Highlights 2019

ENGINEERING

HIGH LIGHTS 2019 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

CONTENTS FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2019

EDITORIAL 3

Publisher Communication Unit of the Faculty of Engineering - U.Porto dci@fe.up.pt Editorial board Carlos Oliveira and Raquel Pires

. Engineering: science and technology at the service of people

ABOUT FEUP

Redaction Raquel Pires, Helena Peixoto and Joana Guedes Pinto noticias@fe.up.pt

4 . FEUP in brief 5

.U .Porto: an international player

Design and layout César Sanches design@fe.up.pt

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. A comprehensive education

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. Research and innovation for the real world

Photography Egídio Santos, ESO, João Matias, João Ribeiro, Rita Franca and Susana Neves

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. Alumni commitment

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. Social responsibility

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Translation Jonathan Lewis Property Faculty of Engineering - University of Porto 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 Print & Production Empresa Diário do Porto, Lda. Porto 06 - 2019 Publication frequency Annual Circulation 1500 copies ISSN 2182-9411 Legal deposit 360125/13 -----Cover photo ©Sergey Nivens - Adobe Stock

INNOVATION AND FUTURE 10 . Interview to Paulo Garcia: “The attraction to space is as old as humanity”

13 . I nnovation Award in Bridge Engineering goes to Australia odafone to install 5G antenna at the Faculty of 14 . V Engineering of Porto

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NEW TALENTS

15 . I nterview to Vítor Oliveira: “Excellent work is being done in our country”

FEUP DNA oors open to the world 18 . D

ALL-CONQUERING FEUP 23 . I nterview to Adão da Fonseca: “My main passion is very much focused on the River Douro”

27 . Interview to Luís Valente de Oliveira: “First and foremost is the ability to learn how to learn”

MUCH + THAN ENGINEERING 30 . J oão Matias: leaving FEUP heading for the clouds

ANNUAL REPORT 32 . 2 018 in review

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FEUP IN FIGURES 38 . Facts & figures 2018

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Photo: Egídio Santos

ENGINEERING: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE SERVICE OF PEOPLE João Falcão e Cunha*

In view of the current circumstances in Portugal and Europe, indeed globally, our priorities for the coming years are as follows: . Educational Model: To improve educational practice in undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees, guaranteeing the smooth development of integrated masters courses, with solid scientific training, and enhancing students’ contact with the activity of research units, businesses and other public institutions, as well as the acquisition of interdisciplinary skills. . Research and innovation: To guarantee the autonomy and freedom of research, supporting doctoral projects based on challenges proposed by businesses and other institutions, working in conjunction with FEUP’s internal and external research units, and aiming at product, process, marketing and organizational innovation. . People: To improve the management of fellows, scholarship holders, tech-

. Infrastructures: To study, design and build new sustainable infrastructures, multidisciplinary spaces and laboratories, thus enabling better working conditions. . Communication: To strengthen the means by which scientific and technological activity developed at this Faculty can best be communicated internally and publicly, thus giving both institutions and the wider public a clear idea of the achievements of FEUP’s engineering activity.

These priorities have been giving rise to projects with ambitious targets.

We hope that FEUP will strengthen its position as one of the best engineering schools in Europe, remaining committed to public service as initiated in Portugal more than 180 years ago, on January 13, 1837, by the Polytechnic Academy of Porto.

I would like to highlight some quantitative information about FEUP that underlines our socio-economic impact: . By the end of 2018, we had a total of 800 international students, of which 329 were in integrated Masters programs, 213 in Masters degrees and 257 in doctoral courses. In 2014, 314 international students were enrolled at FEUP, 72 of whom were in integrat-

ed Masters programs, 63 in Masters degrees and 179 in doctoral courses. . In the current academic year of 2018/19, it is estimated that the number of mobility students, such as Erasmus+, will be 650 “in” and 450 “out”. . In 2018, in the 1st phase of the national application process for access to higher education, 10 of the 1,068 courses available were from FEUP and in 7 of these 10 courses, all integrated masters, the grade of the last student placed in the general quota was higher than 80% (16 out of 20).

EDITORIAL

nical staff, researchers and faculty, enhancing their knowledge and experience, and aiming to establish an appropriate balance of people within the various categories and age groups.

. In 2018, competitive revenues with research and service projects managed by the internal and external research units in which FEUP staff and researchers collaborate reached over 45 M€.

We expect that these indicators will continue to show positive development in the coming years as a consequence of the five priorities outlined above, thus demanding once again the full support of the entire FEUP community, including our Alumni and external partners.

I am sure that the extraordinary dedication shown by almost everyone in the past will be maintained or improved, thus helping FEUP to overcome the inevitable difficulties and failures, and aspire to new levels of quality, in an increasingly competitive and complex global environment. * FEUP Dean

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2019 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

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EUP’s mission is to promote the sustainable development of education, research and innovation, with a solid scientific basis, at the service of people. The knowledge thus created and delivered enables outstanding feats of engineering, encouraging the development of technologies that respect the classical principles spelled out by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio: Utilitas (functionality), Firmitas (strength) and Venustas (beauty).

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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 education it offers, provides its students with outstanding advantages in both the national and worldwide labor markets.

For the past 182 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 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 in the Asprela Pole of the University of Porto, an area designated as the Porto Innovation District.

Concentrated within one square kilometre, this District is constituted not only by several faculties of the University of Porto and schools of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, but also by private universities, a central teaching hospital, an institute of oncology and various national and international research institutes. With 50,000 talented people working here, 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.

The Porto Innovation District 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 over two hundred projects, including startups, innovation centres, anchor companies and entrepreneurial projects.

In 2013, UPTEC was recognized 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 Porto Innovation District 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

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.

Photo: reserved rights

FEUP IN BRIEF

U.Porto is also aware of the crucial role it plays in socioeconomic development, both at regional and national level, through its interaction with wider society 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, together with genuine human talent, 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 and 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 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 foreign undergraduate students to be admitted in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions. When it comes to international students, there has been a significant increase in enrollments at all levels of education, 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 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 volunteer service.

U.Porto is one of five major research universities which have created a European Alliance for Global Health committed to higher education in this area and to meeting the well-being challenges at the heart of European values. This joint effort aimed at building the European universities of tomorrow in response to the pressing issues facing the future of global health is led by University Paris-Saclay (France), and also includes Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (Germany), Lund University (Sweden) and Szeged University (Hungary).

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 Portugal’s international maritime trade, and also by Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, consistently elected as one of the best in Europe for the last 12 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 and more recently, among other nominations, it was considered by Culture Trip the most interesting city to visit in 2019.

ABOUT FEUP

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.

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2019 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE NORTHERN REGION

Photo: Egídio Santos

U.PORTO: AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER

A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION

ABOUT FEUP

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.

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 facilities 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.

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 competitions.

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 entrepreneurship projects from the undergraduate level. FEUP also promotes the participation of students in company-proposed projects as part of of their Masters dissertations as well as Summer internship programmes.

Students also have the opportunity to develop their soft skills when they engage in activities such as befriending international students, participating in groups dedicated to certain subject areas or joining international or local associations such as BEST (Board of European Students of Technology), i-ESN (International Exchange Erasmus Student Network) or InterUp (Youth Association for International Students). 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.

Besides all the regular curricular activities, FEUP offers a great array of extra-curricular options, including theatre, music and painting. Cultural events play a central role at

The high quality of the education offered is reflected in the success achieved by FEUP’s alumni in many highly reputable organizations around the world.

Photo: Egídio Santos

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RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FOR THE REAL WORLD

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.

Countless projects demonstrate FEUP’s capacity to bring about innovation through its R&D units in conjunction with its affiliated institutes, together forming 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

Photo: reserved rights

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.

incentive programmes, organization of counselling initiatives and 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 (BIN@) initiative. This network, created in 2010, is a joint effort 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 around 4,000 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. In 2018, a new initiative was launched to bring companies closer to the academy: PRIME is the name of a corporate membership programme that provides companies with real value and competitive advantages, establishing a direct connection with the sources of talent and knowledge that provide the ability to stay ahead and deliver key innovations to the market. This is especially achieved through Doctoral Research Projects with Enterprises, which aim to offer companies a standard procedure to initiate a research project with FEUP involving a doctoral candidate and appropriate funding. Efacec, Kaizen Institute, Natixis, Sonae IM and Vodafone are the leading companies investing in this closer partnership with 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.

ABOUT FEUP

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.

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 2018/2019 FEUP has 32 active Alumni Ambassadors in 21 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Qatar, Mozambique, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America and the Republic of Vanuatu. Lisbon, in Portugal, also has an official representation since its com-

munity is of such a significant size. 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 fields of activity and participate eagerly in alumni reunions as well as in other social activities including networking and volunteering.

According to Diana Abrunhosa, Alumna Ambassador in Ireland: “There is currently a lack of Engineers in Ireland due to the recession the country faced in 2008. Having a FEUP Embassy in Ireland has been very useful and has become a showcase of Engineering in Ireland. For the last two years I have been contacted several times by graduates from FEUP on potential opportunities in Ireland where some of them have now emigrated from Portugal.

Bringing FEUP’s knowledge to Ireland and representing it is a great opportunity to show our expertise and how well FEUP can position itself as an outstanding Engineering Institution bringing excellence to any project.”

The alumni community is growing day by day: 30,000 alumni have been identified on LinkedIn and close to 10,000 of them have joined the FEUPLink closed groups on LinkedIn and Facebook, 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 the community even bigger - more information available on www.fe.up.pt/alumni.

Photo: Egídio Santos

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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.

At FEUP, students have the opportunity to participate in volunteer projects at national and 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); Loja Social de Paranhos (Paranhos Community Store), that provides poor families with food, clothing and hygiene products, to which FEUP contributes monthly; Centro Social da Paróquia da Areosa (Areosa Parish Health 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 contributing towards providing aid to 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: reserved rights

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

“The attraction for space is as old as humanity” INNOVATION AND FUTURE

Text: Raquel Pires Photo: ESO

Having successfully proven the effects of Einstein’s theory of general relativity on the motion of a star, the GRAVITY team has just announced yet another historical discovery: there really is a supermassive black hole hidden at the centre of the Milky Way. It is the high point of a programme of observations which have been taking place since 2016 using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VTL) in Chile, and involving the dedicated work of the Portuguese Paulo Garcia, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP).

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hat does it mean to you as a physicist to announce that there really is a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way? And was it special being part of this discovery?

Theoretical physicists had predicted the existence of black holes a long time ago, about 100 years ago.

At the beginning of the Second World War it was already possible to show that the collapse of a star would form a black hole. In the 1950s it was realized that these objects had a boundary from which light could not escape. The term “black hole” appeared in the 1960s (there is actually an interesting article in the Gazeta da Física – journal of the Portuguese Physical Society – about its origin). It was also in the 60s that “quasars” were discovered.

They are objects of such high luminosity that they cannot be powered by nuclear fusion (as with starlight). The only plausible source would be the conversion of gravitational potential energy into light (just as a free-falling object transforms gravitational potential energy into ever-faster movement). The enormous masses – hundreds of millions times the mass of the sun – and the vast spatial scales led to speculation that within “quasars” there exist black holes with colossal masses. In the late 1960s and early 1970s it was speculated

that there would also be a black hole at the centre of our galaxy. It was detected in the 1970s, using interferometry of radio frequency electromagnetic waves. In the 1980s it was discovered that the position of this light source coincides with the centre of mass of gas moving at the centre of the galaxy. And at the beginning of the millennium it was discovered that a small group of stars at the centre of the galaxy move around this object: accurate measurements of mass within the orbit and distance were obtained using Newton’s laws.

The great advance of GRAVITY is that it provides spatial precision which - combined with another instrument that measures velocities - enables us to measure relativistic effects for the first time in the orbit of the star closest to the black hole. There will be more news in March – a new discovery. We will be able to measure relativistic effects as yet undetected!

What is it like to be part of an international consortium bringing together researchers from around the world, each with their own pace and way of working? How many years have you been together on this project?

I was fortunate to have established international contacts early on my career. Since the last year of my Master’s degree, I have essentially been collaborating

with colleagues outside Portugal. Working on this project was therefore not a novelty in terms of the contact with people from different countries (I had already had very extensive working relationships with colleagues from France and the UK). GRAVITY is led by the world’s leading instrumentation institute for telescopes in the world: MPE - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (the name may seem to refer to extraterrestrials but it is actually a science institute that studies the Universe!). Participating in the consortium are two German institutes and another two from France as well as one from Portugal (the CENTRA unit - Centre for Astrophysics and Gravitation with professors from FCUL and FEUP). It was the first time I had worked with German colleagues and I was also fortunate enough to supervise a doctoral student from India in this context. The great advantage of working in an international consortium is learning - you learn a lot, at various levels. Another important factor is that it is a way of finding out what in Portugal are Portuguese problems and what are problems that exist everywhere.

In Portugal does science still, as it were, play in a different league?

In the decade in which GRAVITY was built, we went through the national pre-bankruptcy crisis,

and it was very hard to get to the end and fulfil our duties towards the consortium.. In Portugal the core staff working on the project consisted of three people, among them Professor AntĂłnio Amorim from FCUL, while other countries contributed many more most of whom were 100% researchers.

Here, though, you have to work in twos and threes, plugging holes and doing things very differently. In addition, the financial resources are very different.

For example, at Max Planck when deciding to construct an instrument there is a significant line of secured funding. In Portugal we have to compete with projects every three years, with the risk that this entails. Projects are much less well funded and the financing of the unit is also reduced.

What follows now? Where is your attention is turned to?

We are now in the scientific exploration phase of GRAVITY, and in March there will be more measurements of the galactic centre. We are also measuring other celestial objects, baby stars, planets and the active nuclei of galaxies. In parallel, we are preparing another instrument called METIS for the largest telescope in the world, the ELT, which is being built

by ESO and will have a mirror with a diameter of 39 metres. We are the only Portuguese team working

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

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FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2019 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

O GRAVITY GRAVITY is the most powerful instrument ever built for ground-based telescopes. Developed by a consortium of several European institutes from Germany, France and Portugal, GRAVITY went into operation in November 2015 at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. It is a structure that interferometrically combines the four giant telescopes of the Paranal Observatory, each with an 8-metre diameter mirror, thereby obtaining information comparable to that of a colossal 100-metre diameter telescope.

The degree of precision is such that it could measure the equivalent of the movement of a Euro coin on the surface of the Moon when viewed from the Earth. The main scientific objective of GRAVITY is to study the supermassive black hole, with a mass of about four million times the mass of the Sun, which exists at the centre of the Milky Way.

INNOVATION AND FUTURE FEUP HIGHLIGHTS 2019 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING - UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Graduating with a PhD in Physics from the University of Lyon 1 in 1999, Paulo Garcia came to FEUP in 2001, joining the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He was a co-founder of the Department of Physical Engineering, which began activity in 2002. He was visiting professor and Marie Curie Fellow at Joseph-Fourier University, Grenoble from 2008 to 2010. In 2010, he set up the FCT-supported FEUP Center of the Laboratory of Systems, Instrumentation and Modeling for Environment and Space Sciences and Technologies, which merged with the Center for Astrophysics and Gravitation (CENTRA) in 2013. Within GRAVITY, Paulo Garcia led the team that developed the software for the acquisition camera as well as participating in scientific exploration using the instrument. He is currently at the European Southern Observatory, in Chile, on sabbatical leave, making measurements with this instrument.

At the same time, he has actively been involved in pedagogical innovation, having coordinated FEUP’s Laboratory of Teaching Learning Laboratory from 2013 until the beginning of 2019.

on a first-light instrument for this telescope. The instrument, which will be operational in about 10 years, is led by a Dutch institute and also includes German, French and British involvement. In May, evaluation of phase B of the instrument will take place at ESO. As usual it’s very hard going, with unforeseen problems that we have to solve, lots of learning to do and a considerable amount of work.

We’re also thinking about future development of GRAVITY, but we probably will not have the resources to participate. We are very small, so we must only commit ourselves to what we can do, otherwise we will lose international credibility.

Do you think the universe still has much to reveal?

There are scientific areas that by design have no end, one example being the Human Sciences and another the Sciences of the Universe. Since the latter study a region that stretches from the Earth’s upper atmosphere to the ends of the universe, it is only natural that there are always new discoveries propelled by technology. For example, 256-megapixel cameras (which can be compared to mobile phones and professional cameras) are currently being used, and new instruments and telescopes incorporating state-of-the-art technology are continuously being developed. As time passes, we get an increasingly “clear” view of the Universe and can make entirely new discoveries while further deepening our knowledge about older discoveries. Yet there are very

significant puzzles for which we still have no answer: we do not know why the universe is in a state of rapid expansion, what its origin is, how planets form or the origin of life, among others.

What advice would you give to those who want to pursue higher studies and take an interest in space?

The attraction for space or for the universe is as old as humanity. It is therefore natural that many young people who want to pursue studies in this area wonder what degree to take. The most common mistake is to look for degrees with space in the name. Anyone moving to a space centre or observatory will notice that the majority of people working there are always engineers of many areas (computers, mechanics, electronics, industrial, aerospace, physics), while bioengineering is also an emerging area.

Any of these engineering degrees gives access to space. Then you need to work hard to be technically competent, in depth the courses and also trying to get experience linked to space. Any student from the 2nd year can ask to participate in projects in this area – there are several at FEUP and the University of Porto. Just ask your professors or alumni where to find them, within the University of Porto or beyond. It is thus very easy to work in areas linked to space; it is enough to have technical expertise, willpower, initiative and communication skills.

Text: Raquel Pires Photo: reserved rights

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bridge system enabling rapid and sustainable construction based on an outer tube of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) and an inner steel tube with a layer of concrete filling between them. Referred to as a “hybrid double-skin tubular arch bridge (DSTA)”, this new bridge system is low-cost, lightweight and durable with low embodied energy, constituting a very attractive alternative to the traditional method of designing bridges. It was presented by a group of researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia, and won the first edition of the World Innovation Award in Bridge Engineering, promoted by BERD and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP).

The ceremony was held at the Paço dos Duques, in the city of Guimarães, and was attended by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Two merit prizes were also awarded: the first concerns a new approach to the visual experience of a pedestrian while walking on a footbridge. Presented by a group of researchers from the University of Pisa, Italy, it consists of an almost transparent pedestrian bridge, with a significant free span. It is a glass structural solution that meets requirements for both adequate levels of safety and cost effectiveness. The design is inspired by the idea of a translucent walkway that when crossed, evokes a feeling of lightness, combining the visual effects of transparency and reflected sunlight.

The other honorable mention was awarded to a Portuguese proposal from the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) which

demonstrates that in order to achieve quality and effective improvement, size is not what matters. The proposal consists of a very lightweight composite pedestrian bridge, allowing for very rapid installation, with high durability and electromagnetic transparency; initially designed for elevated pedestrian railway crossings, as an alternative to conventional railway crossings, it can be applied to meet any of the requirements posed by pedestrian walkways.

Over 20,000 users from 146 nationalities took part in the Prize, and applications were evaluated involving more than 200 authors from approximately 50 countries.

According to BERD CEO, Pedro Pacheco, “The WIBE award for innovation in bridge engineering, established by BERD and FEUP, is now seen as a highly prestigious global benchmark. Focusing on useful innovation for society, it attracts the active participation of the key international associations involved in this area of engineering expertise.

With thousands of followers in over 150 countries, Bridge Engineers from all over the world are now aspiring to its creative challenge, seeing it as the highest global standard of prestige and recognition in this field”.

Launched in 2015, the World Innovation Award in Bridge Engineering aims to internationally promote the success of the R&D model that BERD and FEUP have been implementing in recent years and to keep both institutions in touch with the forefront of international bridge engineering while contributing to its development. fe.up.pt/wibe

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They already call it the “Nobel Prize for Bridges”. Launched in 2015 by BERD and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), the “2017 BERD-FEUP WIBE” Award aims to help Portuguese Bridge Engineering take a leading position and become a world reference.

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

INNOVATION AWARD IN BRIDGE ENGINEERING GOES TO AUSTRALIA

Vodafone to install 5G antenna at the Faculty of Engineering of Porto

INNOVATION AND FUTURE

Vodafone Portugal is going to install a 5G antenna at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). The initiative follows the company’s affiliation to the FEUP Prime program, which aims, among other things, to help develop fifth-generation mobile communications through academic projects undertaken in close collaboration between the two organizations.

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Text: Raquel Pires Photo: reserved rights

The partnership agreement with FEUP will also achieve one of the purposes of the Vodafone 5G Hub, an innovation lab for developing the new technology that will capitalize on all of 5G’s potential.

This centre brings together partners involved in the telecommunications sector, Industry, start-ups, researchers and universities.

Through this agreement, FEUP has become the Vodafone 5G Hub’s first academic partner, giving its students access to cutting-edge technology for projects involving 5G, and testing application of the future mobile network with a maximum possible number of use cases. Moreover, students will be able to carry out their projects with specialized support from Vodafone teams.

“Much more than a lab for exploring the potential of fifth-generation mobile, the Vodafone 5G Hub will be a factory for producing knowledge and innovation, key assets enabling Portugal not only to compete in the European digital economy but also worldwide. Such initiatives as this one with FEUP are what will help achieve this endeavour”, says João Nascimento, Vodafone Portugal CTO. “The involvement of companies in FEUP’s activities in terms of education and research projects is essential towards improving our positive impact on society. This pioneering initiative in Portugal by a leading global company in communications will

also enable FEUP to strengthen its knowledge and experience in this area, resulting in interdisciplinary projects using the new technologies and services that will be supported by these new 5G communications”, explains João Falcão e Cunha, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.

Installation of the antenna is scheduled to take place during the first half of the year, offering Massive MIMO and beamforming technologies, two of the latest generation innovations which will support the next generation of mobile communications. fe.up.pt/prime

Vodafone Portugal is a global telecommunications operator with a convergent service recognized in all segments of the market. Leader in innovation, brand image and customer satisfaction, Vodafone Portugal currently serves over 2.7 million homes and businesses with its fast and reliable next generation network and has over 4.7 million mobile customers.

Excellent work is being done in our country Text: Helena Peixoto Photo: Egídio Santos

Biographical note Vítor Oliveira holds a degree in Architecture (FAUP) and a PhD in Civil Engineering (FEUP). He is a fully Integrated Member and Principal Researcher at CITTA (which he joined in 2002). His research areas are urban morphology, urban planning, architecture and cities. Within these research areas, he has authored about 200 publications and communications, including 32 papers in international peer-reviewed journals listed in Scopus or ISI. He has been working on different research projects supported by national and international funding, and he has been part of several scientific and organizing committees of international conferences, including the 21st International Seminar on Urban Form (Chair of the Conference). In 2016 he published ‘Urban Morphology - An Introduction to the Study of the Physical Form of Cities’ (Springer), a textbook on urban morphology tested in courses in ten universities in Portugal, Brazil, Spain and China. His most recent books are ‘Teaching Urban Morphology’ and ‘JWR Whitehand and the historico-geographical Approach to Urban Morphology’.

Vítor Manuel Araújo de Oliveira, aged 44, is a Principal Researcher at the Research Centre for Territory, Transport and Environment (CITTA) at FEUP. His academic career began at the Faculty of Architecture (FAUP), where he graduated, but since completing his Masters in Spatial Planning and Urban Project, a joint FAUP/FEUP course, he has never left Engineering. He received his PhD in Civil Engineering in 2008 and in 2002 he joined CITTA, where he has dedicated himself to the subject in which he specializes - Urban Morphology.

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o how does someone manage to simultaneously do research while also being an Assistant Professor at the Lusófona University of Porto (Universidade Lusófona do Porto), Secretary General of the International Seminar on Urban Form, member of the Editorial Board of the journal Urban Morphology, President of the Portuguese-language Network of Urban Morphology (Rede Lusófona de Morfologia Urbana), member of the Editorial Board of several other journals not to mention being the author of four books published in the space of one year? We went to try and find out.

CITTA The Research Centre for Territory, Transport and Environment (CITTA) is a research unit belonging to the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) dedicated to the dissemination and development of knowledge in the areas of Spatial Planning, Environmental Policy, Planning and Transport Engineering, and also operating leading laboratory spaces at both poles.

NEW TALENTS

CITTA is organized into four major research groups: Environmental Planning and Evaluation; Urban Planning and Housing; Transport Planning and Analysis; and Engineering and Transport Management. It has a high reputation

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for producing detailed knowledge about the functioning of cities, urban systems, transport infrastructures and services and develops innovative approaches and solutions to their problems based on this understanding.

CITTA collaborates with both key researchers and doctoral fellows.

While most researchers have a degree in Civil Engineering, other educational fields are also represented including Architecture, Environmental Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Spatial Planning and Sociology. citta.fe.up.pt

Why did you choose CITTA and ’Urban Morphology’ as a study area?

Around the same time I was beginning my Masters in Spatial Planning and Urban Project in 2002, CITTA was taking its first steps. It launched a research scholarship and I successfully applied for this grant. In fact, I already had a huge passion for cities, particularly for the physical shape of cities: the streets, blocks, plots and buildings (common and special buildings).

And although professor Alfredo Matos Ferreira, an outstanding professor from FAUP, was already a leading influence on me, at FEUP I met professor Paulo Pinho (responsible for CITTA) who literally taught me how to carry out research and was also the supervisor for my Masters and PhD theses.

The Centre enabled me to use multidisciplinarity as a kind of backdrop to analyse an object as complex as the city and FEUP gave me the institutional conditions to start developing my space in a broad context.

How would you define your main functions at the centre?

Right now I have two projects in hand. The first one is called Spatial Planning for Change (SPLACH) which is a project involving the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) and the University of Aveiro: based on a careful reading of the national territory, it aims to prepare a compendium of urban policies. I am coordinating one line of research dedicated to the influence of urban form on the city’s metabolism. The second project, Emerging Perspectives on Urban Morphology (EPUM), involves four more European partners and seeks to combine different approaches in urban morphology (different ways of looking at the physical shape of cities) through teaching. I am coordinating FEUP’s participation, and contributing my knowledge about one of these approaches, termed ‘historico-geographical’.

What is your ‘dream project’ to develop at CITTA (or is it already taking place)?

I would love to develop a comprehensive look at the Past,

Present and possible Futures of the city, highlighting the impact of urban form on the different dimensions of our daily life in urban space. In 2018 I submitted an application to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) focused on this project – named Morpho – and got funding.

The project should start in July.

How can you publish four books in just one year?

First of all, it is very important to realize that though four books were published in the same year, preparation for each began in different years. The fact that they all came out in 2018 is a coincidence! Since 2011 I have kept up an average of one book per year.

Secondly, and moreover, each book is the result of teamwork. I design the project, coordinate the process, and author a few chapters in each of the books, but I get contributions from a group of colleagues. For example, the latest of these books, which we launched in Birmingham in mid-December, was “JWR Whitehand and the Historico-geographical Approach to Urban Morphology”. The book is a reflection on the contribution of a British geographer, Jeremy Whitehand, to a specific approach in urban morphology. After doing some research, I wrote a chapter in which I identified five dimensions in which this contribution could be divided.

Instead of writing the five chapters, exploring these five dimensions in detail, I invited the five people who seemed to me the best able to explore these dimensions.

Your work has received international recognition.

One of your books has even been translated into Persian! How does it feel to reach out the world?

Yes, ‘Urban Morphology: an Introduction to the Study of the Physical Form of Cities’ has been translated into Persian and being very well received - its digital format has over 17,500 paid downloads! One of the countries that has shown most interest is Iran and one of the main reasons is the lack of books that provide such a comprehensive and introductory approach to the field of urban morphology. The book is

’Urban Morphology: an Introduction to the Study of the Physical Form of Cities’ has been translated into Persian and being very well received - its digital format has over 17,500 paid downloads!

CITTA is also a centre with national and international recognition. Why is that?

I would identify three main reasons. First of all, the leadership of Professor Paulo Pinho, who during the last decade and a half, and amid the ups and downs facing the country and the centre, has always been able to make the most correct decisions, not only in terms of scientific content, but also in terms of gathering human and financial resources. Secondly, I would highlight the team of researchers who make up the Centre – together we have conducted key research in the area of Planning and Transport. In the last five years CITTA researchers have been responsible for 40% of articles published nationally dealing with these two areas and the annual number of academic publications from each centre researcher is above the European average! Finally, I would also point out the institutional importance of the two faculties that support the research centre: FEUP and the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC).

Is Portugal on the right track in terms of research in the area of Urban Morphology?

The creation of the Portuguese-language Network of Urban Morphology – PNUM – (Rede Lusófona de Morfologia Urbana) in 2010 revealed the truth of an assumption: excellent work is being done in our country, whether in research centers where urban morphology has a fairly central role, or in studies developed by individual

You argue that Urban Morphology and the professional practice of Planning and Architecture must be inseparable. Why? Urban morphology provides ‘knowledge’ to ‘act’ on the physical shape of cities, which is one of the purposes of Planning and Architecture. Of course, this knowledge acquires multiple expressions. Just one example is the way we use the ‘ground’ feature in our cities. In studying this issue, I focus on the role of one of the main elements of urban form, the plot, and the formal and social diversity we get when we divide our blocks into a large number of narrow front plots. The analysis of the ‘plot’ element in different cities, in different historical times, gives us the necessary knowledge to provide guidelines for the practice of Planning and Architecture. Not only do I advocate this in theory but I actually live in one of these narrow front plots, in a house with a contemporary design (designed by myself and my wife, who is also an architect), with a range of inputs from urban morphology, in which each architectural option stems from a lesson learned from the past.

Who is your inspiration in this area?

My great inspiration in Urban Morphology is the British geographer Jeremy Whitehand, with whom I am proud to maintain a close relationship, both personally and institutionally. No one else, internationally, has done so much for this field of knowledge as he has! Over the last decades he has contributed to the disciplinary definition of Urban Morphology. Within this comprehensive definition, and based on the work of another geographer – MRG Conzen, Whitehand proposed a theory of urban form defined from a ‘historico-geographical’ perspective. Within this theory, he opened up a series of research lines, while formulating and developing concepts and methods to describe, explain and prescribe the city’s physical shape.

NEW TALENTS

researchers. I would say that the most compelling challenges for this research work in the coming years are to seek ways of better communicating its findings, underlining the contribution that this area of knowledge can give to our lives, and to exert an ever greater influence on the planning and design of the physical shape of our cities.

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a manual for an Urban Morphology course and, besides Portugal, I have given this course in Brazil, China and Spain.

One of my articles has been translated into Mandarin, but this is the first time I have seen a book of mine translated into a language other than English or Portuguese. There is a lot of dedication involved in my research work and it is very gratifying to see the effort and quality of the findings recognized by different people in different continents.

In addition, this international recognition allows me to work with people from different ‘urban cultures’ (both in projects and in the supervision of doctorates) and to deal with different objects (cities). Given the specific nature of Urban Morphology, the diversity of the sample allows me to gain an increasingly clear view of the ‘city’ object.

Doors open to the world FEUP DNA

Text: Helena Peixoto Photos: reserved rights

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Students from all over the world are increasingly choosing to make this Faculty academic home. FEUP has been seeing a sharp rise in the numbers of international students enrolling in its courses, whether to take a Bachelor’s degree, an Integrated Master’s degree, an Independent Master’s degree or any of its Doctoral Programs. We sought to find out why.

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razilian, Iranian, Nepalese, Colombian, Turkish, Chinese… This is just a sample from the list of nationalities that make up the international student community studying at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). While at the end of 2017 the number of international students was around 650, 2018 saw an increase with more than 1,300 non-Portuguese students enrolling at the Faculty of Engineering.

It is clear to see that the procedures for receiving and integrating international students has increasingly developed into a kind of ‘ecosystem’, not only on the Campus but also within the city itself, thus facilitating their arrival and making it more appealing. In addition, we must not forget the substantive efforts that have been made by the Faculty itself in attracting international talent – the first major step forward was to attract students from Brazil and the impetus is now towards China and India.

But what is it that motivates students from all corners of the world to come and study in our ‘little’ country? It is true that the quality of FEUP’s teaching is unequivocally recognized nationally and internationally – it is also considered one of the top 250 in Europe – but there must be other reasons to explain this exponential increase in international students.

Whether through participation in academic sports activities, involvement in events coordinated by student bodies or organizations or simply by living with Portuguese colleagues as well as with non-natives, these students will increase their feeling of belonging and affection for the city and the Faculty, as their own accounts reveal.

As soon as I arrived in Porto, I was truly amazed by its landscapes, and the quality of its weather and location, actually quite similar to my native land!

Something else that immediately captivated me was the undeniable quality of the gastronomy (I have to mention the Francesinha)! All these characteristics helped to ease my homesickness.

I can say that I was very well received by the entire academic community of the University of Porto. Of particular mention is the FEUP Mentor program, an initiative that is part of the ‘softlanding’ program for international students, which allowed me to make incredible friends who immediately welcomed me and helped me feel at home in Porto.

Before arriving at FEUP, my supervisor – Professor Fernando Tavares de Pinho - contacted the University of Porto’s Social Action Services (SASUP) to find a room for me. He went to the airport and helped me to deal with all the red tape concerning my arrival (even accompanying me to the Citizen’s Bureau!). He also gave me a guided tour of FEUP’s Transport Phenomena Research Centre (CEFT) and established contact with FEUP’s Cooperation Division so that I could make contact with other Iranian students. That is how I met Mohammad Shahgol and Ali Azariyan, who were later able to answer any doubts that arose (where to buy clothes, open a bank account, find the best supermarkets, etc). In the midst of all this I even joined a futsal team that my colleagues belonged to.

FEUP is an excellent Faculty, which provides many opportunities to socialise as well as develop professionally and intellectually. Thanks to this, I am helping to set up a youth association, InterUp, which aims to help international students integrate more easily with each other and with the Portuguese community. So, today I feel fulfilled and grateful to Porto and to this Faculty for making me so happy.

Saeed Parvar, Iranian student in the 1st year of the Doctoral Program in Mechanical Engineering

Analú Brum, Brazilian student in the 3rd year of the Integrated Master in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials

Living on Campus The Faculty of Engineering has become second home for these students. A home in the true sense of the word since this School makes every effort to integrate and welcome those coming from overseas in the best way possible.

FEUP DNA

When mathematics is no obstacle Encouraging inclusion and equality should be apparent in all aspects of life, the classroom being no exception. An example of this is the intensive mathematics levelling course offered to all Brazilian students entering the 1st year of the various courses which aims to standardize the necessary prerequisites.

Coordinated by three professors from the Department of Civil Engineering (DEC) – Fernanda Campos de Sousa, Isabel Martins Ribeiro and Isabel Silva Magalhães – it also involves a team of monitors – students from the Integrated Master in Civil Engineering (MIEC) – duly singled out for their excellent curricular performances in general and particularly in the curricular units of the mathematics disciplinary area.

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First running in 2016/17, the two-week-long course – with twelve sessions each lasting three hours – is taught before the academic year starts. A number of concepts and definitions considered fundamental are reviewed and/or introduced, involving lectures given by one of the teachers from the working group and more exploratory lessons studying the concepts/tools approached and an intensification of calculus ability.

“The students are the central focus of these lessons, and they are all expected to participate fully”, says teacher Fernanda Sousa. In terms of working methodology, students are distributed among several rooms, ensuring that each room has up to 20 stu-dents. In each room, the students are then organized into groups of four or five individuals, with the aim of collaborating in groups to solve the exercises assigned.

Each room is supervised by a teacher from the

working group, assisted by a monitor. At the end of the course a diagnostic assessment is carried out (which is also conducted at the beginning of the course), in order to better evaluate/quantify the results achieved.

Although optional, it is highly recommended that everyone participates. And the attendance rates attest to how highly it is valued, especially due to the quite significant differences between Portugal and Brazil in terms of pre-university program content as well as notation and resolution methodologies used in each country.

Promoting the Portuguese language Although it is true that English is the universal language, and indeed some courses at FEUP are already taught 100% in English, knowledge of the distinct language of the country where you have chosen to live for a few years is, nevertheless, always a plus.

As such, two editions of an intensive course in Portuguese for foreigners are held at FEUP: one in February/March and another in October/November.

Running three times a week, each session lasts three hours, which makes a total of 60 hours by the end of the course. In order to ensure that teaching activities are not affected, the Portuguese course takes place after work hours.

To better meet the different needs of the students, Ana Martins, teacher at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FLUP) who is responsible for the classes, explains that two different level classes have been set up: A1.1 and A1.2. In the first case, the classes are designed for students whose mother tongue is totally different from Portuguese (Russian, Ukrainian, French, English, German, Chinese, Japanese, among others), introducing Portuguese progressively. The A1.2 level class, meanwhile, is aimed at Spanish-speaking students (Spanish, Italian and Romanian), that is, with a mother tongue that is closer to Portuguese, and the course is taught exclusively in Portuguese and at a more dynamic pace.

Guiding and Integrating Sport as an integration activity In operation since 1995, the Guidance and Integration Office (GOI) provides support to students for their academic well-being and success, international students included! Integration and academic success, psychological support, counselling, special educational needs and transversal skills are some of the areas undertaken by this support service, which is increasingly demanded.

Helena Lopes, Psychologist, GOI coordinator and member of the care team, reinforces the importance of this service “GOI should not be a resource used only in cases of psychological discomfort, since there is a preventive and developmental side to our activities and practice, as well. We work to promote the well-being and personal development of students, stimulating their self-knowledge and capitalizing on their (inter)personal, social and academic resources. We offer a personalized service (in Portuguese and English), considering the idiosyncrasies and experiences of each one, in an empathetic and collaborative relationship”.

iPoint International Contact Point ipoint@fe.up.pt

Student – Faculty contact point The Cooperation Unit is the contact point for all international students, providing them support with any specific concerns they may have about life at FEUP as well as challenges they face in adapting to the city.

This is also the Unit responsible for organizing Orientation Days, an integration program that consists of a week full of activities giving these students the opportunity to find out about FEUP and provide them with some knowledge of the city of Porto.

Future engineers do not live only for engineering!

Integration of students arriving from other countries is also promoted through sports activities. This was the case with Leonardo Rodrigues, a Brazilian student now in the 2nd year of the Integrated Masters in Mechanical Engineering, who shares his experience: “I arrived in Portugal in 2016 and my integration went very smoothly, helped by taking part in the ‘Orientation Days’ activity. Besides that, I am a member of the Rowing Team of the University of Porto Sports Centre (CDUP), which introduced me to a number of people and helped me make several friends.

I’m going to stay in Portugal for sure; in fact, even my parents are thinking about coming here to live!”

Leonardo was, in fact, one of those who benefited from a financial incentive in 2016/17, an initiative which introduced that year aimed at recognizing the merit of international students and promoting their accommodation and stay at FEUP.

The importance of student organizations FEUP has a very rich variety of student organizations, groups and associations, which encourage active participation from all interested students, regardless of their nationality.

If we go through the list of these - AEFEUP, Age-i-FEUP, BEST, RADIO ENGINEERING, FADO Group, Robotics Group, IACES, JUNIFEUP, NEB – FEUP/ICBAS, NeCGM FEUP, NEEM FEUP, TEUP, TUNAFE – we soon see that practically all involve active participation from international students, which clearly helps them to adapt quickly to the new environment. Arthur Garcia, a Brazilian student in the 1st year of the Integrated Master in Industrial Engineering and Management, is part of the AGE-i-FEUP team and confirms that his activity in the association has enabled and continued to help him adapt easily to the new way of life in Portugal at FEUP.

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Another student organization, also working to welcome and integrate the international academic community, is InterUp – a hugely significant project recently set up by a group of students from the Faculties of Engineering (FEUP), Sciences (FCUP) and Arts & Humanities (FLUP). InterUp is a non-profit, cross-educational association which aims to welcome international students and provide them with the full support necessary to help them integrate well into the academic community and within wider society.

One of the great attractions of this organization is precisely that it encourages international students to network and share experiences not only among themselves but also with native students. “We do not want to fall into the ‘error’ of creating an entity which, instead of promoting integration, ends up producing only a closed group within the international student community”, stresses Luiz Henrique, a Brazilian student in the 3rd year of the Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and one of the founders of InterUp. Officially set up in January 2019, the association aims to accompany international students at the University of Porto during the ups and downs they may face, giving special consideration to four major stages in the student integration process: pre-enrolment (before even arriving in Porto), adaptation (first two to three months), development (4th to 9th month) and outcome (final weeks of the academic year). For all of these key moments, specific actions and activities are considered, adapted to each student’s current stage.

Experiencing the city FEUP’s whole strategy of welcoming and integrating international students is essentially linked to the ‘ecosystem’ of the city of Porto. Many organizations, activities and processes have been set up for this community to feel ‘at home’.

‘Porto. for talent’ is the name of the platform launched

by Porto City Council’s Talent Office which provides useful and important information 24/7. ‘Land’, ‘Live’ and ‘Work’ are the three main sections of the platform, inviting all interested parties to become ‘Portonauts’ and offering them strong arguments and justifications for this being their city of choice. With rewarding job offers available on its platform, this tool aims to help retain international talent in the city and FEUP is one of the partner institutions of the project.

Another organization working in conjunction with the Faculty of Engineering is Internations, considered one of the largest expatriate communities in the world. Recently based in Porto, this network seeks to connect ‘expats’ living in the city of Porto and help them to network, exchange experiences and provide moments for them to socialise together. This organization also participated in the first edition of the International Doctoral Students Orientation Day, the latest initiative created by FEUP to welcome new international students beginning their doctoral studies cycle and which reflects the combined ‘softlanding’ approach designed for all students, whether at undergraduate, Master’s or, indeed, PhD level.

The subject of integration and softlanding for international students does not end here. The truth is that much more could still be said! ‘Faculty’, ‘Campus’, ‘City’ and ‘Country’ are four very different dimensions, ranging from the micro level to a more macro perspective, but all of them are considered by the Faculty of Engineering when it comes to better welcoming, integrating and retaining the international talent that it attracts.

My main passion is very much focused on the River Douro Text: Raquel Pires Photo: reserved rights

The “Excellence Award for Civil Engineering” is one of the world’s most prestigious awards in the field of civil engineering and was awarded to Adão da Fonseca, retired FEUP professor, in “recognition for the importance of his projects with regard to social welfare and for his career as a civil engineer to the benefit of society”. Passionate about the city of Porto, he was responsible for designing five bridges between Porto and Gaia and was involved in many all the major construction works defining Portuguese engineering in the 20th century: The Knowledge Pavilion (Pavilhão do Conhecimento) at EXPO 98, the Music House (Casa da Música) and the Oceanarium (Oceanário). In addition, his involvement in projects abroad gave him the opportunity to work with the best.

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I read in an interview that your dream was to study naval engineering. How did you end up in civil engineering?

Isn’t Civil Engineering simply a kind of non-floating Naval Engineering? Or rather, that Naval Engineering is a floating form of Civil Engineering? In fact, neither of these ambiguities is correct, as Naval Engineering includes all the equipment and machinery of propulsion. Actually, the truth is that Naval Engineering was not being taught in Portugal when I went to university, and my family couldn’t afford for me to study abroad (which would have been in Glasgow).

What memories do you have of the years you spent at Imperial College in 1980 to take your PhD? Was it a very different society?

When in 1972 I was challenged by Professor Coreia de Araújo to take advantage of the newly-opened scholarship for doctoral studies abroad (an initiative of the then Minister of Education - Professor Veiga Simão - and his Secretary of State for Higher Education - Engineer Adelino Amaro da Costa), I applied to the Universities of Austin (Texas) and Urbana (Illinois), in the United States, to the University of Stuttgart (more specifically to the great bridge designer, Professor Fritz Leonhardt) in Germany, and to Imperial College, London. I was accepted by all of them and I decided to ask the advice of Engineer Júlio Ferry Borges, then Director of LNEC, who was a brilliant researcher and man of vision. He told me that if I wanted to study engineering, I should come to LNEC, but then advised me to go to London, an international city of culture offering a great life experience which would hugely improve my global potential, in engineering and beyond (in 1972, Portugal was still a very closed country under the Dictatorship).

From Imperial College and London, I hold memories of everything that Engineer Ferry Borges had anticipated. I remember it being a lively but calm city, where I had time to think and meditate. I also recall the excellent concerts, operas and theatre. And, meanwhile, getting married, there was still time for the birth of my two first wonderful boys.

Was it difficult to balance an academic career with that of a bridge designer? Tell us the secret.

Yes, it was very difficult and extremely demanding. But I remember all my colleagues at the Faculty being very understanding. The key was to ensure that my work as a bridge designer was in line with my teaching activity thus enhancing its quality and competence. And of course, vice versa! In always trying to do better, I also wanted to involve and promote the contributions of my FEUP colleagues, and also those at LNEC. After having designed five bridges across the Douro, can it now be said that your relationship with the city of Porto is a love affair?

Well, my main passion is very much focused on the River Douro. But besides the bridges (which, fortunately, for me, are feminine in the Portuguese language), it is worth asking how many DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) wine-growing regions there are from Rioja Region to the Douro Region.

Tell us about EXPO 98 and having worked on the Oceanarium (Oceanário) and Knowledge Pavillion (Pavilhão de Conhecimento) project. It was the opportunity for modern Portugal to open up to the world.

As I said in my Last Lecture, when I designed “my” first bridge on the River Ouro, tributary to the River Tâmega, in turn affluent of the River Douro in the early 1980s, during the tendering process for the building project there emerged a cheaper and completely uninteresting alternative proposal, and I heard the President of the Rural Parish Council of Pedraça, where the bridge was going to be built, say: “My parish may be one of poor people, but it also has the right to have a beautiful bridge”. This influenced my professional life because urban spaces, open to everyone, are very often the only quality spaces that those less well-off can enjoy.

Now, EXPO 98 was a fundamental step for Portugal (not only for Lisbon) to recover and affirm the importance of the quality of its built environment. It was also the opportunity to work with the greats of international architecture and

building engineering. In the case of the Oceanarium, I even travelled to Boston for meetings with the Architect Peter Chermayeff before joining the international ARUP team in London. A number of top architectural and structural projects were considered for the EXPO, some of which ended up winning and being constructed, while others lost, but the Knowledge of the Seas Pavilion, undertaken with the architect Carrilho da Graça, was the most challenging and innovative (white concrete has several requirements and this was the first time it was used in a large building in Portugal).

In your opinion, which project is most representative of your work? And why?

A representative tour of my work would begin with that small and essentially simple bridge over the River Ouro, in the Municipality of Cabeceiras de Basto. Then came the bridge over the River Cávado, in Amares, very close to the medieval bridge known as the Porto Bridge (initially a Roman bridge, later rebuilt in the Middle Ages, but always the bridge to get to Porto). We had concerns about the landscape, the need to respect the environment and the existing bridge, as well as the presence of local fishermen, which were supported by the then Autonomous Road Authority. By the 1990s, it was very important to have the support of those responsible at Brisa (Road Authority) so that the higher crossings in the section of the A4 motorway on the more mountainous approach to Amarante were special and not mere “enlarged” copies of what was built on flat terrain. One of them in particular is technically very unique and original. It was very gratifying to hear a student tell me that he had opted for Civil Engineering to find out how to build one of these works of art.

However, it is quite clear that it was with the Ponte do Infante bridge, over the River Douro, and with the Pedro and Inês bridge over the River Mondego that, with the collaboration of brilliant young engineers, I was able to fully realize my ideal of “doing well and advancing”.

Why? Because they are works of the highest art in structural engineering. They are bridges streamlined in their structural behaviour, designed with careful analysis and immense dar-

ALL- CONQUERING FEUP

ing, and always based on studies that explored all the parameters that could influence their safety and functionality.

Which international designer do you admire most and why?

All those who are universally recognized: Eugene Freyssinet, Fritz Leonhardt, Jorg Slaich, and certainly Edgar Cardoso. All were dreamers, innovators, and scientifically very profound.

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And what if I asked you to single out an engineering masterpiece on a world scale?

It is difficult to choose one among all the “incredible” engineering works such as the great dams, or those projects that had a great “social impact” such as the urban sanitation networks, the grand buildings that “rise into the air”, and the huge bridges that “fly” over the great rivers and valleys. No doubt, the Ponte do Infante bridge is an impressive masterpiece that we have not yet come to fully appreciate and recognize!

How did you react when you learned that you were going to receive the “Excellence Award for Civil Engineering”, considered the World Civil Engineering Award?

Those prizes that don’t result from a competition, particularly when not in any way material, are above all a chance to single out someone who, through his effort and will-

power, has encouraged others to live and act according to ideals and with their “feet on the ground”. With regard to this award, excellence within the Civil Engineering profession is highly valued, in my case also realized in the role of President of the European Council of Civil Engineers where, among other initiatives known to the signatories who proposed me, I would highlight my authorship of the Code of Ethical Conduct for European Civil Engineers, adopted unanimously at the Rome conference in 2000.

Do you consider that Portugal is a good example when it comes to civil engineering? Do we have high quality new talents?

Without a doubt, and it is an internationally recognized fact. At least in structural engineering, where I know from direct experience there are talents of very high quality.

What work/project do you still need to do? Do you have any dreams yet to be realized?

With five children diligently serving society and with eighteen grandchildren who show themselves to be very happy, I do not have any work, project or dream that I feel I need to fulfil, but I understand that I have an obligation to respond to the challenges that continue to arise.

First and foremost is the ability to learn how to learn Text: Joana Guedes Pinto Photo: Susana Neves

Luís Valente de Oliveira is the first figure to receive the FEUP Career Award. It is recognition for his “exceptional, brilliant and multifaceted career at FEUP and beyond, as an educator, academic authority, politician and manager”. In a life dedicated to public service, he has often taken on the mantle of political responsibility and always been a charismatic presence in the organizations that he has been involved with and at the invitation events which he continues to accept today. He remains very active and committed to a “physically and mentally healthy” life.

Y

ou graduated in 1961 in Civil Engineering at FEUP. Why Engineering?

I always liked buildings and projects. As a teenager, I was always interested in following what was happening at the huge public works construction sites. The choice of Civil Engineering was natural and came as no surprise to my family or friends.

Though you studied at the old premises in Rua dos Bragas, you were involved in the early stages of conceiving the new premises on the Asprela Campus. What memories do you have of the transition from the old building to the present site in 2000?

It was Professor Armando Campos e Matos, who was also Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, who instructed me to

draw up the program to submit to the architects (who would take charge of the new premises project). I listened to all the teachers at the Faculty. Some wanted to move while others didn’t, as is always the case in such circumstances. So, working together with Professor Barbosa de Abreu, we advocated that spaces be organized along an axis, recommending that priority be given to the construction of the departments that were facing the tightest budgetary constraints. It was EU community funding that allowed the work to all go ahead at once. The architects proposed – very wisely – to split the axis into two parts with some green spaces between them. At the time they were built, the Faculty of Engineering buildings represented the largest construction project in Europe in the Higher Education sector. But I did not end up coming to the new facility. I retired before the great transfer operation,

At the time they were built, the Faculty of Engineering buildings represented the largest construction project in Europe in the Higher Education sector.”

LEGACY

headed by Professor Marques dos Santos, then Dean of the Faculty.

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Following a period of economic recession in Portugal, when construction was one of the most hard-hit sectors, what do you make of the current state of investment in public works?

The economic downturn has impacted on businesses of all sizes. There only remain a few large ones but many small ones. Those who were able to do so got out and proved their skill in many parts of the world. For some small and medium businesses, it was a catastrophe. We are now emerging with a few new strengths, such as the construction rehabilitation sector, which has been responsible for creating some jobs and specializing in new companies. It would be very helpful if a medium-long-term program were put forward, stating the main undertakings that the public authorities consider it possible to launch.

For many years you devoted yourself to Higher Education. What advice did you give to students at the time? What was for you a good student?

In those days, I would hold sessions with students when it came to them choosing the specialist area they wanted to follow, so as to elucidate what each could best find in themselves. I have always advised them to choose what they like best, as it is always better to do what one likes and because life itself tends to lead you down the right path. It is important to learn to think well, to present effectively the work that you do and to be very demanding of yourself and those for whom you are responsible.

The space in which we compete today is increasingly broad. Therefore, each individual’s professional ability is what will increasingly make a difference.

In your opinion, what are the main challenges for the engineering profession?

First and foremost is the ability to learn how to learn. That is why I underlined the importance of knowing how to think. What any professional today can be sure of is that within a decade they will have to practice the profession in a very different

way than they do today. So, you will have to learn continuously, whether by yourself or by returning to school now and again.

You took over the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research in 1978-79, in Portugal after the April 25 (1974) revolution. How did this invitation come about? And what memories do you have of that time?

It was the Prime Minister, Professor Mota Pinto, who invited me. I didn’t know him before, but he was able to convince me that we should all respond positively when we are asked to perform public functions, however tough they may be. I have written, elsewhere, of my memories of that time. It is not possible to summarize them here. I can only say that they were not traumatic. On the contrary, they actually turned out to be very stimulating!

You ended up taking on the portfolio of Territorial Planning and Administration from 1985 to 1995 and you were Minister for Public Works, Transport and Housing between 2002-2003. It is clear that you were always involved in public service: is it a legacy that you are proud of?

When I finished the Civil Engineering course in 1961, I was able to choose between five or six posts in the private sector, some very well paid. I chose FEUP which, though in material terms was the worst, was the one that offered a more stimulating career. Thus, I went into the public sector. The ministerial posts that I occupied came as a result of that initial choice. I hold good memories of the time I had the honour of serving the country. I have done no more than was my duty, but I am very grateful.

You continue to lead a very active professional life. What would you still like to do?

I would like to remain active until the end. I cannot say that I have an intense professional life today.

It is, rather, a very varied occupation that occupies all my available time, giving me the illusion that I can still be useful. And this is important in order to lead a physically and mentally healthy life. I would still like to do some more writing, but in such a way that my life can be interspersed with activi-

Biographical note

Luís Valente de Oliveira has an outstanding and wide-ranging career in public service having worked for several public institutions of national interest, and has been distinguished as Minister of Education and Scientific Research (1978-1979), Minister of Planning and Territorial Administration (1985-1995) and Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing (2002-2003). Between 1979 and 1985 he also assumed the Presidency of the Coordination Commission for the Northern Region (CCDRN).

About the Career Award: On 29 September, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) launched the 1st Edition of the FEUP Career Award, an initiative created to recognize excellence and symbolize the pride felt by the institution in the career of its graduates.

Bestowed annually, this award is intended for graduates of the Faculty of Engineering who have distinguished themselves throughout their career, who serve as a professional reference for their peers and for the community, and who have contributed to strengthening FEUP’s image as a leading school in the area of Engineering.

In reaching a final decision, consideration is duly given to a number of fully reasoned criteria, such as capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship, contribution to the development of society in a specific area, as well as undertaking of activities to promote and disseminate FEUP in the course of one’s academic and professional career.

Other awards: 1980 Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante (Grand Cross of the Order of Henry the Navigator) 1987 Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Cruzeiro do Sul (Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross), in Brazil 2002 Grã-Cruz da Ordem da Honra (Grand Cross of the Order of Honour), in Greece 2004 Grã-Cruz da Ordem Militar de Cristo (Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ) 2004 Gold Medal of Honour from Porto City Council 2008 Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), in France 2012 Medal of Merit from the University of Porto 2013 Honorary Doctorate from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro 2013 Appointment of Chancellor of the Orders of Civil Merit by the President of the Portuguese Republic 2017 Grã-Cruz da Ordem Militar de Sant’Iago da Espada (Grand Cross of the Military Order of Sant’Iago da Espada), from the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

LEGACY

Born on August 29, 1937, in São João da Madeira, Luís Valente de Oliveira graduated in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, where he was a PhD student and worked as a Lecturer (Professor from 1980) specialized in Transportation Planning, Territory and Regional Development. His academic career was not limited to Continental Portugal, earning a diploma in Regional Planning from the Institute of Social Studies at The Hague in the Netherlands (1969) and a Master of Science in Transport from Imperial College, London (1971).

ties that lead me to interacting with other people and participating in initiatives that I feel are useful.

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You have been honoured countless times throughout your life and career. What does it mean for you to have received the 1st FEUP Career Award?

The FEUP Career Award is, for me, a very special distinction. The School where I was a student and Professor appointed a jury that selected me, clearly from among many other more deserving candidates, which this our home university has always been able to produce in numbers. It is a question of the generosity of the members of the jury combined with luck, which I obviously find quite baffling. The result for me is very humbling and, for this reason, I am very much grateful to all those involved in the process, starting with the Dean of the Faculty who knew how to promote this tribute in grand style, revealing his great capacity to fulfil the role he occupies.

MUCH + THAN ENGINEERING

João Matias: leaving FEUP heading for the clouds

Text: Helena Peixoto Photos: João Matias

After four years studying Mechanical Engineering at FEUP, he found the courage and followed his life’s dream: to fly planes!

João Matias is proof that, with determination and perseverance, the sky’s the limit!

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rom an early age he showed interest in anything that involved mechanics, logical reasoning and technology.

Making a career in Formula 1 or a major aviation company (ideally as a pilot or, if not, in a backstage role) was always part of João Matias’ objectives and, therefore, doing the Integrated Master in Mechanical Engineering immediately seemed to him the most appropriate choice. He directly opted for the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) because of the undeniable reputation it had in this field: ‘It would be an honour to complete the course at such a prestigious faculty’, he says.

Born in Leiria but currently living in Leça da Palmeira, João attended FEUP from 2008 to 2012.

And if at first his aim was to finish his studies and only then move towards the dream of being a pilot, the year 2012 marked a turning point: the opportunity arose to travel to Florida and take a pilot’s course through a friend from Leiria who had already done it. With the indispensable help and support of his parents he decided to take a chance, put his studies on hold and flew over to the other side of the Atlantic.

The course was extremely intensive with little time for any breaks, lasting from December 2012 to May 2014. Given his excellent performance, the school itself offered him the opportunity to remain in the institution as a Flight Instructor, an opportunity he accepted without blinking and held until April 2016, when he returned to Europe to work for the Ryanair airline, the company where he is still based today.

And no, you cannot become a pilot overnight.

After joining the Irish airline, João began theoretical classes in April and only in September was he able to fly! There are indeed many procedures to study. All pilots undergo a very intensive two-month course (spent between theory lessons and simulators) to qualify for the Boeing 737. Besides, this is a profession that demands continuous study! At Ryanair, for example, evaluation takes places every semester with written exams and a 15-hour simulator test in which it is necessary to deal with various emergency situations and technical problems.

MUCH + THAN ENGINEERING

But the truth is that though this profession is demanding, it is also wonderful: ‘there is nothing more gratifying than ending the day without there being anything new to tell. It is a sign that we have done our work with the utmost responsibility and competence, having repaid the confidence our passengers have placed in us’, affirms the former FEUP student. “The feeling of flying a plane, be it a Cessna or a Boeing, is indescribable and it doesn’t go away over time. The freedom of flight and the ease with which we travel by plane today is something that people already take for granted.

The safety and reliability of these machines is a tremendous achievement that continues to evolve with each passing day”, he adds.

Another of the advantages associated with this job is the chance to know the world! Of all the countries he has had the opportunity to visit, João stresses his fascination for American culture, especially New York, but he does not fail to mention the indescribable sensation that is flying over national territory.

Plans for the future? Yes, the ex-engineering student has everything very well set out: in 2019 he will be promoted from Co-pilot to Captain, a job that he wants to go on doing until retirement age (65 years). After that, although it is no longer possible to fly commercially, he intends to continue giving flying lessons.

So then, how does FEUP enter into the equation?

The words come from the mouth of João Matias: ‘FEUP is part of my journey, and it’s where I made friends for life. For me I will always be proud to say that I attended FEUP, where I acquired very solid principles and deep mathematical knowledge while also encountering the real brains of Portuguese Engineering’. Suffice it to say that the Faculty of Engineering was the ‘launchpad’ into the clouds and beyond!

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As in all professions, there are times which are more challenging. And if such moments are experienced several thousand feet above the ground, adrenaline is truly put to the test: on one of the flights that he was instructing, shortly after take-off, engine failure was detected (in a single engine airplane) and it would not reignite. How to deal with a situation like this? João says that the key to staying calm is knowledge! Immediately, he took the controls and headed the plane back to the airport. He completed the necessary procedures, reported the emergency situation to the control tower, dealt well with speed and altitude and managed to land the plane on one of the runways at the airport from which they had successfully taken off.

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25 JAN

Paulo Tavares de Castro, Full Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), was selected to join the Scientific Committee of the CleanSky 2 Joint Undertaking, a European program to promote the competitiveness and excellence of the industry which has a total funding of more than 4 billion euros, supported by the European Union’s H2020 Program and major European aeronautics manufacturers.

This day marked the 181st anniversary in the history of what was the first engineering school in the country (Polytechnic Academy).

The “FEUP Day” ceremony is a very special day for the whole community because it publicly recognizes and highlights the professional and personal success of all those students, teachers and researchers as well as technicians with FEUP DNA, strengthening the spirit of the academic community. The guest speaker was Luís Filipe Reis, Chief Corporate Centre Officer (CCCO) at Sonae.

Maria do Carmo Pereira and Joana Loureiro, researchers at FEUP’s Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE) and authors of the project “New therapeutic approach and new biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease based on BDNF receptor cleavage”, were distinguished with the 2017 Mantero Belardo Prize. Promoted by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, the prize of 200 thousand euros was awarded to a multidisciplinary team including FEUP which aims to discover a new methodology for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

23 FEB

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Photo: Susana Neves

06 FEB

06 FEB

José Carlos Marques dos Santos, former Rector of the University of Porto and Dean of FEUP, became the first Ombudsman of the city of Porto, a post created by the municipality to serve as an “instrument for effective citizen participation”. The main duty of the Ombudsman is to receive citizens’“complaints, grievances and requests” regarding municipal bodies and municipal services, tasked with giving them consideration, without any decision-making power, and referring them to the responsible authorities with “whatever recommendations are deemed appropriate to prevent and remedy any failures detected”.

23 FEB

FEUP revolutionized the ticketing system for public transport in Porto with a new mobile app for the Andante system. Developed by the Porto Intermodal Transport (TIP) in close collaboration with the transport operators and FEUP, the app enables travel on public and private transport integrated in the Andante system as well as Porto’s urban trains using only a mobile phone and always at the cheapest rate.

17 MAR

José Pedro Silva and Pedro Simeão Carvalho, former students of the Integrated Master in Informatics and Computing Engineering (MIEIC) at FEUP, were made members of the Executive Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Portugal, the Portuguese branch of the largest professional organization in the world. Assuming executive functions for the biennium 2018-19, José Pedro Silva assumed the position of President of IEEE Portugal and Pedro Simeão Carvalho was appointed Treasurer of the same organization.

Photo: Egídio Santos

19 21 MAR

19 MAR 19 21 MAR

“Digital Mathematical Consultancy”, was set up by Manuel Joaquim Oliveira, professor at the Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), with the aim of “offering students of curriculum units in the field of mathematics greater training opportunities, clarification of doubts and knowledge testing”, winning the 2018 edition of the University of Porto’s Pedagogical Excellence Award.

The largest ever edition was held of the “Engineering Profession Week”. Between March 19 and 21, FEUP welcomed more than 2,000 secondary school students, teachers and parents/guardians, who found out about the multidisciplinarity of the different areas of engineering. In simple terms, 68 activities were described, distributed across 24 different courses, as a means of then revealing the five professions that secondary school students could explore during the three days of event.

03 APR 26 APR 12 MAY

American John Goodenough, considered the father of traditional lithium ion batteries, was at FEUP to participate in another edition of the Lecture Series “The Voice of Industry”. Promoted by FEUP’s Industry Liaison Committee, the initiative was also led by Helena Braga, a FEUP researcher who has worked with Goodenough and has excelled in the development of a solid battery, - less polluting, lighter and capable of multiplying the capacity of traditional lithium-ion batteries - which may revolutionize the way we store energy.

A research team led by Nuno Azevedo, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and researcher at FEUP’s LEPABE, received € 1 million in EU funds under the H2020 program to develop new therapies to inhibit bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Pedro Aires Montenegro, researcher at CONSTRUCT – FEUP’s Institute of R & D in Structures and Constructions, was honoured with the Young Engineer Innovation Award 2017, given by the Order of Engineers - Southern Region, which awarded the study undertaken by the researcher in the field of his doctoral thesis, entitled “Methodology for Analysing of Safe Passage of Trains on Bridges”.

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30 MAY 14 JUN

Carolina Furtado, a student in FEUP’s Mechanical Engineering Doctoral Program and researcher at the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering (INEGI), was the only Portuguese to win one of the most prestigious international awards in the area of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering – the ‘Amelia Earhart Fellowship’ 2018-2019.

The Consortium of Engineering Schools is a newly created organization that brings together the main engineering schools in Portugal, among them the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), (IST), the School of Engineering of the University of Minho (EEUM), the Nova School of Science and Technology of the New University of Lisbon (FCT Nova) and the University of Aveiro (UA). Its main aims are to contribute towards excellence in teaching, research and innovation in the field of engineering; to promote public recognition of the key role of engineering in the nation’s sustainable social and economic development; and to position itself as an agent for dialogue with government and social agents in this area.

07 JUL

Vítor Oliveira, a senior researcher at the Research Centre for Territory, Transports and Environment (CITTA) at FEUP and FCTUC, was elected Secretary General of the International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF), the world’s leading scientific research organization in urban morphology.

09 13 JUL

15 students from the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), Beijing’s top higher education institution, travelled from the other end of the world to spend two weeks at the University of Porto – the first at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the second at the Faculty of Engineering. From July 9 to 13, they participated in the first edition of the FEUP Summer School – Engineering for a Better Future, which aimed to reinforce the importance and role of Engineering in constructing a better future across the different areas of society.

25 29 JUL

The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) hosted the IEEE Region 8 Student and Young Professional Congress, a biennial congress bringing together the IEEE community (the largest worldwide organization of professional engineers) to share and discuss technology techniques and software development skills in a multicultural environment.

Organized by a group of students and recent graduates from the Faculty of Engineering, the event hosted more than 400 participants from all over Europe.

26 JUL

30 JUL

After 26 years spent observing the heart of the Milky Way, it finally became possible to prove the effects predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity in the movement of a star passing through the extreme gravitational field near the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. This long sought-after result was the culmination of a long program of observations made by ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, with the participation of Portuguese astrophysicist Paulo Garcia, FEUP professor, who led the team who developed all the software required to perform the measurements in real time.

President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, presented the Grand Cross of the Order of Public Instruction to the former Rector of the University of Porto, Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo, in recognition of the outstanding services rendered by the FEUP Professor for the cause of teaching and education, and, in particular, “for the highly meritorious way that he carried out his significant and demanding duties as rector”.

28 SEP

28 SEP 29 SEP

One of the world’s most prestigious awards in the field of civil engineering was awarded to Adão da Fonseca, the retired FEUP professor, in “recognition for the importance of his projects with regard to social welfare and for his career as a civil engineer to the benefit of society”. The “Excellence Award for Civil Engineering” will be presented during the 14th WCCE General Assembly, to be held in Lisbon in September 2019.

This was the third time that FEUP has organized “Homecoming”, an event specially designed for alumni, teachers and collaborators, but also open to current faculty students.

It is a day spent with colleagues and families, in a relaxed and enjoyable environment mixing the different generations of engineers.

Though essentially a recreational activity, this is also an excellent opportunity to network and establish contacts.

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15 OCT 09 OCT

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15 OCT

10 19 OCT

“International Doctoral Students Orientation Day” is one of FEUP’s most recent initiatives for welcoming new international students beginning their cycle of doctoral studies there. The first edition of the event involved about 50 participants, a number that exceeded the total number of enrolments, which reflects the importance of an integrated ‘soft-landing’ strategy not only for undergraduate and graduate students but also for those at PhD level.

‘Tribute to life’ was the name of the initiative promoted by the Master in Industrial and Product Design of U.Porto and IKEA Industry, which consisted in creating objects using at least 90% of material wasted in a factory in Northern Portugal. The main purpose of this project was to stimulate reflection on the relationship between the cycle of human life and the life cycle of objects which were exhibited at the Mar Shopping Centre.

Bringing companies closer to the University and thus enhancing the talent and knowledge produced are the objectives of the “FEUP PRIME - Corporate Membership Program”, an innovative initiative of FEUP, with companies well known for being strategic partners, such as EFACEC, Kaizen and SONAE IM. Through this program, the aim is to create value and competitive advantages for companies, establishing a direct connection with FEUP’s sources of talent and knowledge production.

16 OCT

Carolina Russo, a former Civil Engineering student at FEUP, joined the board of the Portuguese Business Society (PBS) Singapore, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and developing business relations between Portuguese and Singaporean organizations.

16 19 OCT

“FEUP Career Fair, where companies find talent”: this was the motto launched for another edition of the Faculty of Engineering’s Employment Fair, which was attended by 80 highly-reputable national and international companies with 3,000 job offers in the area of engineering. Aimed mainly at final-year students, the initiative also targeted alumni interested in finding out about the offers available.

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29 31 OCT 03 NOV 12 NOV

From October 29 to 31st, the Faculty of Engineering of U.Porto hosted another edition of the Business & Innovation Network (BIN @ Porto), where hundreds of researchers, industrial partners and personalities related to technological investment discussed the transversality and new world order promoted by the theme of Circular Economy.

“Study, design, construct and equip two buildings on the FEUP Campus, by 2022, with a usable space of about 15,000 m2, providing a multidisciplinary environment to support education, research and innovation; including laboratory facilities.” It was as a result of this line of action proposed by the Faculty Dean that a delegation of 17 members travelled to the University of Sheffield (UK) in search of international best practice.

Pedro Sarmento de Beires and Fábio Brito, both FEUP alumni, won second and third prize, respectively, in the 2018 edition of the REN Award, an accolade that distinguishes the best theses in the fields of Engineering, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Information Systems and Computing.

10 13 DEC

24 NOV 10 13 DEC

FEUP organized another edition of the New Masters Ceremony, an opportunity to honour and recognizes the careers and academic achievements of FEUP’s new graduates. With a distinctly family atmosphere, the program included the presentation of Merit Awards to the most outstanding students throughout the course, awarded by companies and other institutions partnering FEUP.

A team from the University of Porto won the 23rd edition of the Global Marketing Competition (GMKC), one of the world’s largest competitions in Supply Chain Management and Finance. Led by Luís Filipe Valente, a finalist student in the Integrated Master in Electrical Engineering and Computers at FEUP and researcher at INESC TEC, the team also included Bruno Silva, a recent graduate from the Integrated Master in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at FEUP and Maria João Campos, student of the Integrated Master in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine (FMUP), and granted a prize of 16 thousand euros as well as an MBA for each of the team members.

FEUP IN FIGURES 2018 EDUCATION

32% STUDY PROGRAMMES

STUDENTS

68% 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

1387

5464

863

Master programmes

304

554

164

PhD programmes

238

843

102

1929

6861

1129

Total*

PhD Programmes

*only includes the share of coordinated FEUP courses.

NON-DEGREE PROGRAMMES

4 Specialisations and Advanced Studies

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

EMPLOYMENT RATE on graduation

up to 3 months

51%

84%

up to 6 months

92%

415

576

788

Mobility students OUTGOING

Mobility students* INCOMING

Degree students*

* International students represent 20% of the students enrolled Studied sample: 581 master graduates in engineering in 2017/2018 Response Rate: 69% of all integrated master graduates

QUALITY INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS RANK

QS-WUR BY SUBJECT

EUROPE

WORLD

Chemical Engineering

15-28

51-100

Civil Engineering

16-36

51-100

Mechanical Engineering

37-54

101-150

EUROPE

WORLD

9

53

15-16

83-85

22

80

EUROPE

WORLD

QS - Eng.

58

178

NTU - Eng.

33-34

163-165

CWTS Leiden - Eng. *

40

177

NTU BY SUBJECT

URAP - Eng.

16

66

Civil Engineering

34-35

116

Chemical Engineering

Best Global - Eng * Ranking using the indicator P - number of publications

Mechanical Engineering

R&D AND INNOVATION

R&D STRUCTURES WITH PARTICIPATION OF FEUP ACADEMIC STAFF

R&D units hosted at FEUP

R&D INTERNATIONAL

H2020 aproved/coordinated projects

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

(2014 - 2018)

7 15 97% 28/5 30/7

Other Programmes aproved/coordinated projects

10 45 14 43 21

Priority inventions filed

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Patent international extensions Invention disclosures Tech transfer deals

Scientific publications indexed to the ISI Web of Science It represents 18,9% of the publications of University of Porto, which corresponds to more than 23,5% of the Portuguese publications (2017)

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

845

RESOURCES HUMAN RESOURCES

59% 41%

406

Teaching staff (FTE*)

International staff: 6.4%

91% Holding a PhD

*Full-time equivalent

64

Researchers (FTE*)

351

403

**

Technical and administrative staff (FTE*)

Research fellows (FTE*)

** About 26% belong to UPdigital and the shared services of U.Porto (SPUP).

FINANCES

25,718 30,637 56,355

State Budget (46.0%) Own income (54.0%) Total income (thousand €)

10,189M€ 9,354M€ 4,218M€ 6,876M€

R&D projects Tuition fees Sales and services Other

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME

TALENT ATTRACTION boost your employer brand

EDUCATION engage top students to solve real problems and create innovative solutions

RESEARCH work with FEUP scholars on cutting-edge challenges

ENGAGEMENT participate in the life of the academic community

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