The IBGE relaunched the book Redes Sociais do Urbano Brasileiro (Social Networks of the Brazilian Urban Area), by centenerian geographer Pedro Geiger, last Monday (29), at the Ecumenical Chapel of UERJ (Rio de Janeiro State University), located in Maracanã, northern area of the capital. The publication is a facsimile edition (copy or reproduction of a manuscript, art print, or typographic piece) of the work Evolução da Rêde Urbana Brasileira (Evolution of the Brazilian Urban Network), by Pedro Pinchas Geiger, originally published in 1963, and for long sold oud. The relaunch also pays homage to the author in his centennial birthday, celebrated in 2023.

Geiger was one of the main researchers in the first generation of the National Council of Geography (CNG), having joined the IBGE in 1942, at the age of 19. He later became a reference of the geography practiced by the Institute and in Brazil, having worked for the IBGE for more than 40 year. Geiger has produced 70 works, among books and articles in specialized journals, and is now a member of the GeoBrasil study group, an interdisciplinary and interinstitutional initiative of research and debate about Brazil certified by UERJ, at the age of 101.

His original work Evolução da Rêde Urbana Brasileira (Evolution of the Brazilian Urban Network) published by the former Brazilian Research Center and later by the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP). To produce the facsimile edition, the IBGE was supported both by the author and INEP, who promptly authorized the project and allowed the release of the sold out book. The publication of Geiger’s book is the first recovery of historical records within the IBGE 90 Dialogues Program.

Honorary Degree

Shortly before the book launch, UERJ held the ceremony in which Pedro Geiger received an Honorary Degree. The event was attended by Marcio Pochmann, president of the IBGE, Gulnar Azevedo e Silva, provost of UER, Bruno Deusdará, vice provost of the university, Ivone Lopes Batista, IBGE’s Director of Geosciences, Nádia Lima, Director of the center for Technology and Sciences of UERJ, Renato Veloso, Director of the Center for Social Sciences, Alexandre Bello, representative of the Dean for Health Affairs, Ana Santiago, Dean for Extension and Culture, Antonio Soares, Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Elizabeth Macedo, Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Daniel Pinha, Dean for Student Assistance and Policies, Mario Fritsch, Director of the Biomedical Center, and Roberto Dória, Director of the Center for Education and Humanities. Other directors and civil servants from both institutions attended the event at the Ecumenical Chapel, as well as relatives of Pedro Geiger.

Other attendees were sculptor and painter Anna Bella Geiger, Pedro Geiger’s wife; Adman Haman, manager of Atlas and Territory Representation; José Carlos Alexim, ex-director of the International Labor Organization in Brazil; Maria Georgina Muniz, technical coordinator of UERJ’s Institutional Memory - Professora Nilcéia Freire, Maria Mônica Vieira, manager of Regionalization and Territory Typologies, Victorino Chermont, president of the Brazilian Geographic and Historical Institute. Ana Carolina Oliveira, acting secretary of the Councils, read the degree document before the audience, in an event that was broadcast live on Digital IBGE and on the Institute’s social media channels.

Marcio Pochmann, president of the IBGE, emphasized the relevance of services rendered by Pedro Geiger for the Institute. “The IBGE is one of the few institutions in the world that combines geography with statistics and professor Pedro Geiger was one of the fundamental contributors to this convergence, giving Brazil a renowned institution due to its work. The Institute is a type of postcard we present to Brazilians and to the world, and also a compass that shows where we are and where we are going to. Geiger showed us an important phase when Brazil was changing from a an agrarian society into an urban and industrialized country.”

Gulnar Azevedo e Silva recalled that “in spite of his age, Geiger still contributes a lot to Brazil. We, professionals at UERJ, value the history of those who have built knowledge in our country. Pedro Geiger turns 101 as a researcher and professor, and brings his great contribution to the geographic history of Brazil. His career path has been inspiring generations of geographers and its book is a classic in the segment, besides being still up-to-date.”

On behalf of Pedro Geiger, his eldest daughter, Noni Geiger read the speech written by her father. “The facsimile publication of my sold out book with a title updated by myself is a gift for this geographer who is now 101 years of age. My parents were Jewish immigrants and, just like them, I had to cross the desert, but here in Brazil. In 1943, in the beginning of my career, at the age of 20, I was in Jalapão with other IBGE researchers. I was the only one with a degree in Geography among a group of topographers to make the most accurate map of Brazil at the 1: 1,000,000 scale.”

She also highlighted the role of research at present times. “It is important to reinforce the role of state institutions, as it is the case of IBGE and UERJ, in the Democratic state. We hope research will be constantly fostered and encouraged withing our contemporary reality. An extended concept of contemporary times is essential for us to understand life in the world today, even though most of our living conditions nowadays have been developed in previous times,” Noni Geiger added.

Watch the release of the book and the ceremony on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX_6eP_lYj8