Located on the Technological and Nuclear Campus (CTN), the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Science (DECN) has a strong research component, occupying a prominent position at national and international level in the areas in which it operates. The president of the department, Dr. Isabel Prudêncio, helps us to understand the work that has been done to continue to do a research of excellence, not neglecting the contribution to the teaching of Técnico, which is intended to be increasingly significant.

History printed in DECN this connection to research, as a result of this integration, in march 2012, of the former State Laboratory Technological and Nuclear Institute (ITN) in Instituto Superior Técnico, which makes it the newest department of the School. The president of the department recalls that “the deep collaboration” that has always existed between ITN and Técnico, would eventually be reflected in a transition process “simple and very natural” when the integration took place. “The process meant that there was a reorganization of the people who worked on these campuses and the decision at the time was to make a department,” she says.

After 10 years, research remains the differentiating brand of DECN that presents a broad spectrum of activities in various areas. “It is a department that lives a lot of the research process and where there are excellent conditions for masters, doctorate or postdoctoral students to come and be integrated into projects or even develop their own project,” says Dr. Isabel Prudêncio.

THE DECN is organized in two scientific areas: the Area of Nuclear Technologies and Radiological Protection which includes the development and applications of Instrumentation and Nuclear Techniques, the aspects of Radiological Protection and Safety related to the assessment of risks for individuals and the environment and Nuclear Engineering, highlighting the nuclear energy, either on the basis of this merger, it will continue to play an important role in developed societies; and the Area of Chemical and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences that brings together a broad spectrum of activities, in areas as diverse as materials science, cultural heritage, geosciences and environment, and health. This scientific area is thus divided by the fields of: Chemistry – Solid State Physics and Elements – Nuclear Geosciences and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences.

This robust structure has 8 coordinating researchers, 1 professor and 1 associate professor, also affiliated with the Department of Physics (DF),18 principal investigators, and 33 auxiliary researchers. The research activities of its members are based on different research units, including: the Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (C2TN), The Institute of Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion (IPFN), Center for Structural Chemistry (CQE), INESC Microsystems and Nanotechnologies (INESC MN) and the Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB) . “In the research career it’s not, as we know, mandatory to teach, but many of our researchers, even if they do not teach, guide theses and therefore are not away from this pedagogical aspect”, as Dr. Isabel Prudêncio points out. Proof of this is the number of PhD students, 46 in total, with guidance or co-orientation of DECN members.

The desire to deepen the contribution to education and training

Although the teaching component of this department cannot be compared to other departments of Técnico, this exists, and the DECN is responsible for programs of the 2. º cycle: the Master’s degree in Radiological Protection and Safety and the Master’s degree in Sciences and Technologies for Cultural Heritage, taught in partnership with the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Letters.

The last one was launched last year, but given the short time that was reserved for disclosure after certification by A3ES it ended up not having students enrolled. “The Master’s degree in Science and Technologies for Cultural Heritage has a very significant practical component, with many practical classes and visits to archaeological spaces and museums,” says the president of DECN.

The contribution to the training of Técnico students is also visible in minors’ offer, and DECN is responsible for coordinating three (Applied Nuclear Sciences, Medical Physics, Technologies for Cultural Heritage).

In addition to that, there are several curricular units linked to the scientific areas of the department, and several DECN researchers who are responsible for curricular units affecting other departments.

The contribution to training in the areas to which it is linked is not, however, through the walls of Técnico, since the department’s researchers regularly develop training actions for professionals in the areas of radiological protection, industrial use of equipment or radioactive sources and management of radioactive waste and also training and qualification actions of teachers.

Still, and as Dr. Isabel Prudêncio confesses, the desire is to go further and further: “there is this capacity, there is will, and I think that over the years a great effort has been made, not only at the level of our department, but also at Técnico management processes themselves, and the other departments for our contribution to increase”. “Although we are in the research career we have a great desire to transmit knowledge,” says the researcher.

Attracting more people to this campus full of capabilities, infrastructure and knowledge is a goal of the Department’s management. “There are many more people here, there is a lot of space, and many infrastructures that have value that can be even more used, we have to be able to attract students here, create the conditions for students to feel good here”, declares the Técnico researcher.

With our eyes set on the future, it’s also inevitable not to address the great project that is expected to be born in Quinta dos Remédios, right next to Técnico Campus, the Unit for therapy with protons. Asked about the expectations that exist within the DECN to be able to actively contribute to the success of this project, the researcher is very clear: “we are interested in having our role in this project since there is knowledge and know-how, and we can also start new areas of research so that we can make our contribution”, concludes Dr. Isabel Prudêncio.29