheric Sciences) (IAG) is one of the major Earth and Universe Sciences research centers in Brazil. Its teaching staff of 72 Lecturers published 216 articles in periodicals and international conference proceedings in 2014.

Currently, IAG is organized into three departments installed at USP Main Campus: Astronomy, Geophysics, and Atmospheric Sciences; moreover, the Institute keeps two other facilities: the Meteorological Station, located at the Ipiranga Springs State Park, and the Abrahão de Moraes Observatory, in the town of Valinhos.

The three IAG Graduate Programs have trained more than 650 Masters and 380 PhDs since the 1970s. Every year, IAG receives around 75 new undergraduate students in its three courses.

A bit of history

The history of the Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics, and Atmospheric Sciences) (IAG) goes back to 1886, when the Department of Botany and Meteorology of the Geographical and Geological Committee of São Paulo was created. This organization got its own address in 1912, when the Weather Service of São Paulo State was installed in the Observatory of São Paulo at Paulista Avenue.

With the name of Astronomical and Geophysical Institute, it was moved onto its new facilities at the Ipiranga Springs State Park in 1941, being incorporated into USP five years later.

Following the creation of its three departments in 1972, Graduate Programs were implemented for Astronomy (1973), Geophysics (1974), and Meteorology (1975). The BS Courses in Meteorology and Geophysics were opened in 1977 and 1986, respectively, and later completed by the BS in Astronomy (2009).

Its current name, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics, and Atmospheric Sciences) was adopted in 2009 to cover all the knowledge areas addressed by its research activities.

IAG Deans

2013–	Professor Laerte Sodré Junior
2009–2013	Professor Tércio Ambrizzi
2005–2009	Professor Márcia Ernesto
2001–2005	Professor Jacques Lépine
1997–2001	Professor Oswaldo Massambani
1993–1997	Professor Igor Ivory Gil Pacca
1989–1993	Professor José A. de Freitas Pacheco
1985–1989	Professor Adolpho José Melfi
1981–1985	Professor Sylvio Ferraz Mello
1977–1981	Professor Adolpho José Melfi
1973–1977	Professor Giorgio E. O. Giacaglia
1972	Professor Giorgio E. O. Giacaglia (director pro tempore)
1971	Professor Waldyr Muniz Oliva (Chairman of the Director Board)
1955–1970	Professor Abrahão de Moraes
1927–1955	Alypio Leme de Olveira, PhD.
1902–1926	José Belfort de Mattos, B. Eng.