It is with profound respect that we remember Liane Tarouco, a visionary educator and trailblazer whose tireless work helped ignite the dawn of the Internet in Brazil and shaped the lives of countless engineers and researchers worldwide.
A Passionate Scholar and Inspiring Mentor
Liane’s intellectual promise shone from her earliest years, spent in small Brazilian towns. As she often shared, school never curbed her curiosity—she loved to learn. Though she initially pursued physics at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, a life-changing programming course in 1968 revealed her true calling. From that moment, she embraced computation with unwavering passion.
Her dedication to knowledge became the foundation of an extraordinary academic career. She authored Redes de Comunicação de Dados (Data Communications Networks) in 1977—Brazil’s first textbook on computer networks, which quickly became essential reading in university programs nationwide. A second edition followed in 1986.
For over five decades at her university, Tarouco guided hundreds of dissertations and doctoral theses, shaping the next generation of Internet researchers and professionals. Her influence reached well beyond Brazil. She led training programs across Latin America, Portugal, and Mozambique, extending her impact across continents.
In the 1970s, Tarouco turned her vision into tangible infrastructure. She initiated the Rede Sul de Teleprocessamento, Brazil’s first effort to interconnect universities. Though underfunded, this model inspired future networks. Her leadership continued with the creation of Rede Tchê in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, followed by the metropolitan network MetroPOA. Most notably, she played an instrumental role in launching Brazil’s National Research Network—the country’s first Internet backbone—in 1992.
A Legacy of Boundless Curiosity and Enduring Generosity
Beyond her groundbreaking technical work, Tarouco was known for her deep-rooted curiosity and heartfelt generosity. Even after decades in academia, she continued teaching full courses, publishing multiple books, and delivering scores of papers annually. Her interest never waned—in recent years, she explored new frontiers such as virtual laboratories and metaverses for science education.
In 2021, Tarouco was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame, a fitting tribute to her pivotal role in developing Brazil’s Internet and educating generations of network professionals. Her legacy—a blend of visionary leadership, academic excellence, and deep humanity—endures in networks that span continents and in the countless individuals she inspired.
As we reflect on her life, we remember a woman whose work connected the world, both digitally and personally, and whose spirit of discovery will continue to guide future generations.
