Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Evandro Chartuni Mantovani

Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

M.S., Agricultural Engineering, 1981

Ph.D., Agricultural Engineering, 1984

Senior Researcher, EMBRAPA, National Research Center for Corn and Sorghum, Brazil

Singing for His Soul

After a day that might include international collaborations, research in precision agriculture, and community service, Evandro Chartuni Mantovani likes to kick back, play a few popular Brazilian tunes on his wooden guitar, and maybe sing along. It’s the perfect cure for high-pressure days, he says.

“When I play the guitar, many good feelings come to mind. It’s a way to enjoy life and to control the stress a bit,” he says. “When singing and playing with your soul, it looks like life is in another dimension, giving me a lot of good energy to move on.”

Influenced early by the Beatles and a friend who played the guitar, Mantovani was about 20 when he started playing, at first by ear. “Finally, last year I decided to take guitar classes,” he says. His favorites are samba, bossa nova, and romantic tunes. “I like to play the Brazilian popular music.”

Although he doesn’t perform—preferring to play at home with family and friends—like the Beatles, he’s influenced others. “Because of my interest in playing guitar, my two sons have become excellent musicians, and they have a rock band that performs during weekends for fun.”

Sports, too, are a big interest, as participant and fan. At Purdue he played tennis and joined fellow Brazilians in intramural games on a team named “Brasa.” Today, he’s a fan, cheering many a weekend for the Minas Gerais’ Cruzeiro soccer team in national competition. He still takes to the tennis court about three times a week for matches of his own.

Equally important, he says, is work for others. That currently includes serving as a member of the Hospital Nossa Senhora das Gracas Council. “I always give part of my time to help the community of Sete Lagoas.”

1974B.S., Agronomy, Vicosa Federal University, Brazil

1975-presentSenior Researcher, EMBRAPA, National Research Center for Corn and Sorghum, Brazil

1981M.S., Agricultural Engineering, Purdue University

1984Ph.D., Agricultural Engineering, Purdue University

1992-1993Adjunct Professor, University of Campinas, Brazil

1993-1996Agricultural, Commerce and Industry Secretary for the City of Sete Lagoas, Brazil

1995,1996Outstanding Secretary Award

1999Admitted as full member, Italy’s Club of Bologna Committee (international association of agriculture and agricultural mechanization experts)

1999-2003Vice President, Brazilian Society of Agriculture Engineering

2000-2003National Coordinator for Precision Agriculture Program in Brazil

2002Honorary Citizen of Sete Lagoas, Brazil

2002Outstanding Alumni Award, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University

“I consider my years at Purdue one of the more profitable times of my life. The quality of the courses, the library, student assistance, and advisors’ attention gave me the structure to develop my professional life.”