In one of the laboratories in the South Tower, a group of students gather around the laboratory equipment, listening attentively to the instructions of a Técnico professor. It could be just another Técnico chemistry class, but these are secondary school students – some of the 32 participants in the “Técnico Holiday Programme – Easter 2025” who had the opportunity to explore the various areas of science and engineering taught at the School.
In that laboratory, students tried to extract the caffeine in black tea through the sublimation process, a transition from the solid to the gaseous state. Hours earlier, the same group composed melodies by playing on bananas connected to an electrical circuit, like the keys of a piano, especially rich in potassium.
‘Initially, Marta was somewhat hesitant to participate in the activities, but she quickly enjoyed them. Eager to pursue the Undergraduate Programme in Biomedical Engineering at Técnico, the 10th grader brought a friend to the Técnico Holiday Programme, which she highly recommends because “you get to know almost all the engineering disciplines while making friends in the process.”
At another end of Alameda campus, the challenge involves civil engineering – armed with kebab sticks, the students try to build a bridge, which is then scored in terms of aesthetics and based on the load it can withstand before giving way. ‘Compared to previous editions, these are very solid bridges’, shares Pedro Semeão, a member of the Civil Engineering Students’ Organisation (Fórum Civil), as he watches a team passionately discussing the best way to add a pinnacle tower to the deck of their building.
The architectural skills of these secondary school students didn’t end there – in another activity, challenged to plan two houses in the eastern part of Lisbon, one of the groups proposed a helipad on the roof of a senior citizen’s house, to help him on his trips to the neighbourhood grocery store. When evaluating and scoring the projects, the members of the Architecture Students’ Organisation (NucleAR) were able to praise (at least) the creativity of the participants.
“The students have been enjoying it,” says Constança Simões from the Student Support Office (NAPE), who is accompanying one of the groups participating in this edition of the Técnico Holiday Programme. Constança decided to join the NAPE team because she has “always liked Técnico and its academic atmosphere.” She believes that “showcasing its training offering in secondary schools across the country is a really good idea.” In addition to this holiday programme, Constança also participated in “Verão na ULisboa” the previous year and in the welcoming activities aimed at mobility students, and she was involved in the Mentoring Programme (for welcoming new students).
Francisco, a 10th grader, had already participated in an activity held at Técnico during the summer holidays. After attending this second initiative he has no doubts – ‘Técnico is one of the best universities in Portugal’.
