Date: 18 March
Hour: 10 a.m.
Venue: Great Hall, Técnico – Alameda campus
Where do the things we use to make other things come from?
In this session, we will discover what mineral raw materials are present in all things, where they come from, and why we need them. How do minerals form beneath our feet? Why are there so many different minerals? Are minerals and rocks the same thing? In searching for answers to these questions, we will also discover the importance of mining and energy resources engineers.
On 18 March 2026, at 10 a.m., live at Técnico – Alameda campus, we will be joined by Maria João Pereira, a professor at Instituto Superior Técnico and researcher at Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente (CERENA), who will answer these questions.
Biography
Maria João Pereira completed her undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in Mining Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico, where she is now a Full Professor in the Department of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineering and a researcher at CERENA. She conducts research in geostatistics, a field that allows her to study and represent the uncertainty associated with phenomena that vary in space — from natural processes, such as those occurring on Earth and in the environment, to phenomena resulting from human activity, such as mining. She enjoys showing how science and engineering can help us better understand the planet and use it more responsibly.
About the Programme
“Explain it like I’m 5 – Science talks at Técnico for curious children and adults”, is designed for young people, opening a door to get to know Técnico research and to ask our scientists a question.
