Last Friday, September 27th, researchers and PhD students from Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN) of Instituto Superior Técnico attended the European Researchers’ Night (NEI), held at the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUNHNC) in Lisbon. The event, which was characterised by dozens of free initiatives, aimed to bring science closer to civil society by providing an evening of sharing and research.
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“Radiation for Global Challenges” was the theme that guided the different activities organized by C2TN scientists at this NEI, which aimed to raise awareness and involve citizens, especially young people, in relevant scientific issues surrounding environmental, economic and social sustainability.
The space dedicated to the C2TN attracted a diverse audience, who had the opportunity to explore the various activities presented by the researchers. Among them, Sandra Rabaça stood out by showing her work on “Crystalline Molecular Materials”. With the help of crystals and plasticine models, Sandra explained the organisation of molecules and atoms in the solid state, providing a hands-on experience for the young visitors.
Researcher Joana Lage and doctoral students Carolina Reis and Sérgio Mendes shared methodologies for assessing Air Quality, addressing air contamination in indoor environments. Joana emphasised “the importance of bringing science closer to citizens”, stating that “the research carried out contributes to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, acting on Climate Action, promoting Sustainable Cities and Communities and protecting Terrestrial Life”.
Researcher António Gonçalves and doctoral student Beatriz Santos gave a demonstration on “Thermoelectric Materials”, focused on recovering waste heat for conversion into electricity. Beatriz explained that “the aim is to make research accessible to the public, highlighting that the solutions developed aim to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis, with devices that can be integrated into homes and industries”.
The Radiopharmaceutical Sciences group, made up of researcher Rita Melo and PhD students Cátia Rosa, Rafael Travassos, Joana Santos and Sofia Martins, organised an interactive activity with an educational game. Participants used cubes representing different phases in computational biochemistry, the development of radiopharmaceuticals and the chemical synthesis of new molecules. According to the researcher, ‘this activity generated interest in science and helped demystify complex concepts, bringing the public closer to the areas of health research and technology’.
This was followed by Science Dating, a series of 5-minute ‘encounters’ between visitors and C2TN scientists, where they discussed the research projects underway at the Research Unit. The dynamic provided moments of reflection on what is being developed in the laboratory.
Still with a full house, the ‘Strawberry Blind Tasting’, organised by researchers Sandra Cabo Verde and Joana Madureira, featured strawberries treated with ionising radiation and untreated strawberries. The treatment, carried out after harvest, aims to decontaminate the microbes and extend the fruit’s shelf life. During the activity, visitors tasted the strawberries and found that there were no significant differences, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment. Sandra Cabo Verde said: ‘We’re informing citizens and demystifying the fear of radiation, showing that it can be used to benefit society and environmental sustainability,’ adding that ‘it’s a treatment that doesn’t use chemical compounds and helps reduce food waste’.
The ‘Natural Radioactivity’ demonstration was led by researcher Yuriy Romanets, who explained the presence of radioactivity in the Carrasca mine slag heap in Sortelha. This mine, which extracted radium between 1923-1924 and uranium from 1953 to 1959, left a slope of rubble covered in vegetation. Using ionisation chambers, Yuriy showed the difference between soil samples from the heap and from areas unaffected by the mine, revealing that the mining waste contains much higher levels of radioactivity, demonstrating its influence on the surrounding areas.
The ‘Fake or not Fake’ activity, carried out by researcher Victoria Corregidor Berdasco, aimed to reveal to visitors the composition of jewellery, such as the ring, using the XRF technique. This technology makes it possible to determine the elemental composition of a material in a matter of seconds. Those who took part in the activity were able to discover the elements that make up their jewellery and understand to what extent these items are authentic or counterfeit.
The ‘Fake or not Fake’ activity, carried out by researcher Victoria Corregidor Berdasco, aimed to reveal to visitors the composition of jewellery, such as the ring, using the XRF technique. This technology makes it possible to determine the elemental composition of a material in a matter of seconds. Those who took part in the activity were able to discover the elements that make up their jewellery and understand to what extent these items are authentic or counterfeit.
NEI’s motto was ‘Science for Global Challenges’, and its main objectives were to bring the scientific community closer to the population, highlighting the impact of science on everyday life and promoting children and young people’s interest in scientific careers.