Abílio Ferreira is 75 years old and has become one of the most recent master’s graduates in Materials Engineering from Técnico. He defended his MSc thesis “A aquacultura e os materiais do passado ao presente” on 29th January 2021, 55 years after he got admitted into Técnico for the first time. He received BSc degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in 1979 (he had to interrupt his studies twice for medical reasons) and acquired vast experience at several international companies in the metallurgical industry. He was an invited professor (Mechanical Engineering course) at the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal for 6 years, and an aviation technical trainer at Embraer. Since 2007, he has been dedicated mainly to sea and aquaculture-related projects, some of them in collaboration with Técnico. He keeps unforgettable memories of his student days, such as the siege and occupation of Técnico by the police, in the 1960s, and “gigantic size” of the only computer that existed at Técnico. “Técnico feels like a second home to me from the bottom of my heart”, he tells us.
How do you recall Técnico in the 1960’s?
Abílio Ferreira (A.F): Técnico was a school of high participatory citizenship. I also recall the greatness of General Mathematics, the subtlety of Inorganic Chemistry and the siege and occupation of Técnico by the police, in the 1960s.
What moment (s) will you never forget?
A.F: My enrollment at Técnico, in August 1966, together with my wife. I got number 10099 and she got 10100. The Técnico’s siren calling us for classes, which reminded us of a factory. The gigantic size of the only computer that existed at Técnico. All students had to go to the IBM facilities to execute FORTRAN programming. We returned with a lot of punched cards.
What made you come back to Técnico to complete your Master’s degree?
A.F: I didn’t come back to do a Master’s degree, but to carry out projects within the scope of the Portuguese Sea in terms of its technological needs. The Master’s degree is a natural consequence and follows a proposal by professor João Bordado.
How is education today different from education in the past?
A.F: Nowadays, students are more engaged and there are more research grants.
What would you like to say to the next generation of Técnico engineers and scientists?
A.F:“Técnico teaches us to build a solid foundation for our future career” (however distant it may be), and helps us to develop skills in several areas, giving us the opportunity to access a comprehensive scientific/social culture.
What are your future projects?
A.F: I intend to continue working in Sea/Aquaculture related projects: restoration of biodiversity, coastal defence and protection of the seabed environment, respond to major challenges and overcome the challenges of Ocean Aquaculture using renewable energy sources.
