INESC TEC challenged students to think about the engineering of the future

Between April 1 and 3, INESC TEC welcomed more than 90 high school students, helping them to better understand the world of engineering and the professional opportunities they may explore in this area. By showcasing the type of work carried out at the institution’s research infrastructures, INESC TEC provided practical and immersive experiences in energy, industrial robotics and maritime robotics.

The initiative is called Semana Profissão: Engenharia and is promoted by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). For three days, students from the 11^th and 12^th grades from all over the country enjoyed more than 80 activities: Q&A sessions, demonstrations and visits to laboratories; this open week aimed to showcase Engineering careers and FEUP’s curriculum.

Robotics played a prominent role in the activities carried out by INESC TEC. As a multidisciplinary area, connecting engineering and science to the design and programming of robotic systems, it covers sectors like industry, agriculture, education or healthcare. In this sense, INESC TEC organised two sessions on industry and agriculture and the sea: “Robotics: from research to industry and agroforestry” and “Robotics and sustainable presence at sea”. In these sessions, students got to know several research projects, and understand the development of certain robots, their goals and impact on different sectors of society.

The Institute also promoted a session on “Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles and Energy Efficiency”. With renewable energy and electric vehicles on the agenda, efficient energy management plays a vital role in minimising both environmental impact and costs. The participants had the opportunity to better understand the research carried out at INESC TEC and the x-Energy Laboratory, and how future engineers can contribute to this innovation. In the end, there was still room to learn how to charge electric vehicles.

During the three days, FEUP’s Semana Profissão: Engenharia welcomed close to 1,600 participants, including students, teachers and psychologists, who got to know the world of engineering better through 25 different thematic actions.