16-04-2026
Photo: João Lima/NOVA FCT
Around 5,000 high school students from across the country gathered at the Caparica Campus on April 15. The reason? To personally explore the largest showcase of Science, Engineering, and Technology in the country.
With great enthusiasm and curiosity, students set foot in laboratories, took part in experiments, and experienced university life firsthand. This open day allowed them to learn about NOVA FCT's 23 undergraduate degrees and clarify doubts about entering higher education. This was the case for Henrique, 17, from Rainha D. Leonor Secondary School, and Diana, 16, from Escola Michel Giacometti, who said the initiative helps discover the diversity of academic offerings and opens horizons for careers and study paths.
"It's been really interesting," said Dinis, 16, who came for the first time with his class from D. João II Secondary School. "I want to pursue computer science in programming, and I already know I want to do it at NOVA FCT," he explained.
Nergis, a Turkish student living in Portugal for two years with her parents and studying at Escola Secundária do Bocage, sees NOVA FCT as a strong option: "It has very interesting departments and is a School with a good atmosphere that seems appealing for my studies," she stated.
Among the over 200 activities available, organized into three trails honoring the lives and legacies of Eunice Foote (1819–1888), Richard Feynman (1918–1988), and Katherine Johnson (1918–2020), participants engaged with innovative projects: two robot dogs, a Formula Student race car with a virtual cockpit; a train that runs without rails, a boat developed for the Portugal Boat Challenge. There was also space to learn how astronauts prepare for Mars missions and understand the development of large-scale language models (LLMs), like the Portuguese model Amália, currently being developed by NOVA FCT and partners.
This year, in clear recognition of the decisive role teachers play in students' vocational guidance, NOVA FCT once again dedicated a special space for educators, featuring a talk by David Marçal, a biochemist and science communicator. "I really enjoyed last year's lecture, and we find this novelty very interesting," explained teachers from Cacilhas-Tejo Secondary School even before entering the session. "We like EXPO FCT so much that this year, for the first time, we're staying all day—we usually only came in the morning," confirmed Paulo Cabrita, one of the teachers in this group of veterans who've visited us for over eight years.
The same enthusiasm is shared by Maria João, a teacher in Bobadela and former NOVA FCT Geological Engineering student. "I've been coming for over 10 years and think this event is very useful for my students. I already know tomorrow's class will be 'lost' talking about today," she admits. A former NOVA FCT student, the teacher considers it "the best School in the country, at least in terms of atmosphere," she assures. "We have many students who come here to study," she adds.
The event's success also relied on the dedication of 1,200 volunteers from the NOVA FCT community. "I want to inspire the next generation to pursue a dream field," said Filipe Carvalho, one of this edition's volunteers. Carolina Abrantes highlighted the spirit that makes this day special: "Here we show the true academic atmosphere of NOVA FCT—collaborative, welcoming, and inspiring."
EXPO FCT is an annual landmark for sharing knowledge and promoting science, allowing young people to discover academic and professional paths in STEM fields. The 2026 edition was supported by Allianz, Coca-Cola, Aegon Santander, Cross Join, Zurich, Grupo Brisa, Alma Science, Stab Vida, Asus, Gullón, Delta Q, and Editora Raiz.
Photo gallery here. (João Lima/NOVA FCT)
