Foreword - 8th International Symposium on Schistosomiasis - Recife (Brazil), 2-5 December, 2001

For the second time, the city of Recife, located in the Northeast of Brazil - a very rich area in potential and natural beauties, but paradoxally poor because of its social inequalities - scientists came from all over the world to take part on the 8th International Symposium on Schistosomiasis. It is also at this moment, that celebrations which started last year to commemorate 100 years of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, and 50 years of its Technical Scientific Unity in Recife, the Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, are officially closed.