A Twenty Year Science Vision for European Astronomy
Three years ago, a group of European funding agencies, plus ESA and ESO, put forward the Astronet program to ensure close coordination of the astronomical developments within the Continent. One prime objective of this ERANET contract financed by the European Commission is to produce a long-term (∼ 20-year) strategic plan, similar in scope and content to the recurrent US decadal surveys. This is being pursued through a two-step process, first articulating a ’Science Vision’ with a set of prioritised science goals as well as an analysis on the generic facilities needed to reach them, followed by an Infrastructure Roadmap outlining the ways and means to implement the Vision. The first step is now completed, with the Science Vision document published at the end of September 2007; this paper presents the process that has been followed and the main conclusions reached.
Report by the ESA-ESO Working Group on "The Herschel-ALMA Synergies"
The Herschel Satellite and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) are two very large sub-mm and far infrared (FIR) astronomy projects that are expected to come into operation in this decade. This report contains descriptions of these instruments, emphasising the overlaps in wavelength range and additional complementarities. 
A short rationale for studying sub-mm and far infrared astronomy is given. Following this, brief presentations of Herschel and ALMA are presented, with references to more detailed documents and use cases. Emphasis is placed on the synergies between these facilities, and the challenges of comparing data produced using both. Specific examples of projects are given for a number of areas of astronomical research where these facilities will lead to dramatic improvements. 
This report is addressed to an audience of non-specialist astronomers who may be interested in extending their areas of research by making use of Herschel and ALMA instruments.
Expansion without equity: An analysis of current policy on access to higher education in Brazil
Access to higher education in Brazil is to a large extent restricted to the higher socio-economic groups. Public universities have limited places and entry is determined by highly competitive exams, thereby excluding those who have not had a high quality secondary education or attended an expensive preparatory course. There has been considerable growth in the private sector to absorb the excess demand, but the majority of Brazilians cannot afford the fees. This paper develops a concept of equity in higher education in which, firstly, there should be sufficient places in the system as a whole and, secondly, all people should have a fair opportunity of attending the university of their choice regardless of socio-economic background. Recent efforts to expand access are analysed, including incentives for the growth of private universities, student loans and the new Prouni initiative, in which private institutions provide free places to low-income students in return for tax exemptions. While these initiatives have the potential to increase the total number of places, they will not lead to an equitable expansion, as disadvantaged students will still be confined to courses of lower quality or with lower subsequent value on the employment market. Initiatives aimed at the public sector such as the introduction of quotas and changes to entry examinations are also discussed. Finally, some implications for future policy development are outlined.