Highlights 2018

HIGH LIGHTS

2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

ENGINEERING

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL 3

. High-Quality Public Service at FEUP

ABOUT FEUP

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 Publisher Communication Unit of the Faculty of Engineering - U.Porto dci@fe.up.pt Editorial board Carlos Oliveira and Raquel Pires Redaction Raquel Pires and Helena Peixoto noticias@fe.up.pt Design and layout César Sanches design@fe.up.pt

4 . FEUP in brief 5

.U .Porto: an international player

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. A comprehensive education

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. Research and innovation for the real world

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. Alumni commitment

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. Social responsibility

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

Photography Álvaro Martino, Egídio Santos, Francisco Piqueiro, Fernando Veludo/Nfactos, Mario O Santos and Susana Neves

10 . Interview to Helena Braga: “Batteries of the future:

Translation Jonathan Lewis

ngineering has roller hockey in its sights 13 . E

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the energy revolution with FEUP DNA” nd FEUP 2017’s most sustainable idea is: 14 . A

Property Faculty of Engineering - University of Porto

“Combating food waste”

Head Office Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal Tel: +351 22 508 1400 e-mail: dci@fe.up.pt | url: www.fe.up.pt

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15 . I nterview to Vera Homem: “The research we do is aimed at people”

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18 . Mobility at FEUP: breaking records

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19 . Mobility at FEUP: a winning bet 20 . 1 million for new therapies to counter antibiotic-

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Through unnavigated seas: underwater robotics at the LSTS

FEUP DNA

lumni Ambassadors @FEUP: 24 . A Nuno Lago de Carvalho

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MUCH + THAN ENGINEERING

NIRAID: the competition where winning is 26 . U the least important

28 . T he Retired Professor that turns wood into artworks

FEUP GOURMET

29 . I nterview to Joana Ventura: I wanted to prove that my kitchen prepares more than just tuna pasta

ANNUAL REPORT

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32 . 2 017 in review

FEUP IN FIGURES

38 . Facts & figures 2017

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Against a national macroeconomic background which has almost invariably been adverse, all those involved in FEUP have sensibly managed to maintain financial equilibrium, despite sacrifices. Everything has been done within the parameters of the law, despite a quasi-”medieval” procurement process, wholly unsuited to higher education

Here is some information that may not be public knowledge: . In the international “QS Ranking” for Engineering and Technology, the University of Porto rose from 169th place in 2014 to 135th in 2018, thus being the top-ranked in Portugal, closely followed by the University of Lisbon in 137th position and then by the University of Coimbra in 255th place. . In 2017, in the first phase of the National Higher Education Application Process, 10 of the 1,062 courses available were from FEUP and in 7 of those 10 courses, all integrated master’s degrees, the grade of the last student placed in the general quota was higher than 80%. . In 2014, 314 foreign students were enrolled in FEUP, of which 72 were in integrated master’s degrees, 63 in master’s degrees and 179 in doctorates. By the end of 2017 there were a total of 555 foreign students, of which 196 were in integrated master’s degrees, 137 in master’s degrees and 222 in doctorates. I estimate that growth will continue from 200 to 250 international students per year over the next 3 years. And this statistic does not include mobility students, such as Erasmus +.

These indicators, with all their inherent limitations, have great significance for the FEUP Community given the prevailing climate. What it means is that due to the extraordinary dedica-

tion of almost everyone involved, at least over the last decade, FEUP has managed to “filter” the obvious difficulties and through this hard work and commitment has continued to make up for the State’s failure to provide adequate conditions. But it also implies a great responsibility towards external partners and the wider society, since there is a clear indication of confidence in what FEUP does and offers, at both national and international level.

Moreover, it demonstrates the growing impact of the international student population within the Porto Metropolitan Area and on the research that is being done here, for example in the global dynamism of the companies hosted at UPTEC. The abovementioned research and our performance indicators should also be a cause for reflection by the government authorities and regulators, such as A3ES, in order to allow more autonomy for those who have consistently good results and serve the public interest well. I thus see the current governmental policy of reducing the number of places for new students and of eliminating integrated master’s degrees from the courses we offer as running contrary to the principle of university autonomy.

I therefore reaffirm my conviction that, regardless of whatever governmental and regulatory environment may be in force, the FEUP Community, together with its excellent partners in the University of Porto and in the wider community, will remain committed to improving the quality of education, research and innovation in a global context that is increasingly more complex and competitive. * FEUP Dean

EDITORIAL

Within the OECD, Portugal is one of the countries where the government least invests in higher education, earmarking only 0.8% of GDP. According to a 2017 study sponsored by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation “in Portugal, almost 90% of individuals with higher education [between 25-64 years of age, 2015] were satisfied with their lives, compared to just over 60% of those who have just completed secondary education.”

Nevertheless, the current government and the majority of higher education institutions, including the University of Porto, have signed a funding maintenance agreement for the present legislative period.

The reality is that since the beginning of the global crisis in 2008, there has been a continual reduction in realterm public funding for Portuguese higher education institutions.

institutions, which are also expected to promote globally competitive research and innovation. FEUP has additionally been able to maintain an adequate overall cash balance, albeit modest in respect to the budget, in order to ensure the high standard of its activity.

João Falcão e Cunha*

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

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s you know, FEUP’s mission is to develop educational, research and innovation activities focused on engineering fields at regional, national and international level. This is the current development aim of the public service commitment begun in Portugal more than 180 years ago, on January 13, 1837, by the Polytechnic Academy of Porto “... with the mission to educate engineers, naval officers, pilots, merchants, farmers, factory directors and artists”.

Photo: Egídio Santos

HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE AT FEUP

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

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FEUP’s claim to be an international School of Engineering is not simply due to the ever-increasing number of foreign students who choose it as their destination every year; nor is it merely a result of the many foreign researchers who enrich the scientific work carried out by the Faculty and bring a multicultural atmosphere to the campus. Important though this international community is, the main thrust of internationalization at FEUP comes from the cooperative relations that it maintains with businesses and prestigious higher education institutions in Europe and the rest of the world, with special emphasis on the USA and Brazil. This collaboration covers aspects as diverse as the establishment of joint degrees, applied research, professional training and mobility programmes for students and staff.

FEUP has come to expand its basis of cooperation, also participating in major international networks and prestigious engineering associations such as CESAER – Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research.

Global recognition of FEUP’s quality can also be seen in the high position it occupies in the most respected international Engineering rankings. This, along with the excellent comprehensive training it offers, provides its students with outstanding advantages in both the national and worldwide labor markets.

For the past 181 years FEUP has played a leading institutional role in the economic development of the city, the region and the country, both in terms of the quality of its

Photo: Francisco Piqueiro

Founded in 1926, the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP) is the largest of the 14 faculties that constitute the University of Porto. With its origins in the Polytechnic Academy, created in 1837, FEUP is a leading institution of international repute, whose achievements in research and teaching have led to its current position at the forefront of engineering schools.

education, producing engineers of world-class standard, and the scientific and technological breakthroughs that it has made, which have contributed to global scientific development, industrial progress and social well-being.

A DYNAMIC ATMOSPHERE FEUP is located on the university campus in Asprela.

More than a campus, this is the Porto Innovation District which is home not only to other faculties of the University of Porto and schools of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, but also to private universities, a central teaching hospital, an institute of oncology and various research institutes, both foreign and domestic. It is primarily a technological location, where the strong presence of engineering technologies, health sciences and entrepreneurship lend considerable impetus to the process of innovation.

Asprela is also where the core of the University of Porto’s Science and Technology Park (UPTEC) is located. UPTEC is a structure which brings together and incubates more than a hundred fledging businesses; it was recognized in 2013 with the Regio Stars Award in the category “Smart Growth”, organized by the European Commission – the first time a Portuguese university had received an award for regional development projects at European level.

All in all, the Asprela campus is brimming with the entrepreneurial spirit and multidisciplinary research that have allowed FEUP to break new ground in which to operate and thus broaden its expertise. Today, FEUP houses the facilities of the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI) and the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC).

Photo: Luís Ferraz

ABOUT FEUP

FEUP IN BRIEF

A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE NORTHERN REGION

U.Porto participates in various European education programmes, which have contributed to its growing appeal. When it comes to international students, enrollments have increased significantly, together with the number of mobility partnerships with top-rated higher education institutions.

In Portugal, U.Porto is the preferred choice for those applying to enter higher education establishments, which means that every year the number of applicants is greater than the number of available places. U.Porto is a comprehensive institution, with a large number of faculties and schools providing a diverse range of knowledge, continually interacting and offering opportunities for training at all

Recognition of U.Porto as an institution of excellence is reflected in the high place that it occupies in international rankings. U.Porto is a key academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking and IberoAmerican worlds and its leading international role is reinforced by the prestigious ties of cooperation that it has with countries which share linguistic or historical kinship.

THE CITY OF PORTO Whoever visits Porto for the first time immediately feels the pulse of a city that is not just the regional capital of northern Portugal, but also the main trading centre in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Traditionally known for its Port Wine trade, the region is home to a large cross-section of Portuguese industry, in particular the sectors of timber, furniture-making, textiles, garment manufacturing, footwear, metal-working and various engineering industries. Its commercial activity is facilitated by the cargo terminal at the port of Leixões, which handles 25% of the country’s international trade, and also by Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, consistently elected as one of the best in Europe for the last 11 years.

The historic centre is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and its charm and beauty cast a special spell on the city of Porto.

But no less enchanting are the modern buildings designed by acclaimed names in architecture such as Siza Vieira, Souto Moura and Rem Koolhaas. The pleasant atmosphere, excellent cuisine, and range of cultural and leisure activities at competitive prices have earned it praise from such international publications as the New York Times and Lonely Planet. In 2017 Porto was for the third time elected Best European Destination.

ABOUT FEUP

U.Porto is also aware of the crucial role it plays in socio-economic development, both at regional and national level, through its interaction with society at large and the productive base in particular. It is, therefore, placing increasing emphasis on raising the value of its research activity by means of transferring knowledge and technologies to industry and creating partnerships with businesses, which have resulted in innovations with proven success in both national and international markets. In 2015, together with the University of Minho and the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, the University of Porto created UNorte.pt, the first consortium of higher education institutions in Portugal: this cooperation brings the Northern region to a strong position not only in terms of joint applications to the new EU Framework Programme 2020, but also facilitates collaboration in other fields of expertise as well as in attracting international students to the region. International recruitment has, indeed, been given a new framework following national approval of the International Student Statute, which enables graduate level foreign students to be admitted in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions.

stages of life. As the university’s main aim is the all-round education of its students, it also offers numerous extra-curricular activities in such diverse areas as sports, the arts, entrepreneurship and voluntary service.

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

The University of Porto (U.Porto), located in the north of Portugal, is increasingly becoming a major contributor to global networks of academic and scientific excellence, helping to promote the worldwide transfer of its research results. As a research university, it contributes significantly to the country’s scientific output.

Photo: rights reserved

U.PORTO: AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER

ABOUT FEUP

A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

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Following the Bologna principles, greater pedagogical emphasis is placed on “learning” than “teaching”, which allows the student to play a more active role. To enable this, FEUP provides its students with high quality faci lities and equipment and services that can keep pace with recent trends and students’ requirements. These include study rooms and computer labs open round the clock every day of the year.

To prepare students for the ’real world’, they are encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary assignments, as well as to take part in research, innovation and entre preneurship projects from the undergraduate level. In addition, counselling initiatives are organized in order to provide advice regarding business ideas or the creation of innovative technology-based companies.

Besides all its regular services and facilities, FEUP offers a great array of extra-curricular activities, including theatre, music and painting. Cultural events play a central role at the institution, including such diverse initiatives as film cycles, exhibitions, seminars, literature sessions, and conferences on many different topics. FEUP’s classical orchestra is one of the University of Porto’s most emblematic and successful cultural projects.

When it comes to sports, a wide range of activities are offered, covering all types of sports, with FEUP athletes being distinguished with medals in several national and international competitions.

FEUP has high quality standards and therefore seeks the best candidates from Portugal and abroad to accomplish its mission of producing competitive engineering graduates for the global labour market and key change agents for industry. The high quality of the education we offer is reflected in the success achieved by our alumni in many highly reputable organizations around the world.

Photo: Egídio Santos

Studying at FEUP means joining a community of around 8,000 promising students at the biggest faculty of the University of Porto, one of the largest universities in Portugal, with more than 30,000 students.

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOR THE REAL WORLD FEUP’s central position on the map of Research and Innovation (R&I) is certainly reinforced by its privileged location – the Porto Innovation District – and the international networks of which it is part. The Innovation Centre at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto (UPTEC) is located nearby. This centre is a clear example of the cooperation between the academic and business worlds: several innovation teams from national and international companies are established here, involved in the development of new technologies geared towards the global market.

Countless projects demonstrate FEUP’s capacity to bring about innovation in conjunction with its affiliated institutes that form a support platform for Faculty research. Moreover, research is also boosted by the Centres of Competence, specializing in such diverse areas as Sustainable Energy, Smart Cities, Product and Service Design, Railways, Advanced Manufacturing, as well as Oceanic Research, Health Innovation and Ambient Assisted Living.

FEUP’s considerable technical-scientific potential has been applied in numerous technology transfer projects. The knowledge of university teachers and researchers has also contributed to the training and consultancy services provided to the business and public sectors, as well as to the establishment of standardized procedures that guarantee the quality and safety of products and services.

Promotion of entrepreneurship is undertaken through advanced training in innovation and technological enterprise, publicizing of incentive programmes, organization of counselling initiatives and

Photo: Egídio Santos

The establishment of partnerships with external entities enables FEUP not only to enrich its research activities by sharing ideas and experiences, but also to seek appropriate solutions to current global challenges. The Horizon 2020 Office at FEUP seeks to open new doors to our presence in European knowledge networks and to raise the likelihood of being awarded with European funding for R&I. It is a very important source of support to researchers, strengthened by another structure: the Industry Liaison Office (ILO). The ILO promotes close cooperation between FEUP researchers and the national and international industry, thus fostering competitive collaboration and access to external funding.

contacts made with available companies and investors. A significant number of entrepreneurial projects, instigated by teachers, researchers and students, have given rise to start-ups and spin-offs.

FEUP also leads the field in the Business and Innovation Network initiative – BIN@TM. This network, created in 2010, is a joint initiative of academic and industry partners engaged in supporting the creation of a sustainable platform for sharing best practices and opportunities in innovation. BIN@ has currently over 3,000 delegates worldwide (+60 countries) and has so far organised events in Portugal, UK, Brazil, Romania and Poland.

FEUP encourages application of the academic knowledge it generates to solving real-world problems. This is achieved by establishing strong links with business and industry, thereby opening the way to building long-lasting relationships of trust.

ABOUT FEUP

ALUMNI COMMITMENT The alumni community is an important connection between FEUP and the world beyond its campus boundaries: our alumni represent both a valuable source of expertise as well as a bridge to hundreds of organisations and companies, many of which are strategic potential partners in the field of education and research.

FEUP is very glad to have an alumni community keen on staying in touch with their alma mater: from the beginning the commitment shown by our alumni has been very clear. They are willing to support FEUP in all our fields of activity and participate eagerly in alumni reunions and in social, networking or volunteering activities.

As alma mater, FEUP continues to invest in alumni development, offering a broad choice of lifelong learning opportunities, as well as a range of significant benefits, from access to our lavish library resources to involvement in numerous conferences, concerts and other cultural and entertainment activities.

According to Tiago Ribeiro, Alumnus Ambassador in Vanuatu: “I have many ideas and hopes for this project, especially with regard to fostering FEUP collaboration and partnership in the areas of Research, Development and Innovation (R&D+I), employment, internships, PhDs and dissertations in business environment, entrepreneurship, international programs, networks in joint research, and the professional accreditation and recognition of diplomas for FEUP Engineers in Vanuatu. Most things here take a considerable time to achieve, but with the ongoing activities that we have already started with FEUP, I am sure that we will get them done. Promoting FEUP in Vanuatu is also a good opportunity to develop our network.”

The alumni network is not only of interest for catching up with old classmates but is also useful for conveying information related to job openings or collaboration opportunities, as well as building a strong network and sharing relevant experiences.

FEUP’s Alumni Ambassador Programme is a keystone in the network project FEUPLink, which serves as a launchpad for a diverse range of initiatives, bringing our alumni from around the world closer to each other and closer to FEUP. In 2017/2018 FEUP had 30 active Alumni Ambassadors in 19 countries: Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Mozambique, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Vanuatu. Lisbon, in Portugal, also has an official representation since its community is of such a significant size.

The alumni community is growing day by day: 30,000 alumni have been identified on LinkedIn and over 7,000 of them have joined the FEUPLink closed group, thus now being directly linked to FEUP. If you are a FEUP alumnus, we’d be glad if you could join the alumni community FEUPLink on LinkedIn and, who knows, become our Alumni Ambassador to help make our community even bigger – more information available on www.fe.up.pt/alumni.

Photo: Egídio Santos

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

At FEUP, students have the opportunity to participate in volunteer projects at national or international level, such as GASPORTO, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to aid and human development in Portugal and the developing world. Headquartered at the Faculty of Engineering, GASPORTO has been undertaking very important volunteer work not only in the city of Porto, but also in Timor and Mozambique – its main goal is to instill in students an understanding of cultures and to help make the world a better place to live in. FEUP also supports institutions located in the surrounding area, including, among others: IPO Porto (the Portuguese Institute of Oncology – Porto); Hospital do Joãozinho (Pediatric Hospital); Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro (Portuguese Cancer League), Centro Social da Paróquia da Areosa (Areosa Parish Social Centre), which provides support and activities for care of the elderly in its neighbourhood; and “Teach for Portugal”, a project which involves young graduates with secondary school students.

In order to promote inclusive education and ensure equal access and success for minority groups, such as people with disabilities, FEUP also has at its disposal a specialized office offering support to students with special educa-

tional needs, with the aim of improving their conditions of learning and helping them on their academic path. In addition, the “Student Support Project” has been set up with the main aim of helping students in financial difficulties who cannot afford to pay their tuition fees.

The existence of a Commissariat dedicated to Social Responsibility and a Commissariat of Sustainability reinforces FEUP’s commitment to this matter. Currently, corporate responsibility also extends to the promotion of sustainable development practices in the management of the campus. The report on sustainability issued every year gives a good overview of the institution’s performance in various areas of sustainability. As a public institution that practices transparent and accountable management of its resources, FEUP produces an annual financial report revealing all Faculty expenditure and revenue in detail.

Positive effects of ecological and environmental policy are likely to arise not only from energy saving gained from intelligent management of buildings, but also from increased use of non-polluting means of transport, and the recycling of waste products.

FEUP’s concerns regarding sustainable development are, moreover, not merely confined to its premises. Engineering projects geared to the outside world have a markedly ecological aspect, and the role they play in urban renewal and the construction of future cities makes FEUP a force of benign intervention in society. This same society can freely benefit from the many debates, concerts, theatrical events and film showings organized at FEUP. Music and painting courses are also available with the aim of awakening the artistic talents of our students. After all, FEUP does not just train engineers, but also educates world citizens.

Photo: rights reserved

FEUP engages in its core functions of teaching, research, innovation and community outreach in a responsible and principled manner that promotes certain key values. It is our belief that only conscious choices lead to bright students following bright careers. The information programme carried out with high school students and educators does much more than simply fulfil recruitment ambitions. Its main purpose is to better inform people about the different fields of engineering and to make students aware of the environmental and social impacts of the engineering profession.

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

Batteries of the future: the energy revolution with FEUP DNA

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

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She is the researcher they are all talking about. Helena Braga, professor at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), may go down in history as changing the way we store energy.

All this is down to a solid battery that she is developing in the USA: lighter, environmentally friendly and capable of multiplying the capacity of traditional lithium batteries.

Helena believes that in the space of five years the batteries of the future may already be available on the market. It all depends on how the industry responds.

Text: Raquel Pires Photo: Fernando Veludo/NFACTOS

A physics graduate with a PhD in Materials Engineering and Metallurgy, Helena Braga taught at FEUP between 2002 and 2009. From 2008 to 2011 she was also a researcher at the Los Alamos Institute. After a sabbatical leave, she’s back at FEUP. Since 1993 she has published scientific papers, the most well-known being that which led to the development of a glass electrolyte.

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t all started nine years ago at FEUP. Having gained experience as a teacher, Helena Braga decided to dedicate herself to research that has been the subject of international patents and a talking point within the scientific community. The results achieved drew the attention of John Goodenough, creator of traditional lithium batteries, who immediately invited her to work at the University of Texas, USA, along with his team. That was in 2015 and an important partnership began there. At age 45, Helena Braga wants to continue her work based in Portugal, even if her name may become world renowned in the history of physics.

How did you come to choose physical engineering?

What attracted you to this area?

I didn’t choose physical engineering; I chose Physics.

One day, when I was around 15 years old, I read a book that had been given to my father, “Um pouco mais de azul” by Hubert Reeves – Director of CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) France – which was much read in scientific circles. I wrote him a letter with questions about entropy and he replied that he would answer those questions in his next book “A hora do deslumbramento” to be published in Portugal and sent me the Portuguese version of the book. He also told me that he was going to give a lecture at the University of Aveiro and that he would like me to go there. I therefore thought that all physicists would be so interesting and generous with their knowledge and it was that, together with my growing passion for the concept of entropy versus information, which influenced me to take a degree in Physics. When I started my PhD at FEUP, I fell in love with Physics and Materials.

How did this collaboration with Professor John Goodenough of the University of Texas come about?

When we published the first article on glass electrolytes in 2015 I received several phone calls

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

that allows the use of an anode constructed of alkali metals preventing the formation of “dendrites” (internal short circuits) that can often arise in traditional lithium batteries, which use liquid electrolytes, leading to internal short circuits that can quickly catch fire and even cause explosions.

In addition, they are constituted solely of elements that are inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

In scientific terms, what is innovative about these new batteries of the future?

What is essential about these batteries is that they are able to store much more energy than lithium-ion batteries because their capacity no longer depends on a cathode but an anode, which is much larger.

This is achieved through a solid glass electrolyte

Is it very different doing research in the USA compared to in Europe? How were you received?

I was very well received by Professor Goodenough.

Despite his 95 years, he is an example of openness to new ideas! Andy also always believed in what we were doing. Research is not much different, but everything is done at a much faster pace.

What has it meant for you to be part of this research and have your name associated with this innovation?

My name was not associated with this research. I am first author of the papers because I contributed very substantially to all the ideas and all the work involved, namely the electrolyte, which is an essential part of this concept and was developed

by Jorge Ferreira (LNEG) and myself.

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

from foreigners who wanted to know more and eventually collaborate or enter into a licensing agreement. One of them was Andy Murchison who we started liaising with until he thought we should start collaborating with a “heavyweight” group in the US. He knew Professor Goodenough, whom I knew from the books I’d read! It was a dream come true for me. Andy introduced us in february 2014 and from then on we started working to prove to him that the electrolyte really worked. Over the course of a year I often went to UT-Austin and in february of 2016 asked for a fellowship to work on lithium-metal batteries which I could not do at FEUP because at the time there was no laboratory, much less a box of gloves which is absolutely essential for this work, since lithium reacts violently in the presence of moisture and oxidizes easily.

My B side “Pedro Páramo”, Juan Rulfo; “Memorial of the Convent”, José Saramago; “Temporal”, Sergio Astorga; “The Name of the Rose”, Umberto Eco; “Entanglement” Joana Espain; “Message” Fernando Pessoa (and many others). ..............

“Cinema Paradiso”, by Giuseppe Tornatore. ..............

Chico Buarque in his masterpiece “Construção” because it is one of the best poems/photographs of an unjust and often frightening society.

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

..............

Who is John Goodenough?

Potato bundles like my grandmother Renata used to make. I love eating so I have other favourite dishes: Confit d’Oie (with fried potatoes in goose lard); taquitos of huitlacoche and mole of duck from the Restaurant “Frida” in Porto and endless amounts of codfish well moistened with the best thing we have: olive oil! ..............

Awarded the National Medal of Science by President Barack Obama, John Bannister Goodenough has often been considered by the Swedish Academy when it comes to the Nobel Prize for Physics. He is considered the father of lithium-ion batteries, the invention of the early 90s that revolutionized the world of technology, and everyday life today, with gadgets and electronic equipment that work wirelessly everywhere through rechargeable batteries. He has thus received several awards and international commendations. At age 95 he continues to work at the University of Austin, Texas, USA. He was recently at FEUP, at the invitation of the Industry Liaison Committee, for a debate on energy storage in the future.

Places still to visit: many in Latin America and in particular the pre-Hispanic remains. Go to India, Petra in Jordan, Galapagos in Ecuador and Florence in Italy (where I’ve never been). I would also like to go to the Atacama Desert in Chile to see the dry lithium salts lakes and newly built telescopes. ..............

I hope that the batteries we make will be used by many people. I would like to help enable the replacement of petrol-powered cars with electric cars. I hope that every man, woman or child may be able to study more effectively by storing energy in the battery during the day which they can then use when the sun goes down.

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

12 The new generation of young Portuguese researchers has been proving that there is new talent on home territory. What are the stakes for science in Portugal? Is the “brain drain” inevitable?

Portugal has achieved an excellent global level in education and even in research in some areas of knowledge, but the problem is that there is no incentive. There is no career progression and there is no reward in terms of salary. There is no reward for those who do undertake research.

For example, it is only now after 15 years that we have been allocated a research laboratory on the FEUP campus.

What role can universities play in attracting new talent?

Universities/Faculties have to recognize talent before anything new can come out. That said, they have to do everything in their power to provide conditions for those who want to develop research.

When we feel that they are doing what they can for us, we respond immediately with a feeling of loyalty. Universities would have to employ more discretionary powers to be able to provide the necessary conditions for those who want to work in Portugal. Perhaps, for example, by reducing the workload and assigning more sabbaticals (we can only have six months in a row at a time) for those who want to carry out research.

ENGINEERING HAS ROLLER HOCKEY IN ITS SIGHTS

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t is no coincidence that since march 2017, this issue has already been the subject of a master’s thesis in Industrial Design at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP). It is a matter that has been debated on a regular basis especially by professional federations and clubs with a great tradition in roller hockey. CERS, the official body that manages the sport worldwide, recently banned ice hockey helmets, a decision that was revised after the intervention of LABIOMEP. Even so, opinions are divided. In Portugal, impact tests carried out at LABIOMEP have shown that in ice hockey the most appropriate equipment for protecting the goalkeeper’s head is not used. The researchers believe that improvements in training conditions and players’ athletic ability has led to increasingly higher ball speeds, at energies which, in all likelihood, surpass those permitted within the safety limits of current equipment (136 km/h being the maximum speed measured). The issue takes on another dimension considering how “goalkeepers are trained in order to defend balls in the upper central area of the goal with their head, thus exposing themselves to risks that may compromise their physical integrity”, affirms Mário Vaz, of LABIOMEP. The researchers’ aim is to provide roller hockey with individual protection equipment that can guarantee athletes’ safety; and, at the same time, focus on the design

of helmets, in order to make them appealing and absolutely crucial for anyone playing the sport. After being inspired by solutions for ice hockey, “the main novelty of our prototype is the elimination of visor mobility – which does not protect the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) in the event of jaw impacts – as well as new constructive solutions for the visor itself”, confirms Mário Vaz. In addition, “the best compromise between high impact strength and low weight may be to suggest the use of materials other than the current ones”.

Edo Bosch, who plays in FC Porto’s main team, was actively involved in the early stages of the project: it was important to define the key requirements (both dimensional and functional) for the prototype of the helmet, which is now in an advanced phase of production. “Feedback has been very positive with the involvement of the top goalkeepers in the national championship”.

According to Mário Vaz, Portugal will most likely also be the first country to license a helmet with these characteristics, dependent only on finding a company that wants to join the project. And it should not be forgotten that “AZEMAD, a manufacturer of roller hockey sticks from Oliveira de Azeméis, has succeeded in becoming the world’s largest manufacturer of sticks through three collaboration projects undertaken through INEGI/LABIOMEP”, he concludes.

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

According to the Spanish Federation of Roller Hockey, 15 Spanish athletes suffer severe head injuries every weekend. In Portugal, at the University of Porto’s Laboratory of Biomechanics (LABIOMEP), a group of researchers is developing a new helmet for goalkeepers, where concerns about ergonomics and athletes’ safety are the key words.

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

Text: Raquel Pires Photo: rights reserved

And FEUP 2017’s most sustainable idea is: “Combating food waste”

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

Text: Helena Peixoto Photo: rights reserved

Diogo Xavier Pereira and Vera Miguéis are authors of ‘Zero Waste in the FEUP canteen’, a project which aims to align each day’s demand for food with its respective preparation through a predictive mathematical model based on a series of factors affecting daily consumption.

U

rgent action is required given that globally around 1.3 billion tonnes of food produced for human consumption is wasted through the whole supply chain process. And the crisis becomes even more acute when we consider the flipside to the situation: chronic hunger affects 815 million people, or 11% of the world’s population.

Food waste is a very real problem experienced on a global scale. In view of all the energy, water and packaging involved in the process of production, transportation and delivery to the consumer, food waste is a major enemy of sustainability. In particular, due to inadequate planning of portions to be prepared, a significant amount of the food produced is not consumed.

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It was precisely with this premise in mind that Diogo Xavier Pereira, a 5th-year student enrolled in the Integrated Master’s in Informatics and Computer Engineering, and Vera Miguéis, Assistant Professor in the Engineering and Industrial Management Department of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, together developed the project ‘Zero Waste in the FEUP canteen’, winner of the 2nd edition of the 2017 Most Sustainable Ideas Competition.

As to how they achieved this goal, they did so by employing a predictive mathematical model which can estimate the demand for a particular menu item on a given day, enabling daily food preparation to be aligned with the demand for specific meals, thus minimizing food waste. This model is to be based on historical data from the FEUP canteen that will help identify the factors affecting consumption, among which are meteorologi-

cal conditions, student schedules and characteristics of dishes on the menu.

The winning project is part of Diogo Pereira’s final-year dissertation project and is currently at a preliminary stage of development. Invaluable assistance was given by the University of Porto’s Social Action Service (SASUP) in providing consumption data and also by FEUP in providing information regarding student schedules.

The prize for the 2nd edition of the Most Sustainable Ideas Competition – an Orbit-sponsored bike – was awarded on January 15th, during the FEUP Day Ceremony.

About the initiative Promoted by FEUP’s Commissariat for Sustainability, two editions of the Most Sustainable Ideas Competition have now been held (2016 and 2017) and together they have fulfilled two kay objectives: on the one hand, to sensitize the FEUP community to issues related to sustainable development and, on the other hand, to gather ideas that can be implemented and which can contribute to the well-being of the community and to the sustainability of the institution.

There are 370 of them. A close look at the enrolments reveals an even rounder number: 90% are research fellows. Who are these young researchers? What work do they do? What motivates them?

And what expectations do they have for the future? We walked round FEUP’s research units looking for answers. And especially talented young people.

V

era Homem is 33 years old. She is a postdoc fellow at FEUP’s Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE) and is involved in studying the environmental risk assessment of personal hygiene products, allowing her to establish partnerships with internationally renowned research groups such as the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Barcelona and the Department of Health at the Wadsworth Center in New York. After an academic career spent wholly at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), first following a degree in Chemical Engineering (2007) and later doing a PhD in Environmental Engineering (2011), she has recently obtained funding for a new line of research. Vera Homem intends to study the agronomic impact of the use of sludge produced in

NEW TALENTS

The research we do is aimed at people

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Text: Raquel Pires Photo: Egídio Santos

LEPABE It was established in 1998 with its headquarters in the Department of Chemical Engineering. An interdisciplinary group, it currently has 199 researchers – 177 of them with doctorates – in addition to 17 who work directly in companies. Under the slogan “From Science to Innovation”, LEPABE bases all its activity on a combination of basic science, applied engineering and innovation: here research is carried out in multidisciplinary fields such as solar cells, biomaterials, systems of controlled release of medicines, and the environment, among others.

12 European projects are currently under way in LEPABE, constituting 3.5 million euros in funding for the research unit. Within the scope of Portugal2020, 5.1 million euros have already been allocated to LEPABE. In terms of ongoing projects funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), 2.5 million euros of funding has been granted, in addition to 1.3 million euros towards projects jointly promoted with companies. As regards revenues, the year 2017 saw LEPABE generate its own revenues in services, totalling some 100,000 euros.

With 17 patents and 4 spin-offs, LEPABE has been consistently rated “Outstanding” in the various international assessments made by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

NEW TALENTS

fe.up.pt/lepabe

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sewage treatment plants as fertilizer. The objective is to contribute to knowledge about the safe use of sludge in agricultural fields, fostering and promoting improvements in this practice through “circular economy” strategies.

How did the choice of chemical engineering come about? What attracted you to this area?

I’ve always liked very distinct areas. The greatest difficulty was in choosing a specific area for further study when I entered secondary school. At the time, I was quite inclined to choose humanities, because I have always been interested in history. But the few professional job opportunities made me rethink and I ended up pursuing studies in the field of natural sciences because it would be a chance to be able to join together “something of both reason and the heart”. My interest in physical chemistry intensified during this period, which eventually swayed my choice towards chemistry.

This course provided not only a strong background in areas such as mathematics, chemistry and physics (which has always attracted my interest), but also involved more practical engineering concepts, which would allow me to build a future career in industry or research. During the chemical engineering course, I realized that it was scientific research that really fulfilled me; the creation of new knowledge, relating basic knowledge with results obtained through laboratory experimentation. In the last year of the course the opportunity arose to undertake research work, this time in the field of the environment, which allowed me to acquire more specific skills, in an area that is the cause of growing concern.

What is your research work at LEPABE? I’m part of LEPABE’s Environmental Sciences and Technologies group and all the work I’ve been doing is related to this area. There are two lines of research that I’m currently working on: the development of environmental risk assessment studies on personal hygiene products and the study of the agronomic impact of the use of sludge produced in sewage treatment plants as fertilizer.

In the first case I can say that, in general terms, we are studying the impact on the environment of the presence of compounds incorporated in personal hygiene products and cosmetics (namely fragrances, siloxanes and UV filters).

Huge amounts of these compounds are released daily into our sewage network and are not effectively removed in WWTPs (wastewater treatment plants). For this reason, they are commonly found in the environment as contaminants.

Although they may be present in relatively small amounts, they can be harmful, particularly to living beings, producing reproductive, endocrine and even morphological effects.

The precise area in which we are working is in determining these environmental concentrations and assessing the risks associated with their presence in order to propose new treatment strategies, specifically with regard to WWTPs, and also to be able to take action at the legislative level. The work is multidisciplinary and we therefore have several partnerships with other renowned international research groups, such as the CSIC in Barcelona and the Health Department at the Wadsworth Center in the USA, as well as INFARMED, IP, the National Authority of Medical and Health Products.

What signs are there of your research? Or rather: what impact can it have on people’s lives?

The research we carry out is aimed at people so that it can have a positive impact on their lives. At this stage, the overriding intention is that the projects have a strong impact on the preservation of the environment and the biodiversity of ecosystems, but also in the area of health and agrifood. We want to know which contaminants are not being properly removed at WWTPs and to develop new technologies to improve the treatment of waste-

It is true that we have reasons to be happy, since the scientific research carried out in Portugal has been recognized as top quality science, but it is necessary to create better conditions for a new critical mass to emerge.

17 Is “the brain drain” inevitable? Can you refer to any measures that could help to establish talent in our country?

I believe that establishing talent in our country can be stimulated through the creation of qualified scientific jobs with more appealing working conditions than those that currently exist. In fact, the vast majority of researchers are fellows. It is essential to create employment contracts that promote stability, which has hitherto been lacking, in the lives of those who choose science and research as a professional career. It is untenable to maintain such practices in a country that claims to want to assert itself by investing in science and technology. It is also important to launch new project funding programs, with a longer duration and with open tendering dates and clear rules from the outset.

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

The second line of research that I mentioned is a more recent study, for which we obtained funding through the latest FCT call for R & D Project Grants, in which I have performed the role of Principal Researcher. Sludge produced in WWTPs (solid waste) has a high content of organic matter, minerals and other nutrients essential for plant growth.

In recent years, the number of WWTPs has increased, as well as production of this waste and ways thus need to be found to remove it. The abovementioned characteristics make sludge prone to be used as an agricultural fertilizer.

However, the potential presence of significant quantities of pollutants is of growing concern. The work we have begun aims to contribute to increasing knowledge about the safe use of sludge in agricultural fields, encouraging and promoting improvements in this practice through “circular economy” strategies. For those who are unfamiliar with this expression, it is a model advocating that waste must be transformed, through innovative ways, into potential products, thus promoting reuse, recovery and recycling.

This new generation of young researchers has shown that there is new worth on home soil. How do you view future scientific investment in Portugal?

Although the trend seems to be one of improvement, there is still a long way to go. It is necessary to continue to invest in science in Portugal, without neglecting the fundamental sciences (which in my opinion has been happening). This will be the basis for applied science, which is essential for the economic and social development of a country. I believe that without these foundations, we can hardly build a solid future.

NEW TALENTS

water, reducing pollutant loads emitted. This will have a major impact on the environment and consequently on health. In addition, we would like to contribute to the creation of new legal limits. It is our objective, moreover, to contribute decisively to the recovery of waste from WWTPs, so as to ensure a safe ecological response that provides an economically viable reuse of residues.

Mobility at FEUP: breaking records As the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP) opens its arms to the world, so the ‘world’ expresses its thanks and responds in turn. In fact, the numbers in mobility programs speak for themselves, covering the whole Faculty community.

ALL- CONQUERING FEUP

Text: Helena Peixoto/Raquel Pires Photo: rights reserved

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A

ny international mobility experience offers the chance to explore knowledge from a different point of view, to delve into an unfamiliar culture and broaden one’s horizons, transcending borders and reducing distances” – these are the words of the Dean of FEUP, João Falcão e Cunha, who stresses the importance of such experiences. The truth is that, record-breaking numbers are now enrolled in FEUP’s mobility programs, bilateral agreements and other specific partnerships.

IN(COMING) MOBILITY In 2017, 606 foreign students came to FEUP through many different mobility programs and cooperation agreements from more than 50 countries. What we have seen is an 85% increase compared to the last two years.

Of the more than 60 different nationalities drawn to FEUP, there is no doubt that the stand-out country continues to be Brazil, which brought 281 students in 2017.

Italy, Spain, France and Germany are among the most represented nations, and the Faculty also received students from countries as far afield as Turkey, Nepal, South Korea, Chile, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, so that there is a presence from every continent.

OUT(GOING) MOBILITY Data from 2017 shows that a total of 450 students from the Faculty of Engineering went on mobility in another country and the trend is growing. In terms of destination countries, all five continents are covered.

And FEUP’s commitment to international experiences is not limited to the student community. In the last academic year, more than 30 teachers and technicians took part in a mobility program, seeing an increase of over 50% compared to the 2016 data.

Who was the first student to participate in the ERASMUS program?

After extensive research, we went back to the beginning of the 1990s and found the first student registered in Erasmus from FEUP: Mariana Curado Malta, student of Electrical Engineering and Computers, flew to the University of Ghent (Belgium) in the academic year of 91/92 where she stayed for one year. She confessed to us that at the time she wanted to “get out of my comfort zone”, “live abroad” and “get to know and live with different people and cultures”.

She is currently a teacher at the Institute of Accounting and Administration of Porto (ISCAP) and recalls that the adaptation period was “hard”: “there were no mobile phones or wireless, let alone low-cost airlines. The isolation was much greater. The distance from Portugal to Belgium was psychologically greater than today. Portugal was taking its first steps in the European Union and there was nothing like the Schengen area. Everything was more complex.” The fact that lessons were given in Flemish and that the study material came from the same textbook often led her to study with a dictionary and so “the first months were tough”. But she says that all these difficulties allowed her to grow and learn how to put minor problems into perspective. In Mariana’s view, this was the great asset of the Erasmus program: “Beginning afresh, proving who we are, doing things by ourselves and not because of the fixed cultural prejudices of the country or organization where we come from. Faced with a different way of doing things and learning how to deal with it.”

She argues that participation in the program should last for a year and that the most important thing for those who go is “to understand the country’s cultural rules well and respect them; instead of criticizing, to understand the reason for things and why people behave as they do.”

MOBILITY AT FEUP: a winning bet

Overview of the main Mobility Programs

OUT

IN

STUDY COURSES/INTERNSHIPS ERASMUS+/BRAZIL, MOBILITY AGREEMENTS, IAESTE, LEONARDO DA VINCI, VULCANUS (...)

STUDY COURSES/INTERNSHIPS ERASMUS+/BRAZIL AND MOBILITY AGREEMENTS

Since 1994 Total of participants involved

Since 1994 Total of participants involved

Where are they going?

Where are they coming from?

>3,500

>4,500

Spain

The Itรกlia Netherlands 5 continents

Spain

Brazil

+50 nationalities

Italy

1 million for new therapies to counter antibiotic-resistant bacteria

ALL- CONQUERING FEUP

Text: Raquel Pires Photo: Rights reserved

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This line of research is particularly important at a time when it is increasingly common to hear news of outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and given that the rate of emergence of these strains is far greater than the development of new antibiotics.

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research team led by Nuno Azevedo, professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and a researcher in the Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE) at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP) has just received 1 million euros of Community funds under the H2020 program for the development of new therapies to inhibit the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. It is a line of research that is particularly important at a time when it is increasingly common to hear news of outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and given that the rate of these resistant strains is much higher than the development of new antibiotics.

This group of LEPABE researchers has dedicated itself to studying and developing alternative methods of antibacterial treatment through the use of nucleic acid mimics. The main advantage of this approach is the chance to work with molecules that behave in the same way as the normal DNA and RNA present in all organisms, but which are not degraded by bacterial enzymes.

This allows researchers “to design molecules composed of these mimics that can bind to the DNA or RNA of the microorganism in specific places causing the inhibition of the expression of certain genes essential to the survival of the microorganism, thus leading to its death,” explains Nuno Azevedo.

Meanwhile, FEUP researchers are also committed to developing delivery systems “from these mimics” into the interior of the microorganisms using nanoparticles.

It is an approach that has been used for the treatment of cancer cells but whose application in microorganisms has not yet been tested, “which may represent an important alternative to the traditional treatment with antibiotics in infections of this kind”, admits the researcher responsible for this study.

Expectations are high since, on the one hand, there is the opportunity to consolidate FEUP’s position in this emerging area of treatment for infections using nucleic acids; and also because the project involves the collaboration of two of the most respected international research groups in the field: the Nucleic Acid Center of SDU in Denmark, the world leader in the development of nucleic acid mimics, having invented one of the mimics that currently offers the greatest potential in this type of approach, and the Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy of the University of Ghent, internationally recognized for its work in nanotechnology, specifically in the development of strategies for the delivery of nucleic acids in animal cells.

It is one of the newest laboratories at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP) but is already among the best in the world in the field of underwater robotics. What started as an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) operation in 1997, has now become a combination of aerial drones and simulated missions of submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, search and rescue, environmental monitoring and hydrographic exploration. It has developed software for command and control of surface, air and underwater vehicles which is the only one of its kind in the world, guaranteeing it international visibility. The world’s biggest players are involved in cooperation exercises and protocols: everyone wants to join the FEUP Underwater Systems and Technology Laboratory (LSTS).

I

n The Lusiads, the epic poem that is still obligatory reading at secondary school in our country, Camões praised the adventurous spirit and the Portuguese maritime conquests like no one else.

And if it is true that the history of the 15th and th 16 century discoveries showed us that the sea was the way to go, in the 21st century maritime technology continues to be one of the strategic pillars of any top-level governmental program. It is understood that oceans cover 70% of the earth’s surface, which demonstrates well the potential offered by the sea and the decisive role that robotic vehicles can play in the very near future.

João Tasso knew that and wanted to be at the forefront of innovation. In 2005 the adventure began to take shape after the Portuguese Navy first contacted a workshop, essentially developing the idea of the potential for effective collaboration. The following year the USTL was invited to participate in the Swordfish exercise and has since intensified its level of collaboration. In 2007, together with the Portuguese Navy, it submitted the Seacon project to the Ministry of Defence: the approval and execution of this project – which was to be awarded the BES Innovation Award in 2006 – served as a launch pad for organization of the Rapid Environmental Picture (REP) in 2010, which even then succeeded in

OUR PARTNERS

Text: Raquel Pires Photo: Rights reserved

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Through unnavigated seas: underwater robotics at the LSTS

OUR PARTNERS

LSTS: the beginning The Underwater Systems and Technology Laboratory (LSTS) is an interdisciplinary research laboratory created in 1997 with researchers from Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science at FEUP. Its main activity is the construction and operation of underwater, surface and unmanned aerial vehicles and the development of tools and technologies for the deployment of networked vehicle systems.

Over the past 20 years, USTL researchers have been able to test aerial, ground, surface, and unmanned submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and also in the Mediterranean Sea. lsts.fe.up.pt

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mobilizing researchers and media outlets of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center of the American Navy. And it did not stop there.

What enabled the laboratory led by João Tasso to go further and attract the attention of key players was the development of the software with which the vehicles operate. “It’s our competitive advantage. It allows us to operate all the vehicles at the same time whether they are aerial, underwater or surface,” explains the researcher.

In addition, equipped with this software, all vehicles can communicate with each other and with the ground operations stations “which makes it unique in the world”, emphasizes João Tasso.

News went around the world. The LSTS was at the forefront of underwater robotics and the contacts kept

coming. The American Armed Forces established collaboration agreements as did NASA and NATO. And the REP exercise organized by the Portuguese Navy in collaboration with the LSTS, and more recently with NATO’s Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation, which takes place every year, relies on strong partners. The last edition, which ran from July 10 to 21, 2017 off the coast of Sesimbra and the Tróia peninsula, involved not only the organizers but researchers from the University of Hawaii, the Naval Undersea Center, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Belgian and Turkish Navies, the Technical University of the Czech Republic, Carnegie Mellon University, Hidromod and Oceanscan MST, and Fort Lewis College. In recent years, the outlook for USTL research has allowed the team to dream high: the 24 researchers are now keen to explore potential integration with satellite control systems (see box 2).

Code name: Subtropical Front

THE EUROPEAN ADVENTURE Besides international recognition – and despite Europe being a leader in many areas related to the marine environment – the LSTS has identified the need to create a well-integrated European robotic infrastructure at sea level. The response came directly from the European Union with funding of the EUMarineRobotos (EUMR) project within the Horizon 2020 program: € 5 million to “establish an integrated infrastructure of world-class submarine robotics”, as João Tasso outlines.

Coordinated by FEUP and lasting for three years, the project brings together 15 of the key European players in this area of underwater robotics, and the main goal is to allow transnational access to important national Research and Development resources in this area throughout Europe, a sector with high costs and considerable barriers to entry. The aim is to “foster the growth of this industry through access to shared research infrastructures”. Generally speaking, the EUMR represents a first step in aggregating these networks and it will be a world leader in supporting the growth of a strong community in maritime technology and underwater robotics.

This is the next mission, scheduled for June 2018.

The LSTS will lead an oceanographic operation in the US aboard the Falkor, the vessel belonging to the Schmidt Ocean Institute, simultaneously using multiple devices: underwater, surface and air vehicles. Another feature is that they will be operating 24 hours non-stop, in what is already considered one of the most innovative worldwide operations with regard to underwater robotics. “The main objective is to map an ocean front, which will allow us to collect data without interruptions and, at the same time, act quickly and in situ in response to events. (...) We are talking about fundamental capabilities both for studying the oceans and for use in situations of security and defence”, explains João Tasso.

In addition to FEUP, the project partners are Universitaet Bremen (Germany), IST-ID (Portugal), Università Degli Studi di Genova (Italy), University of Zagreb – FER (Croatia), Universitat de Girona (Spain), the University of Limerick (Ireland), the Consortium for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Exploitation of the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (Spain), the NATO Science and Technology Organization (Belgium), Heriot-Watt University (UK), NTNU (Norway), the Marine Institute (Ireland), Distretto Ligure delle Tecnologie Marine Scrl (Italy), Natural Environment Research Council (UK) and Ifremer (France).

ALUMNI AMBASSADORS @FEUP: NUNO LAGO DE CARVALHO Text: Helena Peixoto Photo: rights reserved

FEUP DNA

Getting out of his comfort zone was what motivated FEUP alumnus and ambassador Nuno Lago, who is making history in the oil industry in Singapore: he is responsible for the engineering and construction of oil and gas processing modules in a megaproject to convert two oil tankers on floating platforms.

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uno was practically born with a passion for engineering. Perhaps inspired by his family, FEUP’s alumnus ambassador in Singapore never saw himself doing anything else. A graduate in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from FEUP, he has been living in Singapore since 2015, where he plays a key role in managing an oil exploration project led by the multinational TOTAL, which has an investment of US$ 16 billion, involving over 15 thousand people.

How did the engineering connection come about?

Ever since I was little I wanted to be an engineer ... I chose FEUP without hesitation - it sets the standard among Engineering Schools at national and international level! During my degree in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials I did a summer internship in an Engineering and Industrial Design company that allowed me to get a ‘feel’ for the world of work and realize

what is expected of an engineer, which boils down to four characteristics: critical thinking, quick reasoning, and the ability to both anticipate and solve problems. I am still convinced of that!

In 2003 I graduated and started working in an automotive SME, where I was privileged to be able to put my final degree project into practice. It consisted of implementing an aluminium alloy wheel rim recovery unit aimed at diversifying the company’s business area, hitherto linked only to the sale of tires. In 2005, the industrial unit that I drove had already won over the dealerships of the main car brands in Portugal and we set up new contracts with dealers in Spain, France and Germany. That year I also did a postgraduate degree in Industrial Management to develop skills in that area.

In 2006 I went on to do a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Minho and had the opportunity of collaborating with a bus manufacturing

company from the Salvador Caetano group, CaetanoBus, through the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering of FEUP (involved in the coorientation of my master’s thesis), which opened doors to an experience in a large company. Here I worked directly with the top management and led an ambitious project to optimize processes associated with the manufacture of airport buses.

In mid-2008, with the price of a barrel of oil at record highs and with the oil industry recruiting massively, I decided to change the course of my professional career and seek an international experience in this industry. Between 2009 and 2013 I was living in Angola, where I joined the project department of the French oil company TOTAL as project manager for modification and optimization of the units in operation. At the end of 2013 I was invited to join the Engineering team of one of the most extensive TOTAL Group projects and the largest within TOTAL E&P Angola, based in Paris.

I am part of the senior project management team and lead the manufacturing stage of the oil processing modules, which involves liaising with engineering teams in France and equipment manufacturers between the Middle East, Asia and

and proposing that I be involved. I found the idea very interesting because it came in the year in which I celebrated the 20-year mark since my entry into the institution of which I am very proud.

Tell us about your adaptation to Asia.

I am living in Singapore with my wife and children and in general it has been very easy for everyone. Singapore is a special country in Asia that breathes multiculturalism, organization, cleanliness and security.

English is the official language, which helps a lot, and I mustn’t forget the added bonus of the tropical climate (laughs). Everything is made even simpler when the whole relocation process is supported by the company at every level, as Singapore is an extremely expensive country to live.

What are your main goals as an Alumni ambassador?

The FEUP Alumni community in Singapore, though small (group of 17 people), is the largest compared to any other Portuguese University or Institution of Higher Education (Linkedin data).

How has it been managing family ties with those who stayed in Portugal?

Since our stay in Singapore is directly related to the duration of the project, and as everything has a beginning, middle and end (this being no exception to the rule), we have taken advantage of the experience to do some travelling around here – Asia is so enchanting! Our closest relatives have been on holiday on this side of the globe, so we’ve dealt with homesickness through those visits and some trips back to Portugal.

And why did you become a FEUP Alumni ambassador?

I became aware of the FEUP ambassadors program through an email from the Alumni office presenting the concept

Given that there was no FEUP embassy in Singapore, the first objective was to launch one. Then I organized the first meeting of Former Students of FEUP (February 2017), which attracted almost half of the Alumni FEUP resident here and that exceeded all my expectations.

In the meantime, there have been three more meetings, all on a positive note! I would like to single out the presence of the Portuguese Embassy in Singapore, where several topics were discussed, such as the role of Portuguese engineers, especially those from FEUP, in Singapore, as well as challenges and opportunities. I am preparing the next event, in partnership with the Alumni Engineering Office of NUS (National University of Singapore), to promote networking and the name of FEUP and its engineers in Singapore.

What is your personal view in what concerns the importance of FEUP Alumni embassies?

FEUP embassies are a very interesting way of approaching former students who, despite often not even knowing each other, share the fact that they have been through FEUP, and that they are professional engineers living and working in the same country or city. The meetings always provide the opportunity for exchanging experiences and networking, which, in my view, is the main aim of the FEUP Alumni embassies around the world.

I also feel that the little “comforts” that the excellent team at the FEUP Alumni Office send us for each event are received emotionally by the participants, making them feel in contact with their alma mater once again.

FEUP DNA

What do you do exactly in TOTAL company?

When people ask me what I do, I find it quite hard to sum it up briefly. My job in the project is to ensure that the modules under my responsibility are manufactured and tested within contractual deadlines and comply with costs set by the project specifications, which are defined between TOTAL and the company responsible for the operation, as well as the yards involved.

This project is unbelievably large and complex. There are two figures that speak for themselves: 16 billion is the amount of dollars invested and 15 thousand is the approximate number of people dedicated exclusively to making it happen, working in a huge variety of areas, involving different companies and several countries spread to some extent across the five continents.

the Pacific, as well as coordinating the manufacture of the modules at an Italianmanaged heavy steel plant in Indonesia and fitting them in ships, under conversion in a shipyard in Singapore.

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

The “passage” to Singapore took place in the summer of 2015, when I became part of the project management team specifically created for the implementation phase, that is, the start of the conversion of two oil tankers into floating platforms, known in the oil industry as FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading), which in the near future will be operating in the ultra-deep offshore of Angola.

UNIRAID: the competition where winning is the least important

Text: Helena Peixoto Photo: Rights reserved

Two friends, a 1989 Fiat Panda and 4,500 km covered in nine days.

Guilherme Órfão and Diogo Matos are students of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP) as well as being protagonists in the adventure of a lifetime.

I

t’s 8.00 am on February 22. Guilherme and Diogo, 4th-year Mechanical Engineering students at FEUP, are ready to set off on their journey. Everything is ready: backpacks prepared, material packed, the car jammed full. They are bristling with nerves, hearts beating faster – not least because they will only see Porto again at the beginning of March.

So then, what is the destination and purpose of the trip?

The two students are heading to the interior of Morocco to participate in the 6th edition of UNIRAID, an Iberian expedition that challenges university students to travel the city from north to south and deliver 30kg of solidarity supplies to the most disadvantaged populations. The goods most sought after are invariably school equipment, clothing, toys and food.

About a year was spent organising and preparing for the trip, which included a huge amount of mechanical work on the car – after all, this “Panda” is older than the participants themselves (born in 1996)! In order to get everything ready on time, many hours of sleep were lost, spent in a workshop that very kindly lent its premises and a great deal of support. Despite all the problems that arose, nothing made them give up.

UNIRAID 2018 kicked off on 24 February in Tangier, where various committees were organized, according to the different nationalities registered. Among the 100 or so vehicles participating in total, the Portuguese group included about 11. From that moment on, whatever else might happen, the motto of the competition was never to leave any of the group’s cars behind – mutual aid and solidarity is always in first place!

Guilherme and Diogo went through many ups and downs along the seven different stages. Technical problems with the car, mechanical issues, a lot of fatigue and a series of unforeseen incidents that appeared every day. They even had to deal with a desert storm, which prevented them from sleeping in the tents put up beforehand, according to the original plans. Their spirit of sacrifice eventually paid off and that well-known Portuguese ability to improvise and find a way out of any difficulty saw them through, as did the knowledge they had gained during their academic training.

Who then won the competition? Who arrived first? The best thing of all about it is that no one has a clue – but they really don’t care either. “The real victory is to have the opportunity to see the thrilled faces of the kids from there in the remote heart of Morocco receiving a simple

MUCH + THAN ENGINEERING

About UNIRAID

Asked if they would return to participate in a competition of this kind again, they replied in unison and without hesitation: of course! “Not only would we participate again, but we would recommend all our colleagues to do so, not only for the adventure itself, but also for the opportunity to see the world from another perspective.”

The main objective of this initiative is to provide a unique life experience, to raise awareness of the needs of the most disadvantaged populations and to promote a sense of mutual assistance among the participants.

More information at uniraid.org.

27

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

pen or ball as if it were the most important thing in the world” – they say proudly.

Created in 2012, the UNIRAID competition challenges university students from all over the Iberian Peninsula to participate together in a friendly contest united by shared values of solidarity and mutual aid. Aimed at young people between 18 and 28 years of age, the test has as a requirement that the cars used must be over 20 years old, without four-wheel drive and with engines not exceeding 1300cc. The destination is always the same – Morocco – as is the number of stages – seven in total.

MUCH + THAN ENGINEERING

The Retired Professor that turns wood into artworks

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

28

Text: Helena Peixoto Photo: rights reserved

Fernando Nunes Ferreira has devoted over 40 years to teaching and research in the field of Engineering in an intensely demanding career, spent mostly in executive roles and management positions. Not forgetting the mark which he has left on the academic world, the Retired FEUP Professor has now turned to creating artworks from pieces of wood.

F

ernando Nunes Ferreira has always had a taste for manual arts: he grew up in a village surrounded by artisans and would often hand a piece of wood from an orange tree to a neighbour to make him a chess piece.

However, this area of interest eventually retreated to the background, in favour of a lifetime devoted to the University – he was Director of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC) at FEUP (1997-2001), deputy director of this same Faculty (2001-2010) as well as being Student Ombudsman of the University of Porto (2010-2016) and Professor Emeritus of the same institution. Once the moment of his retirement arrived, he found in wood art a way to stay active and continue a stimulating activity. “It is essential to prepare for retirement and take up at least one new activity”, he says.

Although he had shown early interest in “creating things”, he is essentially self-taught and learned everything after retiring, doing various experiments and researching into techniques thanks to the hundreds of tutorial videos available online. It was also through the internet that he bought his lathe, later modified to be able to work bigger pieces, and he also orders his various tools and materials online, including sandpaper, oils, waxes and sharpening equipment.

Olive, oak, chestnut, walnut, pear, camellia, pomegranate, and even the roots of some of these trees, are some of the raw materials sought by Fernando Ferreira, who particularly likes to work pieces of wood with cracks and defects which, rather than disguising, he takes advantage of and enhances. Much of the raw material is of-

fered by friends. After all, “who would not like to receive in return a piece of art made of wood from an old tree that he always knew in the backyard, but which one day reached the end of its life as a tree?” he claims.

Fernando Nunes Ferreira carries out his activity in Murtosa, an environment surrounded by nature. And, in fact, his work is already beginning to be recognized: during the months of January, February and March of 2018 some of the pieces created by the former FEUP professor could be admired at the COMUR Museum. And his plans do not stop here! Ideas for future pieces are already buzzing, and if all the right conditions come together, other exhibitions will follow.

FEUP GOURMET

I wanted to prove that my kitchen prepares more than just tuna pasta Joana. Foodie at heart, engineer by training. This is what you see as soon as you access the blog “Na Cozinha de Uma Universitária” (“In the Kitchen of a University Student”), the project that Joana Ventura launched in 2014. At that time, being an undergraduate at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), the choice of name for the blog seemed obvious to her. Over 18,000 social network followers were not disappointed and today it still remains an ongoing project.

And judging by the photos, it is not difficult to imagine why...

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

Text: Raquel Pires Photo: rights reserved

FEUP GOURMET

C FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

30

oming from Bragança to Porto to study Chemical Engineering, Joana Ventura fell in love with the city and has very fond memories of those times and the friends she made at FEUP. Now aged 26, she works in Guimarães as a production engineer at TMG Automotive. During the day she devotes herself to the production of plasticized fabrics for the automobile industry and on returning home, she puts her heart into making recipes and devising new dishes. The best part is that we’re just one click away from being able to try out her ideas in our own kitchens.

Did you come up with a blog about culinary recipes?

And what was the inspiration for the name?

I’ve always felt a great urge to learn how to cook from a very young age. I remember my first adventures in the kitchen at about 11 years old and I was interested in learning culinary techniques well before going to university. But it was only when I left my parents’ house and went to Porto that I dedicated myself to learning a little of everything: from the basics to more complex dishes.

Together with a passion for cooking, I’ve also always taken great pleasure in cooking for my friends and during my student years at FEUP I did so regularly.

Encouraged by them, I decided to start sharing my recipes with those closest to me and the blog initially began as a kind of joke. The name really came from my circumstances at the time, as I was a university student and wanted to show that in my kitchen I prepared much more than “tuna pasta”, the dish typically associated with students, and that it was not so difficult for a student without much time, will or enthusiasm to make a simple and tasty dish.

Are there any curious incidents that you are able and willing to share?

The most curious/bizarre incident I’ve ever experienced was when I was doing my weekly shopping in a hypermarket in Porto and a girl – a fellow FEUP student whom I’d never met – came up to me requesting tips for a dinner she was having with friends and recipes involving fresh mushrooms. I was rather embarrassed and a bit flustered because until then I had no idea that people would be able to associate my face with the blog.

Culinary challenge Starter that no one could say no to?

It’s a difficult choice between a fish soup or a simple cheeseboard with sausage meats.

Favourite dish?

A dish that is so traditionally Portuguese: seafood rice.

First choice dessert?

Chocolate fondant.

A chef you admire? And who would you like to meet?

Jamie Oliver and Heston Blumenthal – both are geniuses!

Recipe Book The Traditional Portuguese Cuisine of Maria de Lourdes Modesto.

Best restaurant in Porto?

There are several that I like a lot for different occasions. Such a list would equally include the Yuko Tavern and Cafeina as well as Esquina do Avesso. The secret of a good restaurant is in the product and the way it’s made, and it can just as easily be a luxury or a modest restaurant.

A “culinary” dream spot you’d like to know?

Osteria Francescana, which belongs to chef Massimo Bottura.

He was a rather understated chef at the beginning of his career but nowadays he is one of the best in the world and has a huge respect for Italian cuisine and products.

Are you responsible for managing the blog and its contents? Or do you have a team to help?

I manage all the blog’s content except its graphic design. Ever since I entered into this adventure, I’ve always tried to learn more, whether about cuisine or photography and food styling, and I quickly acquired the necessary gadgets and props to create the photos that I publish.

An opportunity arising from dedicating herself to this project.

Since I’ve been working on this project, there have been several good opportunities, but I think the best thing was being able to work with brands that were already part of my daily life as a student and which today are also blog partners, like Continente. Another opportunity that made me extremely proud of my career was having the chance to cook on television. It’s recognition of the huge effort to keep the project active. nacozinhadeumauniversitaria.blogspot.pt

The blog in numbers

800 views per day

18M

Facebook followers

11.6M Instagram followers

YEAR IN REVIEW 2017

17 FEV

ANNUAL REPORT

Photo: Susana Neves

Photo: rights reserved

13 JAN

13 JAN 19 JAN

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

32

02 FEV

Celebrating 180 years of what was Portugal’s first engineering school (Polytechnic Academy), “FEUP Day” ceremony is very special for the Faculty of Engineering for those who are part of the FEUP community because it is a chance to publicly recognize and appreciate their professional and personal success.

For the first time, a Portuguese student was among the authors of the best European theses in the area of Industrial Management. Paulo Pereira is a student of Industrial Engineering and Management at FEUP and won second prize in the European Master Thesis Award, promoted by the Association of European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management (ESTIEM).

“SteAAAm it” was the name of the campaign promoted by the Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER), which challenged 51 European higher education institutions to produce a video promoting one area of knowledge involved in building a better future. The campaign launched on February 2 and FEUP’s video presented ‘Classical Orchestra’, a cultural project bringing together students, researchers, teachers as well as collaborators from the Faculty of Engineering and other institutions linked to the University of Porto.

17 FEV

FEUP formalized its presence in every corner of the world with the first Alumni meeting in Singapore, which also served to officially launch the “FEUPLink Singapore” group.

11 15 MAR

For the second consecutive year, FEUP was in attendance at the Salão do Estudante, the largest fair in Latin America for student exchanges and courses abroad, to publicize its educational program and attract Brazilian students to its undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

11 MAR 13 MAR

Based at FEUP, ‘Engenharia Rádio’ is the only university radio station in Porto. 2017 was the year in which it celebrated a decade of service broadcasting a special programme.

Miguel Xavier, Master in Bioengineering from FEUP, was honoured by the British Parliament with a gold medal in the “STEM for Britain” competition, which awards young researchers for excellence in research within the fields Engineering, Mathematics, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Physics.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2017

23 MAR 27 29 MAR

Albertino Arteiro, a postdoctoral fellow and guest lecturer at the Mechanical Engineering Department of FEUP and collaborator in INEGI, was distinguished by the Portuguese Association of Theoretical, Applied and Computational Mechanics (APMTAC) with the ‘Best Doctoral Thesis 2016’ Award, which aims to distinguish young researchers in the areas of Applied and Computational Mechanics.

Breaking all records, over 1,800 participants attended another edition of SPE – Semana Profissão: Engenheiro (Engineering Profession Week). This initiative promoted by FEUP is a unique opportunity for high school students to get a closer look at the Faculty’s educational program and visit FEUP’s laboratories and key spaces.

21 APR 28 APR

Abel Nicolau, 4th year student of the FEUP/ ICBAS Integrated Master in Bioengineering, was awarded second prize in the “Nicolaas Westerhof” international competition, which distinguishes the world’s best young researchers in the field of physiological modelling.

The University of Porto’s intellectual property portfolio earns its first Japanese patent concession. While in Japan working on his PhD for FEUP, João Lobato Oliveira first began developing a technology that promises to innovate the way robots and humans interact through sound and body language. The patent is divided between the University of Porto, INESC TEC, the University of Tokyo and Honda.

ANNUAL REPORT

Photo: rights reserved

07 APR

Carlos Mota Soares, full professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), was awarded

by FEUP with an Honorary Doctorate from the University Porto in recognition of his extraordinary role in working for the modernization of mechanical engineering in Portugal. In particular, his significant role in the creation of IDMEC and the Associated Laboratory for Energy, Transport and Aeronautics (LAETA). Also worthy of mention is the close relationship between Carlos Mota Soares and FEUP’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in a wide range of different contexts and functions.

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

Photo: Egídio Santos

27 29 MAR

28 APR

07 JUN Photo: rights reserved

Photo: rights reserved

YEAR IN REVIEW 2017

ANNUAL REPORT

Photo: Filipe Paiva

24 MAY

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

34

28 29 APR 11 MAY 24 MAY

The “Proto Tripeiros” team, made up of four students from FEUP and one from the University of Minho, was the big winner in the second edition of Hey! Hackathon, a technology marathon promoted by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe (MFTE), which challenged its participants to come up with technological solutions in the automotive field.

Álvaro Cunha, Full Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering (DEC) and Director and Researcher at FEUP’s Laboratory of Vibrations and Structural Monitoring (VIBEST), was distinguished by the Standing Committee of the International Operational Modal Analysis Conference (IOMAC) with an award for scientific recognition, attributed for his excellent contribution to the event over its various editions.

Henrique Ferrolho, at that time a finalist in Computer Science and Computing Engineering at FEUP, joined the Glasgow team collaborating with NASA on programming “Valkyrie”, a humanoid robot intended for helping humans set up a base on Mars and which is aimed to be sent to the red planet some time between 2020 and 2030.

29 MAY 07 JUN 14 JUN

To mark the 129th anniversary of the Jornal de Notícias, the STRAPLEX team, which includes 17 students from FEUP, launched a balloon into the atmosphere, inside which was the first cover of the newspaper and a message from the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Manuel Corrêa de Barros Júnior (1904-1991) was officially chosen as the University of Porto’s Eminent Figure of 2017. His life and work followed a distinctly multidisciplinary path and he can be defined as an exemplary academic, innovative and excellent engineer, as well as an influential citizen with a strong humanist background. Promoted by the Rectory and FEUP, the commemoration involved several events open to the university community aimed at celebrating the life and work of a figure who made a significant mark and was a decisive influence on generations of young people with whom he came into contact.

Commemorative events were held to mark 180 years since the Polytechnic Academy of Porto was first established. These events were given the name “Materialidades da Polytechnica”, in reference to the Academy’s material legacy, and throughout the year many activities were held with the aim of making known the history, memory and material legacy associated with the Academy. The events marking the commemoration were co-produced by the Natural History and Science Museums of the University of Porto, FEUP, ISEP, ISCAP, and the University Rectory’s Old Collection.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2017

28 JUN 03 JUL

The final lecture and Retirement Ceremony for Raul Moreira Vidal, professor and director of FEUP’s Department of Informatics Engineering, was held in the FEUP Auditorium. Dedicating 45 years to the teaching of Engineering, he played a fundamental role in the creation of departments and courses in the area of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering at FEUP.

José Marques dos Santos, former Rector of the University of Porto and Dean of FEUP, currently Professor Emeritus, was awarded the Medal for Scientific Merit, receiving the prize from the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor.

The award distinguishes Portuguese or foreign figures who have contributed to the development of science or scientific culture in Portugal.

Photo: rights reserved

07 JUL 17 JUL

FEUP hosted the “Clean Energy and Energy Interconnections” conference, an event which was part of a series of visits led by Vice-President of the European Commission (CE) Maroš Šefčovič, aimed at presenting the energy opportunities offered by the European Union (EU).

ANNUAL REPORT

14 JUN

Aldino Campos, a lecturer at FEUP’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was elected to the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, gaining votes from 162 of the total of 164 voters.

Paulo Gomes, alumnus of Chemical Engineering and former FEUP Alumni Ambassador in the UK, embraced the challenge of becoming an Ambassador of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation, an organization that aims to promote and recognize engineering as well as attract new generations to the field.

35

25 JUL

A further step was taken to bring the University of Porto closer to Brazil with the signing of a bilateral agreement with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) aimed at recognising and revalidating undergraduate degrees in Engineering.

05 SEP

Guilherme Moura Paredes, a former PhD student of Civil Engineering at FEUP, won an individual Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant, funded by the European Commission, with the aim of improving the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers by diversifying their individual skills.

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

Photo: Susana Neves

28 JUN

03 JUL

Photo: Egídio Santos

YEAR IN REVIEW 2017

22 SEP

Sónia Simões, Assistant Professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at FEUP, was awarded with a prize for best oral presentation at Euromat, the largest European conference in the field of Materials Engineering.

23 SEP

FEUP’s doors opened for another “Regresso a Casa”, or “Homecoming”, an event planned especially for former students, but also directed to the current FEUP academic community. Over 250 participants enjoyed a relaxing day spent with engineering colleagues from different generations together with their families.

FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2018 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

36

29 SEP

Alírio Rodrigues, retired professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and researcher at the Faculty of Engineering, was one of the most cited authors worldwide in the field of Chemical Engineering according to the international Shanghai ranking, which ranks more than one thousand universities all over the world amongst several hundred authors.

29 SEP

18 OCT 20 OCT 27 OCT

Photo: Álvaro Martino

ANNUAL REPORT

23 SEP

The São João Hospital Centre and the Faculty of Engineering joined efforts to launch a national project bringing together all the Paediatric services in the National Health Service (SNS). “Waves of Drawings” is an online platform developed by seven FEUP students that gathers hundreds of drawings signed by children hospitalized in paediatric wards around Portugal.

Pedro Castro, a student of FEUP’s Integrated Master’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, was elected the new Ambassador of European Union Careers for Portugal with the mission of promoting and disseminating employment opportunities in the institutions of the European Union among Portuguese university students.

Pedro Emanuel Almeida Cardoso, former student of the Master’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at FEUP, was distinguished by the Portuguese Association of Pattern Recognition (APRP) with the award of “Best Master Thesis 2017”.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2017

13 DEC

31 OCT 03 NOV 08 NOV 11 NOV

Photo: rights reserved

Photo: Mario O Santos

31 OCT Intu, the largest British shopping centre chain, starts to use a Portuguese start-up software, namely FEUP-generated “Infraspeak”, to maintain technical operations in 20 of the commercial spaces it manages.

João Teixeira, a 5th year student of the Integrated Master’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at FEUP, was the winner of the APREN 2017 (Portuguese Association of Renewable Energies) award, an initiative that aims to promote the excellence of academic dissertations produced in Portuguese Higher Education institutions related to electricity of renewable origin.

Filipe Rosas Coutinho is a former Mechanical Engineering student at FEUP and was awarded the ‘Ordem dos Engenheiros’ (Order of Engineers) Prize, which aims to distinguish the best theses on Science and Materials Engineering from finalist students in the 2nd cycle of Sciences and Engineering.

‘Novos Mestres’, or ‘New Masters’, is an initiative organized by FEUP with the key aim of honouring FEUP students completing their master’s degree at the end of 2016/2017 in an awards ceremony held in 2017, gathering the Faculty community in a distinctly family event.

14 NOV 17 22 NOV 13 DEC

FEUP professors José Manuel Ferreira Lemos and Alfredo Soeiro were elected members of the Board of Directors of the European Association of Faculties of Civil Engineering (AECEF), a European organization with the aim of promoting the transfer of knowledge in the area of Civil Engineering.

A delegation from the University of Porto headed by the vice-rector for External Relations and Culture, Fátima Marinho, the dean of FEUP, João Falcão e Cunha, and the vice dean of the Faculty of Sciences, José Luís Santos, went to Brazil to explore possible research and innovation partnerships in the aerospace industry.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the largest professional association in the world, has awarded the ‘Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award 2017’ to a paper co-authored by researchers at FEUP’s Laboratory of Systems and Underwater Technology (LSTS).

FEUP IN FIGURES 2017 EDUCATION

31% STUDY PROGRAMMES

STUDENTS

69% 3

ADMITTED ENROLLED GRADUATING

Undergraduate Programmes

10

Integrated Masters

13

2ND CYCLE

1ST CYCLE

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Master Programmes

3RD CYCLE

25

Undergraduate and Integrated Master programmes

1407

5459

939

Master programmes

288

508

161

PhD programmes

198

763

103

1893

6730

1203

Total

PhD Programmes

NON-DEGREE PROGRAMMES

3 Specialisations and Advanced Studies

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

EMPLOYMENT RATE on graduation

up to 3 months

43%

77%

up to 6 months

85%

393

586

554

Mobility students OUTGOING

Mobility students* INCOMING

Degree students*

* International students represent 15.6% of the students enrolled Studied sample: 656 master graduates in engineering in 2016/2017 Response Rate: 71.4% of all integrated master graduates

QUALITY INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS RANK

QS-WUR BY SUBJECT

EUROPE

WORLD

Chemical Engineering

11-20

51-100

Civil Engineering

15-30

51-100

Electrical and Computer Eng.

47-70

151-200

Mechanical Engineering

48-66

151-200

EUROPE

WORLD

EUROPE

WORLD

QS - Eng.

47-48

135

NTU - Eng.

35

164-165

CWTS Leiden - Eng. *

36

159

URAP - Eng.

21

106

NTU BY SUBJECT

Best Global - Eng

28

97

Civil Engineering

10

53

Chemical Engineering

17

82-83

Mechanical Engineering

21

82-83

* Ranking using the indicator P - number of publications

R&D AND INNOVATION

R&D STRUCTURES WITH PARTICIPATION OF FEUP ACADEMIC STAFF

R&D units hosted at FEUP

COOPERATION

Cooperation agreements with companies

R&D units whose host institution is external to FEUP FEUP academic staff participating in R&D Structures rated Exceptional, Excellent or Very Good, or Associated Laboratories

Cooperation agreements with international universities

Patent applications filed/cumulative total

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Invention disclosures/cumulative total Tech transfer deals - cumulative total

Scientific publications indexed to the ISI Web of Science It represents 18% of the publications of University of Porto, which corresponds to more than 25% of the Portuguese publications

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

7 14 94% 71 409

17/164 12 43 21 862

RESOURCES HUMAN RESOURCES

58% 42%

403

Teaching staff (FTE*)

International staff: 7.9%

92% Holding a PhD

*Full-time equivalent

410

Researchers (FTE*)

91%

Research fellows

334

**

Technical and administrative staff (FTE)

** About 23% belong to UPdigital and the shared services of U.Porto (SPUP).

FINANCES

25,286 23,293 48,579

State Budget (52.0%) Own income (48.0%) Total income (thousand €)

8,181 R&D projects 8,213 Tuition fees 3,779 Sales and services 3,120 Other

OPEN INNOVATION TOWARDS

fe.up.pt/binporto2018