In one of the laboratories at the South Tower of Técnico – Alameda campus, a cut-out of a body is outlined with sticky tape on the floor. The “victim” is Leonor, a student from the Student Support Office, and the “inspectors” are secondary school students tasked with identifying the “criminal” using a laboratory process involving DNA samples from various suspects. On top of one of the lab benches, a board with pins connected by red strings attempts to map out names, photographs, and screenshots containing incriminating mobile phone messages along with flirtations and quarrels.
The fictional plot is taken lightly and with humour by these young people who are taking part in one of the many activities organised by Técnico Students’ Organisations as part of the “Verão na ULisboa” summer school (hosted simultaneously by several ULisboa schools). From 30 June to 4 July, around two hundred secondary school students explored Técnico campi in Alameda and Oeiras, engaging with the study programmes available at the School while benefiting from mentoring by Técnico students.
“I came here this week to help clarify my university choices”, says José, a 12th-grade student from Lisbon, during a break in activities, minutes after learning more about luminescent substances in one of the laboratories in the South Tower. Although he hasn’t yet decided on a specific course of study, he confirmed that “Técnico is among my top choices”. While he has a strong focus on physics, solving the mystery of the “crime” in the laboratory has sparked his interest in biomedical engineering. José is part of the ‘3+1 Musketeers’ team (named because he joined later than the others due to the national math exam), and he expressed confidence in how his rocket would perform during the traditional launch on the final afternoon of Verão na ULisboa, held at Alameda campus.
On that afternoon, several rockets soared through the skies above Alameda. Below, excitement filled the air as students used black markers to sign each other’s t-shirts (a Técnico student who was supervising one of the groups proudly sported signs on his shirt with phrases like ‘cute,’ ‘you’re so annoying,’ and ‘best monitor.’ The joyful noise intensified when the winning team, the ‘Blessed Bananas,’ was celebrated.
The rocket launch marked the culmination of a week that included a visit to the Lisbon University Stadium. On the way to the stadium, Técnico’s cyan blue was joined by other vibrant colours, representing students from various ULisboa schools. Reds, greens, yellows, and more came together in a diverse palette of young people from different parts of the country, all united in playing games and sports. Reflecting on the experience, Ana Isabel strongly recommends that her colleagues participate in future editions of Verão na ULisboa. She noted, “I’m more interested in pursuing engineering” adding that the opportunity to talk with Técnico students really piqued her curiosity and was a highlight of the initiative. “Even if you don’t resonate much with the activities, talking to older students who have more experience is very important”, she commented.
The Oeiras campus also hosted activities as part of the “Verão na ULisboa”, welcoming 66 participants throughout the week. Students had the opportunity to learn about the different phases of a satellite’s life cycle – from design and assembly to testing and operation. They explored how antennas work, what kind of information can be collected from meteorological satellites, and how to communicate with real satellites like ISTSat-1, which was built at Técnico and would celebrate its first anniversary the following week.
Additional activities at the campus included an introduction to practical electronics, featuring circuit assembly and printed circuit board (PCB) design sessions. There was also a video game creation workshop – where students reflected on the elements that make a game fun – and an augmented reality activity was conducted, showcasing various interactive filters and the underlying concepts behind tools used in platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.
