Since 1996, the 24th of November has been celebrated as the National Day of Scientific Culture, in honour of the birthday of professor and science communicator Rómulo de Carvalho. This event led to the Science and Technology Week during which various science communication activities are organised with the aim of contributing to the appropriation of science by citizens.
As part of Science and Technology Week 2023, various research centres and members of the Técnico community are organising or taking part in scientific dissemination activities. Below, in chronological order, is a list of these initiatives.
Webinar “Doing Science with and for People”
• Date – 21st November 2023
• Hour – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Venue – Online
The Interactive Technologies Institute [(ITI)] at Instituto Superior Técnico will host the free webinar “Doing Science with and for People” on 21st November as part of the Science and Technology Week celebrations.
The webinar will feature two European projects, LoGaCulture and Bauhaus of the Sea Sails, represented by Pedro Ferreira and Frederico Duarte, respectively. In addition to their local impact, these projects are strongly focused on sustainability, using new technologies to significantly improve the lives of many people.
The LoGaCulture project (Locative games for cultural heritage) brings together experts in location-based games to explore how this new generation of games can benefit society and enhance cultural heritage. The project includes case studies in four different countries where technology and art come together to improve the visitor’s experience. In Portugal, the case study will be developed on Madeira Island, where a game connected to the island’s natural points of interest, including marine megafauna, will be created.
On the other hand, Bauhaus of the Sea Sails aims to combat climate change through a multidisciplinary, intergenerational, and interspecies approach. This project emerged from the intersection of art, culture, citizenship, science, and technology, focusing on European coastal areas. The objectives include pollution reduction and the regeneration of aquatic ecosystems. The project carries out activities in aquatic environments in five countries. In Portugal, the focus will be on the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Tagus River and its estuary.
The webinar is open to all citizens and will include a Q&A session.
Territóriojusto.pt – Territories of Space Injustice in Portugal
• Date – 21st November 2023
• Hour – 11.30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Venue – Quinta do Marquês Secondary School – Oeiras
The Território.justo.pt project, organised by the Center for Innovation in Territory, Urbanism and Architecture (CiTUA), applies the concept of spatial justice in its complexity to the reality of Portugal, on a municipal basis. It aims at Secondary School students and consists of a debate/discussion on spatial justice focused on ‘Lisbon vs. Lisbon Metropolitan Area’ and also ‘Lisbon vs. the rest of the country’. At the end, new mappings of Portugal will be presented, illustrating the country’s territorial inequalities.
Conference “Artificial Intelligence and Art”
• Date – 22nd November 2023
• Hour – 10 a.m. (Lecture by Arlindo Oliveira); 4.35 p.m. (Panel with Ana Paiva)
• Venue – Pavilion of Knowledge
The Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Art, organised by the Association for the Promotion and Development of the Information Society (APDSI), will be attended by some members of the Técnico community. The Técnico professor Arlindo Oliveira will give a talk titled “O nascimento da IA no seio da investigação e a relação com a arte” (“The birth of AI within research and its relationship with art”). In the same context, Ana Paiva, also a Técnico professor, will take part in the panel discussion “Que equilíbrio pretendemos para o futuro entre a criação humana e a IA?” (“How will humans and AI coexist in the future?”)
The event will take place between 9.30 am and 5.50 pm, and will include “an exhibition of works and performances created with the help of AI” and “workshops introducing generative AI for visual and textual arts”. The conference will be attended by researchers in the field of computational creativity, artists, designers, lawyers and investors in art-related digital assets.
Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa)/Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) Scientific Awards Ceremony
• Date – 23rd November 2023
• Hour – 5.30 p.m.
• Venue – Great Hall, Rectorate Building of Universidade de Lisboa
Five Técnico researchers won the ULisboa/CGD Scientific Award and another six received an honourable mention. The Award ceremony will include a conference titled “Ser cientista em Portugal no séc. XXI” (“Being a scientist in Portugal in the 21st century”), by Técnico professor Luís Oliveira e Silva.
Lecture “Os Filhos das Estrelas”
• Date – 24th November 2023
• Hour – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Venue – Carolina Beatriz Ângelo School (2nd and 3rd cycle of Basic Education), Guarda
The Center for Astrophysics and Gravitation (CENTRA) and the Department of Physics (DF) at Técnico are celebrating the National Day of Scientific Culture at Carolina Beatriz Ângelo School, in Guarda. Ana Mourão, a CENTRA researcher and DF professor, will give the lecture ”Os Filhos das Estrelas”, on 24 November, at 9 am, for 7th grade students.
15 billion years after the Big Bang, these students will discuss with Ana Mourão the evolution of the Universe, the formation and death of stars and the origin of elements such as carbon, oxygen and iron. They will also have the chance to think about the development of science and technology that has made it possible to answer some of these questions. But perhaps most importantly, they will be able to talk about future projects… will any of these students start thinking about a new project?”
Conference “Challenges to Aviation Sustainability: Examining the Complexities through the Lens of Voluntary Carbon Offsets”
• Date – 24th November 2023
• Hour – 5 p.m.
• Venue – Conference Room, Rectorate Building of Universidade de Lisboa
The Thematic Interdisciplinary Network on Smart Urban Mobility (redeMOV) at Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa) will organise the Conference “Challenges to Aviation Sustainability: Examining the Complexities through the Lens of Voluntary Carbon Offsets”, presented by Fabiana Mello, Técnico PhD student (Transport Systems), within the scope of the conference series “Conversas à Sexta”.
The short-term reality underscores a pressing dilemma: the aviation sector currently lacks viable means to counteract its rising greenhouse gas emissions. Current technological progress, fuel and operational efficiencies are unable to maintain, let alone curb emission levels from aviation. The readily available tool to tackle emissions is offsetting, which the sector leverages through CORSIA and voluntary carbon markets.
National Day of Scientific Culture
On the occasion of the National Day of Scientific Culture, celebrated on 24th November, some educational resources produced by the Técnico community will also be shared, such as books, podcasts and YouTube playlists.
