Ana Filipa Sequeira, Ana Maria Rebelo, Gilberto Bernardes Almeida, Hélder Martins Fontes and Nuno Paulino (CTM)

Ana Filipa Sequeira, Ana Maria Rebelo, Gilberto Bernardes Almeida, Hélder Martins Fontes and Nuno Paulino (CTM)

“The CTM coordinators would like to nominate the Organising Committee of the CTM Summer Internships 2021: Ana Filipa Sequeira, Ana Maria Rebelo, Gilberto Bernardes Almeida, Hélder Martins Fontes and Nuno Paulino. The 2021 edition of this initiative was adapted to the strict conditions caused by the pandemic. The team in charge of organising the event adopted the feedback provided by the participants of previous editions and started by organising the image and record of the event on a website. We’d like to congratulate the Organising Committee for their ability to involve the Centre in this challenge, with a significant number of proposals, and to disseminate the initiative among the students, leading to many applications. This event is instrumental to meet our goals in terms of promoting the Centre and INESC TEC. Finally, we’d like to thank the themes’ proponents, for monitoring the activities and for highlighting the merit of all those involved in the closing activity”. *

– CTM coordinators

Given the current context, what were the main challenges for the team in organising the event?

Due to the pandemic we’ve been experiencing, we came across several constraints, at some levels. The main challenges were motivating and engaging the team in charge of organising the internships, as well as the supervisors, while finding students interested in participating. Besides that, we did not face any difficulties that could negatively influence the organisation of the CTM Summer Internships 2021.

How did you overcome these challenges?

It is important to mention that, in 2020, the internships took place online; in 2021, we just needed to repeat the success of the previous edition. The team relied on “older faces” like Hélder Fontes and myself, as well on the enthusiasm of the colleagues who participated in this initiative for the first time: Ana Rebelo, Gilberto Bernardes and Nuno Paulino. As a group, we were able to organise ourselves quickly and efficiently. Moreover, the coordinators of CTM also provided support and monitoring, even if from afar.

In my opinion, the successful implementation of this edition was the result of three factors: i) teamwork and timely planning, as usual; ii) the collaboration of the themes’ proponents, who were crucial to actualise the internships; and finally iii) the passion of the interns, who dedicated themselves to the activities and worked over five weeks, to learn and evolve, while overcoming the distance barrier.

What is the importance of this type of initiative to INESC TEC?

In our opinion, the CTM Summer Internships are quite important, not only to INESC TEC in general, but to CTM and its working groups in particular. The organisation of internships came naturally, as a strategy to attract more and better researchers, by engaging students from various education institutions who study subjects related to the work carried out at INESC TEC.

I’ve participated in the three editions of the CTM summer internships, and I noticed the students’ growing interest, as well as a greater diversity of themes proposed and areas of knowledge involved. In 2021, we reached a ​​record​​ number of 80 applications and 39 selected participants. These aspects are, undoubtedly, the confirmation of the relevance of this initiative.

Finally, and after three editions, it’s safe to say that the experience was very rewarding, mainly due to the feedback from the participants and everyone involved.

How do you comment on this nomination?

I’d like to express my gratitude for this nomination, and for the fact that our work was acknowledged; I’m truly convinced it’s possible to overcome obstacles when we’re part of such a good team. And I know my colleagues share this exact same feeling.

This is an example of actual teamwork, going beyond the organising committee, and including the coordinator of CTM, the areas manages, and the themes’ proponents.

* The researcher Ana Filipa Sequeira was selected as the team’s spokesperson.