The National Academy of Sciences of Uruguay brings together 30 of the country’s most prominent figures in the scientific community. Its members include specialists in biology, physics, engineering, chemistry, the social sciences, and the humanities, who have shaped the national agenda for research and knowledge production.
In this highly demanding academic environment, the arrival of Dr. Denise Vaillant —dean of the Institute of Education at Universidad ORT Uruguay is particularly significant, as she brings an educational perspective to a field where the social sciences are underrepresented and the natural and exact sciences dominate.
Being a member of the Academy offers the opportunity to continue strengthening the role of education within the national scientific system.
In addition to becoming the only member representing the education sector within the Academy, Vaillant’s appointment holds particular institutional significance. Together with Dr. Fernando Paganini —associate dean for research at ORT’s School of Engineering —they represent the private university sector, thereby broadening the diversity of professional backgrounds and institutional contexts represented in the Academy.
“This appointment is not just a personal one; it is also a sign that education is a strategic field of knowledge for the country’s development and, therefore, must engage in dialogue on equal terms with other areas of science, ”Vaillant said.
In the same vein, he emphasized the importance of strengthening the links between research, education, and decision-making: “Uruguayan education faces complex challenges that require evidence and collective reflection. Approaching education from a rigorous scientific perspective allows us to improve educational policies and broaden their impact.”
The National Academy of Sciences of Uruguay, which operates under the Ministry of Education and Culture, is tasked with advising on and fostering the development of the sciences, as well as promoting scientific, technological, and innovation activities.
Vaillant’s admission as a Full Member was approved by the Extraordinary Assembly of the National Academy of Sciences of Uruguay in November 2025 and was formalized on Tuesday, December 9, during the institution’s annual closing ceremony.
The presence of an educational perspective within the Academy offers an opportunity to build bridges and enrich dialogue.
About Denise Vaillant
She holds a Ph.D. in Education from the Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada). She also holds a Master’s degree in Planning and Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Geneva (Switzerland).
She has held several senior positions within Uruguay’s National Public Education Administration. She is a visiting professor at numerous Latin American and European universities; an advisor to international organizations; and the author of numerous articles and books on the teaching profession, educational reforms, and educational innovation.
She is a member of the Honorary Commission of the National System of Researchers (SNI), and in 2019 she was promoted to Level III in the SNI’s Social Sciences category, becoming the only representative from the field of education at that level.
She currently serves as academic director of the Doctor of Education program, editor-in-chief of the journal *Cuadernos de Investigación Educativa*, and dean of the Institute of Education at Universidad ORT Uruguay.