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EUSO 2019 Opening Session

06-05-2019

EUSO 2019 Opening Session

On the morning of the 5th May, the FCT NOVA Grand Auditorium hosted the great reception of the 150 "science athletes" who came from 24 European countries to compete in the 17th edition of EUSO (Science Olympiad of the European Union).

The opening session allowed the presentation of the teams and their countries of origin. In the speech of the Secretary of State for Education, João Costa, the main objective of the growing importance of science is to explain and improve the world. "It's not because there is Google that we no longer need teachers!" he exemplified. The Secretary of State also confirmed that FCT NOVA is one of the Colleges that he visits the most. "Because it is one that more activities develops to promote science to students in elementary and high school. It is not an ivory tower of science, it is open to the community," he explained.

During the morning it was also possible to watch the performance of anTUNiA, the Next Kids and to celebrate the 150 years of the Periodic Table.

The ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State for Education, João Costa, the Mayor of Almada, Inês de Medeiros, the EUSO President, Michael A. Cotter, the FCT NOVA Dean, Virgílio Cruz Machado, the President of the Professional Organization of the Biologists and also member of the Organizing Committee of this EUSO edition, José Matos, and the FCT NOVA Professor and Researcher and member of EUSO 2019 Scientific Committee, Maria João Romão.

EUSO is a science competition at European level for 16 year olds. It took place for the first time in Dublin, Ireland in 2003. Portugal participated in 2008 as an observer and since 2009 is a full participant. The country won gold medals in 2016 and 2018, 2 silver medals in 2012 and 1 silver medal in the 2013 and 2017 editions.

This year Portugal is the host for the first time, with the tasks taking place in FCT NOVA's laboratories. There are 50 teams (two teams per country with three elements each, except Portugal, which as host country competes with four teams) that for a week will test their knowledge in biology, chemistry and physics. Also involved are 93 volunteers, 53 teachers and researchers from FCT NOVA, 81 visiting professors and 11 observers.

The organization of the 17th EUSO is in charge of the Ministry of Education, through the Directorate General of Education, with the partnership of FCT NOVA, Almada City Council, the Order of Biologists, the Portuguese Society of Physics and the Portuguese Society of Chemistry.

 

anTUNiA
Sónia Araújo  at the moment of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table 

EUSO President, FCT NOVA Dean, Almada Mayor, Secretary of State for Education, Vice-President of Almada's City Hall
Next Kids
 
 
 
 
 
Please see the photo gallery here and here.