INL highlights the impact of research on our daily lives at the European Researchers’ Night 2022

The last Friday of September 2022 marked the return of the European Researchers’ Night — the annual celebration of innovative research taking place simultaneously in more than 30 countries and 300 cities throughout Europe.

The diverse programme included games, hands-on activities, a photo booth, and the ERN2022 Photo Exhibition. We learned about biosensors, explored the world of microchips, showcased how we are fighting water pollution, illustrated how fluids work at different scales and shared the passion and the special work MISSION NERD is developing by spreading scientific knowledge to the community.

These were just a few of the possible applications that International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), and ECUM – University of Minho many other partners introduced to more than 1300 visitors 2022 European Researchers’ Night, at Altice Fórum Braga.

The audience defied all researchers with relevant questions and expressed genuine wonder as they saw “magic” happening before their eyes.

This year, ‘Science for Everyone – Sustainability and Inclusion’ was the motto that framed an event committed to raise awareness about the role of science in achieving sustainability and inclusion goals among school students and different audiences, while identifying key societal concerns about climate change and sustainable growth and linking them to science-oriented solutions and proposals.

This European project consortium includes as partners the National Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Lisbon, the Nova School of Sciences and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, the Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, the Municipality of Lisbon, the Estoril School of Hospitality and Tourism, the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, the School of Sciences of the University of Minho, the University of Évora, and the University of Coimbra.

European Researchers’ Night returns next week to Braga

The European Researchers’ Night 2022 (ERN 2022) will be back in Portugal, next week, with the theme “Science for All (SCIEVER) – Inclusion and Sustainability”, within a national consortium coordinated by the University of Lisbon, through the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC), which also integrates the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, and the School of Sciences of the University of Minho.

The initiative will take place on September 30th, between 4 pm and midnight, with a national online program and local activities in Braga, Coimbra, Lisbon and Évora.

The theme of the European Researchers’ Night 2022 – ‘SCIEVER’ – will contribute simultaneously to two main objectives: (i) improving the understanding of the importance of scientific careers development and science investments; (ii) increasing researchers’ understanding of the role of society as a whole for sustainable science policies development.

The goal of our consortium is to directly respond to Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) goals of the EU framework program by raising public awareness, also among school communities, about the relevance of science to assure resources preservation, decarbonization and inclusion and by bridging the gap between scientists and society, giving researchers the opportunity to perceive the main concerns of citizens and how those see and understand their work. Schools and their students will be involved in activities during the whole project, in order to ensure the impact of such communities.

The European project consortium includes as partners the National Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Lisbon, the Nova School of Sciences and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, the Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, the Municipality of Lisbon, the Estoril School of Hospitality and Tourism, the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, the School of Sciences of the University of Minho, the University of Évora, and the University of Coimbra.

Join us, at Altice Fórum Braga, next week! It will be fun!

INL Colloquium with Professor Wojciech Chrzanowski

Join us for the upcoming free INL Colloquium with Professor Wojciech Chrzanowski “Nano for nano: Advanced nanoscale characterisation and organ-on-a-chip technology for the development of the next generation nanomedicines’“which will take place next Tuesday, 27 September 2022, at INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory.

Professor Wojciech Chrzanowski is the Head of the Nano-medicine and Nano-Bio-Characterisation laboratory in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. He is a biomedical engineer who translates the science of nanoparticles and bio-characterisation at the nanoscale to human applications.

His work addresses a pressing need for effective nanotechnologies that regulate cells to promote desired tissue repair. Wojciech laboratory pioneers the use of nanoscale characterisation techniques to understand the interactions of nanoparticles with biological systems. To this end, he develops solutions to determine the safety of nano-materials by measuring their effects in different environments. From there, he learns to design less harmful nano-materials to keep people and the environment safe.

Wojciech’s contribution to the field is exemplified by over 200 peer-reviewed publications, six patents, and over 70 invited talks and seminars. He is a recipient of 16 prizes and awards for his work including the 2019 Barry Inglis Medal from the National Measurement Institute, the 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research and Education, and the 2018 Outstanding Paper Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry. His proven ability to lead a translational research program to fruitful completion was recognized by his award of a place in the 2019 SPARK Accelerating Australia program to commercialise his team’s aerosol device for EV delivery to lungs. In addition to academia, he successfully established research programs in the industry, and he leads a research program in nanotechnology for non-invasive medicine.

In addition, he co-leads an Australian arm of the Horizon2020 international program Shaping Innovative Products for Sustainable Tissue Engineering Strategies – SHIFT.

This workshop is being promoted under the SiNfONiA project. It’s main goal is to boost RTD activities in the nanosafety arena and strengthen the research and innovation potential of INL.

Join us at INL, Braga – Portugal. It’s free!

Note: if you have any doubt about how to arrive or enter INL send us an email: communication@inl.int.

Lars Montelius completed his 8 year mandate as Director-General of INL

Prof. Lars Montelius completed his 8-year mandate as Director-General of INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory last August.

Lars Montelius has been in service for eight years. In these last INL has matured both from its research activities and from an organizational point of view. Today, INL is, as you know, home to more than +400 passionate people from about +30 different countries.

In his own words “it has been a real pleasure to serve as Director-General of INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory throughout these years, being able to be part of INL in all its areas of activity. I am grateful to all INLers, present and former ones, that so passionately have been part of this amazing journey – and of course to all partners and friends worldwide that we have been engaged with. I wish INL – and the new Director-General – soon to be appointed, all the best success”.

Today we bring to you the last interview of Prof. Lars Montelius and we take this moment to thank him for his commitment, his spirit of service to the INL community and his contribution to the development of INL. Together we were able to make a difference. Enjoy the interview!

Dear Prof. Lars, we wish you a great future.

3 National Mourning Days in Portugal – 18, 19 and 20 September 2022

Today, INL associates with the three days of National Mourning decreed by the Government of Portugal, one of our member-states, for the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from Sunday 18th September 2022 through to Tuesday 20th September 2022.

HM Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest reigning monarch, has died at home in Balmoral in Scotland, aged 96, surrounded by her children including her eldest son, now King Charles III.

She became queen on Feb. 6, 1952, at the age of 25, following the sudden death of her father, King George VI, and was coronated the following year at Westminster Abbey. Through the 70 years of her reign of devoted service to her country and the Commonwealth and its peoples, the Queen has been globally revered and widely beloved as she weathered a roiling century and some personal storms with enduring equanimity and grace. She witnessed history being made and was a part of it. Her knowledge of world events, politics, and power structures were nonpareil.

“HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland profoundly marked the second half of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century. Thus, in this moment of prolonged and deep mourning in our oldest ally, the Government of Portugal understands to declare national mourning”, justifies the Council of Ministers. In a statement, it is underlined that the decree of three days of national mourning is a “just tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II”.

Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Professor Elvira Fortunato, and the Minister of Science and Innovation of Spain, Diana Morant visit INL

Today the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, received the visit of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Professor Elvira Fortunato, and the Minister of Science and Innovation of Spain, Diana Morant.

“Strengthening Portugal-Spain collaboration through Science is strategic for our countries”, stated Elvira Fortunato and Diana Morant after the bilateral meeting in which the Ministers of Portugal and Spain discussed the strengthening of scientific relations between the two countries.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal welcomed the relationship maintained with the neighbouring country: “What unites us is not only the geographical proximity but also the proximity of positions», namely in science and innovation”.

The bilateral meeting took place within the framework of the visit of the Minister of Science and Innovation of Spain for a set of initiatives aimed at strengthening relations between Portugal and Spain.

The agenda was INL’s visit, the memorandum of understanding about the Atlantic Constellation and the Iberian Energy Storage Center in Cáceres, and the development of lines of collaboration regarding the Chips Act.

The Iberian Center for Research and Energy Storage is also based on cooperation between Portugal, Spain and the European Commission and aims to develop research and technologies for storing, managing and transporting energy produced by renewable sources.

Thinking about taking your career to the next level? Join INL as a MSCA Fellow!

The INL- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory is looking for talented researchers eager to work in our cutting-edge and inter-disciplinary organisation. The submission deadline to submit your application until September 14, 2022.

MSCA Individual Fellowship at INL gives researchers from all over the world unique career opportunities to:

• Enjoy a fully funded research position for 1 or 2 years;

• Work closely with an international and multidisciplinary team;

• Acquire new skills at INL’s top-notch facilities;

• At the end of the fellowship, have an optional additional placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic European organization;

The MSCA European Fellowship Grant Scheme

What?

Individual Fellowships (IF) provide funding to researchers of any nationality to acquire and transfer new knowledge and work on European research and innovation.

Who?

Candidates in possession of PhD at the call deadline. Up to 8 years of research experience after PhD (except for career breaks or work outside research). Mobility rule: not have spent at INL more than 12 in the 36 months.

Benefits?

The grant provides an allowance to cover living, travel and family costs.

#ERN2022 Photo Competition is open!

The #ERN2022 Photo Competition celebrates science, technology and art in the most creative way. The most eclectic mix of ideas, disciplines and perspectives creates the most far-reaching conversations, in-depth debates, and inspiring developments and plays an important role in making science accessible to a wide audience.

This initiative happens under the European Researchers’ Night 2022 event that will happen on September 30, 2022, and it will take place in different cities of Portugal – Braga, Coimbra, Lisboa and Évora and around Europe. In Braga, it will happen at Altice Fórum Braga. This year’s theme is Science for Everyone – Sustainability and Inclusion.

This is your opportunity to showcase the creative side of science. The ERN2022 Photo Competition is an open competition and everyone is encouraged to capture scientific phenomena happening all around us, and submit up to two original photographs within the following categories::

• Nano/micro: Images obtained through microscopes (optical, electron, SPM, etc.)

• General:  Other images related to the scientific world (e.g. labs, students, setups, sample preparation, simulations, everyday life related to science, etc.)

All selected photos will be evaluated by a jury composed of nine representatives of the nine institutions that compose the consortium.

Your talent and unique visualisations are honoured and celebrated. Whether you’re a student, teacher, artist, scientist, engineer, designer, or educator – join the challenge and share your creativity until August 31, 2022.

The #ERN2022 Photo Competition celebrates science, technology and art in the most creative way. The most eclectic mix of ideas, disciplines and perspectives creates the most far-reaching conversations, in-depth debates, and inspiring developments and plays an important role in making science accessible to a wide audience.

This initiative happens under the European Researchers’ Night 2022 event that will happen on September 30, 2022, and it will take place in different cities of Portugal – Braga, Coimbra, Lisboa and Évora and around Europe. In Braga, it will happen at Altice Fórum Braga. This year’s theme is Science for Everyone – Sustainability and Inclusion.

This is your opportunity to showcase the creative side of science. The ERN2022 Photo Competition is an open competition and everyone is encouraged to capture scientific phenomena happening all around us, and submit up to two original photographs within the following categories::

• Nano/micro: Images obtained through microscopes (optical, electron, SPM, etc.)

• General:  Other images related to the scientific world (e.g. labs, students, setups, sample preparation, simulations, everyday life related to science, etc.)

All selected photos will be evaluated by a jury composed of nine representatives of the nine institutions that compose the consortium.

Your talent and unique visualisations are honoured and celebrated. Whether you’re a student, teacher, artist, scientist, engineer, designer, or educator – join the challenge and share your creativity until August 31, 2022.