The Brazilian Center for Physical Research during the civil-military dictatorship: resistance and accommodation

The Brazilian Center for Physical Research (CBPF), like other teaching and research institutions, was also the target of persecution and purges during the civil-military dictatorship, but with certain specificities as it was a civil society organization. Initially identified as a partner by military and business segments in order to provide the country with control of nuclear technology, it gradually began to be seen by the information and repression system as an opponent to the regime, due to the positions of many of its researchers in defense of the creation of an environment suitable for scientific research and autonomous technological development. Purges carried out by the institution’s Director removed its main leaders and researchers who would come to assume a prominent role in Brazilian physics. Despite some support for repressive actions, the majority of the technical-scientific staff played an important role in resistance, translated in different strategies.

Keywords: Brazilian Center for Physical Research; CBPF; military dictatorship; Brazil