The 2021 Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Award ceremony took place on November 18, at Técnico – Alameda Campus (Congress Centre). Engineers Hemaxi Narotamo and Maria Botelho were awarded ex aequo in the “Young Alumna” category. Engineer Ângela Nunes was the winner in the “Role Model” category.

Before the award ceremony, there was time for a tribute to Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo by one of her colleagues. Engineer José Antelo recalled her “broad smile” and her commitment “to causes”.

The two award winners in the “Young Alumna” category graduated in Biomedical Engineering and are currently PhD students at Técnico. Hermaxi Narotamo thanked the School for being her second home, and Maria Catarina Botelho highlighted “this is a great time to be an Engineer”.

Engineer Ângela Nunes was awarded in the “Role Model” category, for her “career dedicated to innovation in the areas of civil engineering and building materials”, highlighted the jury. In her speech, the alumna referred to her “passion for the development of materials”. The members of the jury also highlighted engineer Ângela Nunes’ “leadership and inventive spirit, owner of several national and European patents”. According to the Executive Director at Secil, the biggest challenge in her career was the Vasco da Gama Bridge, for its 120-year durability.

The Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Award was created in 2016 by Técnico and aims to promote gender equality and to recognise the crucial role of women in engineering areas. In this year’s edition, Filstone joined Técnico in the delivery of this Award.