Sustainability, solidarity, health and science mark senior students' research projects

The finalist students presented last week their research projects to an audience amongst teachers and high school students. The students invested in sustainability, solidarity, health and science projects as an engine to understand humanity and the world.  

Gustavo Guerreiro brought to his peers the "Construction of a Tesla coil". The cable-free transmission of energy allowed those present to watch the intelligent communication between the music transmitted by a PC and the rhythm of luminescence, as well as the lighting of a lamp only by approaching the coil. 

Beatriz Oliveira and Samuel Ricardo combined ambitions - 'green' architecture and a gym in "Health, Well-Being and Sustainable Architecture". The Smart Fit gymnasium will be designed in the light of the most modern eco architectural techniques (green roof with rainwater harvesting, high-performance glass and photovoltaic panels), is located in Quinta do Lago and promises to attract those interested in reducing their footprint while practising sport. 

Bárbara Sousa and Matilde Teixeira have conceived a company that combines two areas of interest: Management and Medicine, through a clinic school. "Health Economics and the EU: The Hearth is where the Health is" is a project with many intervention areas. 

André Martins brought to the public his project in the area of "Biomimetics", with attractive characteristics found in nature and how these can revolutionise the world in several places. The student approached the design of aircraft, inspired by birds of prey, to the reproduction of the characteristics of shark's skin as a way to stop the multi-resistant bacteria existing, for example, in the health industry. 

Madalena Brito and Raquel Príncipe applied the principles of business storytelling to tell us what DNA is through cooking. Confusing? No. Those present learned which factors are capable of changing DNA and which external factors these changes depend on. "Epigenetics" also explained how epigenetic marks pass from generation to generation.  

In "Gender Equality: 'Equality4LL'", Chloé Gombo presented an organisation that promotes gender equality and has numerous fronts in the social area.

Vicente Cavaco’s work in "Legal Science: an (un)united Europe?”. The student shows concern for the fact that Europe "is not managing to impose itself as a world power". After much statistical analysis to understand how economies between countries were characterised and which EU policies supported his case study, the student came up with a set of security measures to adopt. "We need to decrease the risks in the lack of resources, decentralise the sources of resources and have control over the logistics network, starting to centralise production in EU countries."  

The students reiterated the level of demand for the preparation of these projects and warned their colleagues. "Start preparing", advised Gustavo. "And don't be afraid to choose a topic 'outside the box’. Challenge yourselves", added Madalena. Cidália Ferreira Bicho reiterated the words of the Secondary school coordinator, Rosário Quintas, reinforcing the importance of looking at the world holistically, in which knowledge and crossing of synergies are one of the many paths to peace.  

The ceremony also included the delivery of diplomas in collaboration with the SRC - Students Representative Council and the farewell to the classes, which now face a new academic challenge.