REN and Centro Ciência LP launch the 2nd Edition of the Medals of Scientific Merit

REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais and Centro Ciência LP, with the support of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), have just opened applications for the 2nd Edition of the REN - Ciência LP Medals of Scientific Merit, lasting until 9 September 2022. This initiative seeks to recognise and acknowledge research work carried out by young people from Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) in the areas of energy and energy transition.

The awards are inspired by the 'REN Award' and can be given to women aged up to 35, from Portuguese-speaking African countries, who have carried out research work within the scope of the advanced training (master's or doctoral degrees) in the area of energy transition, and to students, also coming from PALOP countries, who have carried out research work within the scope of their advanced training (master's or doctoral degrees) and whose subject of study is energy transition in Africa.

The Jury who will assess the applications for the REN - Ciência LP Medals of Scientific Merit is selected by the Engineering Schools of the corresponding consortium and is composed of a minimum of five Professors/Researchers from Organisational Units performing research in the competition's scientific fields. The Chairperson of the Jury is appointed by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto as the Coordinator of the Consortium of Engineering Schools.

Two prizes can be awarded in the Medals of Scientific Merit, both with a monetary award. In both categories, the first prize receives €5,000 and the second prize receives €2,500.

The first edition took place in 2021 and awarded, in the Women Researchers category, Felicidade Pemba Kinzo Garcia (Angola) for her Master's Thesis 'The Control of a Three-phase PWM Regenerative Rectifier', while Luzia Mendes Oliveira came in second place with 'The Sustainability of Development in Cape Verde in the Context of Small Island States: The Public Energy Policy'.

In the Young Students category, the winner was the Master's Thesis in Electrical Engineering - Energy and Industrial Automation, with the title 'Optimisation of Power Transit of the MV Network with Storage Technology in Sal Island', by Denis Albertino dos Santos (Cape Verde).  In second place was Adyler Frota (São Tomé and Príncipe), for his Integrated Master's Thesis in Energy and Environment, on 'Optical Performance Optimisation of Crystalline Silicon Samples using MACE'.

Centro Ciência LP, located in Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical of Universidade Nova de Lisboa, stems from the agreement signed by Portugal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) following a proposal from the Portuguese Government to create the Centro Internacional para a Formação Avançada em Ciências Fundamentais de Cientistas oriundos dos Países de Língua Portuguesa [International Centre for Advanced Training in Basic Sciences for Scientists from Portuguese-speaking countries], a Category-2 Centre, operating under UNESCO. Within the context of UNESCO, the Centre's creation seeks to foster cooperation in the Portuguese-speaking countries and the execution of their Strategic Plan for Multilateral Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Higher Education.