Paulo Martins, professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Técnico (DEM) and researcher at the Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IDMEC) was recently appointed Fellow of the International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP), the world leading organization in production engineering research. The Técnico professor joins a group of internationally recognized scientists elected to be CIRP members for life.
According to the Técnico professor, this appointment is “important for me and for the Mechanical Technology and Industrial Management scientific area of DEM”.
“Being appointed Fellow is, above all, the international recognition of the technical and scientific work that my colleagues Beatriz Silva, Carlos Silva, Ivo Bragança, Luis Alves and I have been doing over many years of activity in this area of knowledge” , adds the IDMEC researcher.
CIRP was founded in 1951 to promote, by scientific research, the development of all aspects of manufacturing technology and it is now at the forefront of design, optimization, control and management of processes, machines and systems. Sustainable production and the environmental impact of new technologies have been CIRP’s goal in recent years.
The Academy has restricted membership based on demonstrated excellence in research and has some 600 worldwide academic and industrial members from 50 industrialized countries. CIRP has some 180 Fellows and Honorary Fellows. “Due to the limited number of CIRP Fellows, the election of a Fellow is a lengthy, rigorous process ensuring the highest possible academic standards”, explains professor Paulo Martins.
The Associate Members, who shall not exceed 150, “are renowned scientists, with high potential, and typically elected for a period of three years with the possibility of renewal”, says professor Paulo Martins. The Corporate Members, who shall not exceed 150 either“ are members directly linked to the industry sector and who follow the research work of academic members of CIRP and often contribute to the exchange of information within CIRP, presenting their views about industrial needs and perspectives”, highlights the Técnico professor. The remaining members are Young Research Affiliates and some invited members, particularly from countries not yet involved in CIRP.
4 Portuguese scientists are part of CIRP: 3 Fellows and 1 Associate Member. Professor Paulo Martins is the only one who works in Portugal, “it is natural that this appointment can stimulate a more active participation of the Portuguese scientific community in CIRP”.
