Marcelo Byrro Ribeiro is a faculty member of the Physics Institute, UFRJ (*). He obtained a BSc in physics from UFRJ in 1984, a MSc in astronomy from ON (**) in 1987 and his PhD from Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London in 1992. From 1992 to 1997 he carried out research and taught graduate courses at ON (**). By late 1997 he moved back to UFRJ, then as faculty, where he has been ever since, doing research and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, except in 2001-2002 when he spent one year with the Vatican Observatory Research Group at Steward Observatory, University of Arizona.
After his MSc, Marcelo successfully applied for an overseas scholarship offered by Brazil's Ministry of Education to pursue a PhD in Britain. In London he worked under supervision of Malcolm A. H. MacCallum (see picture), of the School of Mathematical Sciences, and developed research in relativistic fractal cosmology. Upon returning to Brazil, he continued his research in relativistic cosmology, but after his year in Tucson, Arizona, where he worked with William R. Stoeger, of the Vatican Observatory Group, his research developed a growing emphasis in observational cosmology. Lately he has expanded his research interests to include econophysics and complex systems dynamics. He is also interested in philosophical aspects of modern cosmology and complexity.
In his academic career, Marcelo has already published several research and review papers, as well as chapters of books, on different aspects of cosmology, history and epistemology of science and complex systems dynamics. He has also supervised several students, and visited various research institutions on many countries, where he presented seminars, had scientific discussions or participated in conferences, schools, workshops and symposia.