The aim of this text is to recover the essential features of the academic careerof Mauricio de Almeida Abreu, as professor and researcher, within the changing currents of Geography that faced our generation and the research options he chose. Profound and sagacious lessons are available for both new researchers and old concerning how geographical knowledge is produced, even for those who have no idea about how much effort is expended in this task. The value of research method, the tireless search for sources of information, the organization and analysis of results with a clear view of the intimate relationship between the conceptual basis and the reality evident in the data are highlighted here.