Professor Manuel Prieto’s academic jubilee took place last Friday, 28th June 2019, and brought together friends, colleagues and alumni, who highlighted professor Manuel Prieto’s remarkable scientific work in the area of Molecular and Celular Biophysics, as well as his inspiring personality.
The president of the organising committee of the ceremony, professor Mário Nuno Berberan e Santos, the president of Técnico, professor Arlindo Oliveira, and the president of the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), professor Joaquim Sampaio Cabral, stressed the importance of professor Manuel Prieto’s research work, the partnerships he established and the enthusiasm he passed on to his students.
“We are very grateful for your guidance and for your formal and informal teaching. One-to-one interaction is essential in advanced learning, and we benefit significantly from it”, said professor Mário Nuno Berberan and Santos, who was professor Manuel Prieto’s first PhD student.
“The scientific contribution of the research group led by professor Manuel Prieto has been very important for the iBB”, said professor Joaquim Sampaio Cabral.
“I hope that you continue to use your knowledge to help developing new areas of expertise and technologies in other fields, together with other professors”, said professor Arlindo Oliveira. “On behalf of Técnico, I would like to thank you for all your dedication and contribution during the last five decades. I hope you continue to inspire the students and the youngest professors of this school”, he added.
The former students who became colleagues and all the generations influenced by professor Manuel Prieto, actively participated in the ceremony. Professor Luís Loura shared their personal experiences and the lessons learnt: “On behalf of all of us, thank you for being our “biophysics superhero””.
The ceremony included a lecture by professor Ole G. Mouritsen (UCPH, Denmark), a physicist who have applied his knowledge in the area of astrophysics and food innovation. “During the afternoon, the three foreign speakers will show that some professional relations end up becoming friendships”, said professor Manuel Prieto, visibly moved. “This is an absolutely atypical ceremony that covers the most varied aspects of my career” he added.
“I worked hard, but I had a lot of fun”, confessed professor Manuel Prieto. “Research brings inner joy and it continues throughout life. I really like teaching. Leaving the laboratory and then give a class implies a huge transfiguration, and it always gave me great pleasure”, he highlighted. “The greatest legacy I will leave is to have made many important contributions to science and the positive mark I left in my students”, added professor Manuel Prieto.
