“I would ask you to put up the first slide of my presentation, please”. The screen, previously filled with Vítor Cardoso‘s photograph and the event’s name, darkened entirely – transforming into a black rectangle that resembled a black hole. “This is one of the things I’m looking for”, explained the researcher – “there’s a hidden message there”.
These are the words of someone who had just received the Universidade de Lisboa 2023 Award for his “extraordinary contribution to the development of theoretical physics and the progress of science at a global level”. Vítor Cardoso, a full professor at Instituto Superior Técnico and director of the Centre of Gravity at the Niels Bohr Institute, delivered his speech in the Great Hall of Universidade de Lisboa on 3 February, referring to black holes, gravitational waves and, above all, the importance of reflection and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.
This last topic was highlighted by the rector of Universidade de Lisboa, Luís Ferreira, in his opening speech at the ceremony. He described Vítor Cardoso as “someone who works in what we can call ‘the heart of discovery’, in curiosity-driven research, motivated by the search for knowledge and not by immediate practical applications”. He also highlighted the award winner’s enthusiasm for science and the fact that he approaches subjects “in a rigorous but simple and unpretentious way”.
In front of a full audience, Vítor Cardoso dedicated part of his speech to comparing the scientific process to an excavation effort, where it’s uncertain whether gold will be discovered or if a meaningful finding will ever emerge. However, the professor emphasised that ‘understanding should be an end in itself’, since ‘thinking and reflecting is the greatest gift we have been given’. ‘We are all parts of a whole and someone, somewhere, will use the result of our efforts,’ he said. ‘Excavation’, which gives him “a lot of anxiety”, also gives him “immense joy” and, even in the dark tunnels we explore, “we all shine”, he concluded.
The physicist joins a distinguished group of Técnico personalities who have received the Universidade de Lisboa Award, such as António Guterres, winner of the 2020 edition, and Jorge Calado, who received the award in 2016. The ceremony ended with a performance by the Tocá Rufar ensemble, featuring drums and tambourines, which could be described as the unstoppable rhythm of scientific discovery driven by human curiosity.
In 2022, Vítor Cardoso received a European Research Council (ERC) grant worth two million euros to study black holes, about a year after had received another grant from the Villum Foundation, worth 5.3 million euros, to create and led the research group that he is currently part of at the Niels Bohr Institute.
In 2022, he received a two million euro grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to study black holes, about a year after he obtained another grant from the Danish Villum Fondon Foundation, worth 5.3 million euros, to create and lead the research group he is currently part of at the Niels Bohr Institute. In 2024, he published an ‘instruction manual’ for entering black holes, which was presented at Técnico.
According to Universidade de Lisboa, the selection criteria for this award are ‘outstanding contribution to the progress of science and the country’s international projection, taking into account the quality of the publications, the rigour and originality of the work, the awards and distinctions received and the positions held’ by the candidates.
