The history of electrical and computing spans several centuries and is shaped by the contributions of many individuals. The book titled ‘Vultos da Electrotecnia e da Computação’, which was presented at Técnico Great Hall, on the afternoon of September 25th, features 42 biographies of personalities born between the 18th and 21st centuries, as told by 28 academics from various Portuguese universities. Nine of the authors are researchers and professors at Técnico.

Carlos Salema, an emeritus professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, presented the book stressing that it was ‘not at all obvious that something like this should be done’ but ‘it ended up being done’. The Técnico alumnus chose Michael Faraday, the ‘bookbinder’ who started as a chemist and became a physicist, who ‘was a teacher without formally being a student’.

Luís Oliveira e Silva, president of the Técnico School Council, highlighted the event as a ‘celebration of prominent figures and authors, who are also figures in our science, electrical engineering and computing’. He also stressed that the book was not only a tribute, but also a demonstration of the interdisciplinary nature of today’s science and technology.

The book was Francisco Vaz’s idea, together with Pedro Guedes de Oliveira, both professors at the University of Porto and editors of the book.

The Técnico professors Arlindo Oliveira, Carlos Alberto Ferreira Fernandes, Fernando Pereira, Guilherme Dinis Moreno da Silva Arroz, Isabel Ribeiro, Isabel Trancoso, Leonel Sousa, Mário A.T. Figueiredo and Moisés Simões Piedade co-author the book.