Written by Kelvin Santos

Translated by Ana Caroline de Abreu Alves



Silvia Maria Giuliatti Winter is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at the State University of São Paulo (UNESP – Guaratinguetá Campus). Graduated in Physics from the State University of São Paulo Júlio de Mesquita Filho, has a master's degree in Aeronautics and Mechanics Engineering from the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) and a doctorate in Astronomy with a focus on Orbital Dynamics from the Queen Mary and Westfield College (University of London). 
Giuliatti is one of the biggest references in Orbital Dynamics in Brazil with a specialization in planetary rings, in 2017 the asteroid (10696) was named Giuliattiwinter in her honor. When questioned about her research she said that during her doctorate she tried to study everything about planetary rings, because she wanted to bring this new line of research to Brazil. The researcher stated that she still works with planetary rings, because is her passion, but expanded her research area to natural satellites and space missions. 
“I really like trying to explain the data obtained by the space probes, or to anticipate the discoveries made by these missions. Currently I have been studying extrasolar systems, exocomets and exomoons”, she said.
When questioned about her undergraduate period and the difficulties faced during the Physics course she told that she had difficulties with Calculus 1 and Linear Algebra, but she always liked to study and kept the subjects up to date. For her it’s important to study a little bit everyday for not to accumulate everything for the tests period.
About her graduate period, she said that the challenges were different. At ITA the disciplines demanded a lot of studies, while at the University of London her initial challenge was about the English language. “It was a wonderful learning period. I was always lucky to work with what I like”, she said. 
Lastly, we questioned the professor about how it work in an academic environment, where it’s mostly male and if there are differences in treatment: “Yes, unfortunately there are still differences but I believe that much less than in other professions. I had to conquer my space. I was bullied, I was discredited for being a woman, which unfortunately happens with women”, she declared.