The AE’s new members commendation ceremony took place this Monday, February 11, at the Portuguese Academy of Engineering (AE) and was attended by the President of the Portuguese Republic, professor Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. During the ceremony, engineer Manuel Rocha, former professor and Técnico alumnus, was elected Notable Engineer by AE.
Professor Arlindo Oliveira (president of Técnico), professor Paula Diogo (Faculty of Sciences and Technology – FCT NOVA) and professor Maria do Céu Patrão Neves (University of Azores), participated in a panel titled “Engineering: Social and ethical challenges”.
“Science, engineering and technology allow us to face the future with hope and to start living a sustainable lifestyle”, said professor Arlindo Oliveira. “We don’t know what the future will bring us. In fact, the future remains unknown and unpredictable, because we don’t know what is coming”.
According to Paula Diogo “It is unthinkable that we can teach everything to our students. Above all, we have to teach them how to solve complex problems, how to work in groups, how to be creative and innovative, and how to value respect for difference”. Professor Maria do Céu Patrão Neves stressed that “from an ethical point of view, it is important that engineering remains true to its essence”.
The former president of the Portuguese Academy of Sciences, professor Emanuel Maranha das Neves, highlighted the remarkable achievements of engineer Manuel Rocha as well as his notable career: “Manuel Rocha was a man who dedicated himself to the public cause in an incredible way. He is one of the most remarkable figures of the 20th century in Portugal”.
Professor Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recalled engineer Manuel Rocha as “an exceptional person, with an impressive humility”. “An engineer is the bearer of important knowledge. Portugal owes a lot to its engineers”, said the President of the Portuguese Republic.
