During the XIII Brazilian Seminar on Enzymatic Technology (ENZITEC 2018), held in Florianópolis from September 16 to 19, several participants were honored for the excellence of their scientific contributions. Among the awarded researchers was Dr. Caroline de Freitas, who received the Scientific Merit Award, recognizing the best oral presentation of the event. Other highlights included Rosa Lorizolla Cordeiro, who won Best Poster Presentation, and Renan Augusto Siqueira Pirolla, awarded for the best work in the field of Molecular Biology and Structural Analysis of Enzymes.
These awards reflected the high quality of research presented at ENZITEC and the commitment of the scientific community to advancing enzymatic technologies. The evaluation was conducted by the event’s scientific committee and based on rigorous, widely accepted academic standards.
Jury and Evaluation Process
The judging panel included distinguished Brazilian scientists with recognized expertise in enzymology and industrial biotechnology. Among the confirmed jurors were:
Prof. João Paulo Bender (Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul – UFFS), specialist in environmental enzymatic processes and biocatalysis, who served as evaluator for poster presentations.
Prof.ª Roziana Cunha Cavalcanti Jordão (Universidade de Pernambuco – UPE), with expertise in biochemical engineering and enzyme immobilization, also acted as a formal judge.
Dr. Géssica Oliveira Marinho, researcher in fungal biocatalysis and enzymatic technology, who served on the poster evaluation committee.
Additional members of the scientific and organizing committee, including Prof.ª Débora de Oliveira (UFSC), Prof. Márcio Antônio Mazutti (UFSM), and Prof.ª Helen Treichel (UFFS), contributed to coordinating and supervising the evaluation process.
Evaluation Criteria
To ensure fairness and excellence in the selection process, each submission—whether poster or oral presentation—was evaluated according to four key criteria:
Originality of the Work
(Referenced from sbbd.org.br)
The originality criterion assesses the degree of innovation and novelty in the proposed research. Works that presented creative approaches, novel hypotheses, or unique methodologies were scored higher. This reflects the value placed on pioneering ideas that push the boundaries of current knowledge in enzymatic science and biotechnology.
Scientific and Technological Relevance
(Referenced from doity.com.br)
This criterion measures the importance of the research topic and its potential contribution to the advancement of the field. Projects aligned with global challenges, industry needs, or fundamental questions in enzymology were especially valued. High scores were given to work that filled scientific gaps or addressed pressing problems in biocatalysis, bioenergy, health, or the environment.
Clarity and Organization of the Presentation
(Referenced from sbbd.org.br)
The clarity criterion evaluates the structure, coherence, and communicative effectiveness of the work. For oral presentations, this included the speaker’s ability to explain complex content in an accessible and engaging way. For posters, layout, visual design, and readability were considered. Well-organized content with a clear objective, methodology, results, and conclusion received top evaluations.
Impact or Application Potential
This final criterion considered the practical relevance of the research, including its potential academic, industrial, or social applications. Judges assessed whether the results could lead to new technologies, improved processes, or policy insights, and whether the project demonstrated a clear path from theory to real-world implementation. This made the awards especially meaningful for bridging research and innovation.
