I was an undergraduate philosophy student when, as part of my research experience, I was asked to read the book Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett. This experience stimulated a great intellectual curiosity for Artificial Intelligence (Spring semester of 2003). Despite only knowing Artificial Intelligence (AI) from my books, I knew I should seek a graduate degree in computer science if I wanted to investigate cognitive processes using computational approaches.
However, that seemed like a dream out of reach: I had no experience with the Internet or computers. Several professors discouraged me, stating that shifting from computer science to philosophy would be feasible but not the other way around. (Today, I can totally understand their perspective, especially since I have faced significant obstacles while pursuing my own path). Still determined to enter the field of Computer Science, I scheduled a meeting with a prestigious professor from a top Brazilian military engineering institution. He told me it would be very difficult since I had to prove to the institution that I could acquire the technical skills needed to do research in computer science. After coaching me for about two years, I was admitted into the Aeronautics Institute of Technology, where he served as my master’s and Ph.D. advisor. Dr. Costa Ribeiro is my role model — a professor and researcher who believes in people and changes lives.