On the last Friday of September, the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC) and the University of Lisbon Botanical Garden came alive with science, welcoming around 700 researchers, 120 activities and thousands of visitors eager to discover science in a closer, more interactive and accessible way.
This year, the initiative highlighted some of the major challenges facing society today and in the future — climate change, sustainability and inclusion — showcasing how research can help us understand complex problems and develop new solutions.
It was in this context that UNIDEMI brought two activities to the public, offering visitors the opportunity to explore different approaches to Engineering and discover how scientific knowledge can be transformed into practical solutions.
As part of the “Technologies” thematic area, UNIDEMI presented “Towards Industrial Engineering – The Knowledge Challenge”, an activity organised by Researcher Susana Duarte.
Designed to introduce participants to Industrial Engineering in a dynamic and engaging way, the activity placed knowledge and problem-solving at the heart of the experience. Through a series of challenges and discoveries, visitors explored how Industrial Engineering combines scientific and technological knowledge, critical thinking and creativity to address real-world problems.
What happens to an aorta when subjected to different levels of pressure and deformation? And how can Engineering help us understand and anticipate the risk of rupture?
These questions provided the starting point for the second activity, “When Does an Aorta Rupture? From Laboratory Testing to Clinical Decision-Support Models.”
Organised by Researcher José Xavier and his team — Bernardo Henriques, João Vão and João Régio, from NOVA FCT — in collaboration with NOVA Medical School and São José Local Health Unit, the activity brought to the public a research project at the intersection of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics and Medicine.
In a hands-on format, visitors were able to observe a demonstration of a biaxial mechanical test and explore, through experimentation, key concepts such as elasticity, stiffness and resistance to rupture.
Since 2005, the European Researchers’ Night has pursued a simple yet essential mission: to make science easier to understand, communicate in an accessible language and open the doors of knowledge to everyone, without exception.
The participation of UNIDEMI in this year’s edition demonstrated precisely that: Engineering can be experienced, questioned and understood by everyone.
