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12th Congress of SciComPt Network Addresses Accessibility in Science Communication

Yesterday, the halls of the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory echoed the vibrant discussions of scientists, communication professionals, and engaged citizens. The occasion? The highly anticipated 12th Congress of the SciComPt network, themed “Accessibility in Science Through Diverse Languages and Voices.” With a packed auditorium, the congress marked a significant milestone in the ongoing quest for inclusivity in the scientific arena. The event aimed to confront the urgent need for improved accessibility in science communication, recognizing that the responsibility of science extends far beyond the confines of laboratory walls. In today’s fast-paced society, merely granting access to scientific publications is insufficient in empowering citizens to fully engage with scientific knowledge. As science ventures into increasingly intricate and ethically nuanced territories, bridging the gap between scientific expertise and public comprehension becomes paramount. Against this backdrop, the congress emerged as a beacon of hope, shedding light on the pivotal role of science communication in nurturing a more inclusive scientific community. From fostering ongoing dialogues between scientists and society to addressing sensory limitations and diversifying communication channels, the congress explored a myriad of strategies to enhance accessibility in science. Tomorrow, May 10th, the congress enters its final day at the University of […]

André Araújo, an Electronics Engineer among Physicists

André is a Research Engineer working in the Spintronics Research group at INL, and his focus is to provide technical hands-on expertise on advanced embedded systems and techniques, delivering solutions to interface sensors developed by the group. André holds an MSc in Electrical and Electronical Engineering from Universidade do Minho, specialising in embedded systems and technology systems and information. What are you currently focusing on in your work? Spintronics is a research group that has at its core the creation and fabrication of nanodevices, these devices comprise magneto-resistive sensors, oscillators, memristors and so on. Besides these research lines, there was always the need and interest to take this technology to the real world, testing it in a wide range of fields, and having industrial applications as the major target. Within this context, the group developed internally a hardware solution to acquire data from magneto-resistive sensors and software to accompany it, to serve as a data logger, a real-time data visualizer and an interpreter of data, both in time and frequency domains. The data can be analyzed, processed with filters and can be fed to AI algorithms to detect events and patterns which are relevant to the end user. The need to […]

INL researchers awarded funding to develop an automated sensor to detect emerging viruses

Zoonotic infectious diseases, i.e. diseases that transmit from animals to humans, are on the rise, and the potential for a new pandemic is more significant than ever. It is imperative to develop advanced technologies capable of continuous monitoring to identify high-risk zones for pathogen transmission between animals and humans. This requirement is essential to mitigate the potential human, socio-political, and economic impact of pandemics. The global initiative ‘One Health’ advocates collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health professionals to address health challenges. Its goal is to comprehend and prevent zoonotic diseases, while fostering a holistic approach to global health. Although the European Parliament calls for continuous surveillance and harmonised data collection from animal farms, current practices fall short for continuous and automatic detection, limiting detection to specific and already known pathogens. FLUFET, which stands for ‘FLow detection of virUses by graphene Field Effect Transistor microarrays’, is the new EIC Pathfinder project with a goal to develop a novel approach for the detection of viruses. It will be the first automated sensor capable of continuously detecting a broad spectrum of viral targets, including unknown viruses. This revolutionary sensor, combining technologies and knowledge from different fields, such as graphene field effect transistors […]

XVI UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Conference – Mayors Meeting

Created in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) aims to foster cooperation with and among cities that recognize creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. The UCCN is currently composed of 295 cities. Braga joined the network in 2017, becoming the only representative city in Media Arts in the Iberian Peninsula. With a resolute focus on ’20 years of UCCN: bringing youth to the table for the next decade’, the Conference underscores the critical imperative to harness the power of creativity and culture in building resilient and inclusive cities around the world. It stresses the importance of involving young minds in shaping this future. At the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference hosted by Braga, the goal is to spotlight how creativity in cities empowers lively and sustainable urban life, influences future cities for the next generations, and fosters the expression of cultural diversity. Additionally, it draws attention to the importance of creative solutions and culture-oriented practices in propelling the state of sustainable development. Furthermore, it sheds light on the role of culture in today’s society within the city’s context, emphasising its global recognition as a public good. On July 3rd, INL will host a meeting where, approximately, 180 Mayors […]

Natalia Spera, developing self-healing materials to enhance corrosion protection capabilities

Natalia joined INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory as a Research Engineer in the Nanochemistry Research Group. She is currently working on synthesising, characterising, and applying sustainable coatings with self-healing solutions. Can you give us an update on what you’re currently working on? I am currently working on the development of self-healing materials to enhance corrosion protection capabilities and extend the longevity of offshore structures within the MAREWIND Project. My responsibilities encompass researching and developing core-shell nanofibers and microcapsules feasible for application in liquid coating formulations. Our solution entails having an autonomous healing response when the coating is damaged. Recently, we achieved a significant milestone by successfully scaling up our innovative self-healing materials for application in a 100-litre batch, marking a crucial step forward in transitioning laboratory technology to industry. Could you briefly describe what a typical day looks like for you, Natalia, and what aspects of your work and the INL organization excite you the most? Certainly! A typical day for me involves a dynamic mix of laboratory experiments, data analysis, and collaboration with colleagues. I usually begin with hands-on lab activities that occupy a significant portion of my day. Subsequent data analysis is also an exhilarating aspect, as […]

INL researchers innovating in next-generation solar power

Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, directly convert sunlight into electricity. The most prevalent type, crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, found in commercially available solar panels, benefit from extensive expertise and synergies with the microelectronics industry. Despite their cost competitiveness, silicon photovoltaic cells have limitations, such as poor sensitivity to low light, rigid modules, conservative aesthetics, and limited flexibility in dimensions. If photovoltaics are to be deployed in a larger number of applications, these limitations need to be addressed. The Nanofabrication, Optoelectronics, and Energy Applications (NOA) research group is exploring novel thin-film solar cell concepts – or next-generation photovoltaics – to enhance performance while meeting environmental standards. They are particularly focused on developing solutions that merge conversion efficiency, durability, and aesthetics for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), targeting stakeholders in the construction industry. BIPV offers a practical means of integrating photovoltaic systems into buildings, potentially facilitating the installation of hundreds of gigawatts worldwide without the need for additional land. This approach aligns well with the current trend of urbanisation. Pedro Salomé, NOA’s group leader, elaborates “We are engaged in various projects, funded by Portuguese and European programmes, to devise solutions that overcome the challenges posed by conventional silicon modules. Most of our […]

International Day Of Light

On May 16th, the INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory welcomes microscopy enthusiasts, researchers at all career stages, engineers, and university students, especially from science and engineering areas, to celebrate together the International Day of Light. The International Day of Light is a global initiative of UNESCO that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and its role in reaching sustainable development goals related to education, equality, and peace. On this special day, we open our microscopy facilities to the interested public, together with many other microscopy platforms across Portugal, in the frame of the MicroDia’24 initiative organised by the Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging (PPBI), and will have a program ranging from Inspirational Talks, and Quiz & Networking session to Live Demo Microscopy Experiments. If you are looking for opportunities to perform microscopy characterisation of your samples, or to perform a research internship, take this chance to learn more about INL and the open-access research facilities. This event will be organised by Jana Nieder, Research group leader of the Ultrafast Bio- and Nanophotonics and Head of the Nanophotonics and Bioimaging facilities at INL Register here.

A microfluidic platform that simulates human digestion

In a recently published study, INL researchers developed an innovative microfluidic platform that is capable of replicating key human gastrointestinal processes, offering a game-changing tool for the assessment of newly-developed drugs and/or food supplements. The innovation combines a ‘Digestion-Chip’ and a ‘Gut-Chip’, each enabling sequentially the simulation of digestion through the gastrointestinal tract and the evaluation of intestinal permeability. The study ‘From mouth to gut: microfluidic in vitro simulation of human gastro-intestinal digestion and intestinal permeability’, introduces a miniaturised setup that allows studies of sample bioaccessibility and simplified bioavailability using minimal sample amounts. In addition, the outflow from the ‘Digestion-chip’ can be exposed to the cell-based Gut-Chip, which replicates the intestinal epithelium, using unprecedentedly low sample dilutions thus allowing the detection of ‘rare’ compounds. Both devices work in continuous flow requiring very little user interfacing. In this work, casein – a milk protein that is widely used as a supplement in sports nutrition – was tested as a model compound. And critically, the Gut-Chip can be used to evaluate intestinal permeability offering reference permeability values that are in line to those found using human ex vivo models. Miguel Xavier, one of the first authors of the research study adds “the […]

12th SciComPt Congress in Braga

In the pursuit of an inclusive scientific landscape, the 12th Congress of the SciComPt network will convene between May 8-10, 2024, in Braga, Portugal. Themed “Accessibility in Science Through Diverse Languages and Voices”, this landmark event aims to address the pressing need for enhanced accessibility in science communication. In today’s society, the responsibility of science extends beyond the laboratory walls. Merely providing access to scientific publications falls short of empowering citizens to fully engage with scientific knowledge. As science delves into increasingly complex and ethically nuanced realms, it becomes imperative to bridge the gap between scientific expertise and public understanding. Recognizing this imperative, the Congress will spotlight the critical role of science communication in fostering a more inclusive scientific community. From promoting ongoing dialogue between scientists and society to addressing sensory limitations and diversifying communication channels, Congress will delve into multifaceted strategies to enhance accessibility in science. The event will happen at INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Centro Ciência Viva de Braga, and the University of Minho, and will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, collaboration and will share insights, best practices, and innovative approaches to science communication between researchers, policymakers, communication professionals, and engaged citizens. With a […]

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