Students present high quality scientific research works at the 14th Workshop “Education for Science”.

As it celebrated its 21 years of existence, the Office for the Support of Scientific and Technological Research and Innovation (GAPIC) organized the  14th Workshop “Education for Science”,  which took place on 12 December 2011

This workshop, which takes place on an annual basis, and where undergraduate students present their research undertaken as part of the “Education for Science” Programme, brought together, once more, students, lecturers and researchers interested in scientific research.

Professor J. Fernandes e Fernandes, Director of FMUL, Professor João Ferreira, Coordinator of GAPIC, and student Francisco Silva, President of the Students’ Association of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, attended the opening session. Professor J. Fernandes e Fernandes stressed the importance of scientific research at undergraduate level, and student Francisco Silva highlighted the relevance of the role played by students and newly graduates of FMUL in the promotion of scientific research, and gave his testimony as a student who was involved in previous editions of research projects.

In the sessions “Biochemistry and Biology”, “Clinical Sciences” and “Basic and Clinical Neuroscience” 24 scientific research projects were presented as posters, involving 30 undergraduate students (Book of Abstracts – 14ºWRKSP “Education for Science”).

The opinion of the members of the evaluation panel was unanimous with regard to the high scientific quality of the works, and of the 24 posters presented, 6 were selected for oral presentation, of which two received a prize.

The first prize was awarded to the work “Study of the involvement of NMDA receptors in disruption of synaptic recovery in situations of hypoxia in the presence of Brain-Derived Neurothophic Factor”, which was undertaken at the Institute of Pharmacology and Neuroscience by student Afonso Oliveira.

The second prize was awarded to the work “Factors for successful breastfeeding in Portugal: what is the relevance of maternal knowledge and of health institutions practices on breastfeeding?”, which was carried out by students Joana Lavado and Lia Nunes at the Institute of Preventive Medicine.

The student who received the first prize is also a candidate for the Bayer-AEFML scholarship, a research grant sponsored by AEFML which aims to provide funding in the amount of 5.000,00€ for scientific work of unequivocally recognized merit already initiated by students from FMUL as part of the research activities promoted by GAPIC.

One highlight was the lecture “Clinical Research versus Translational Research“, delivered by Professor António Coutinho from the Gulbenkian Institute of Science, which was attended by FMUL lecturers, students and researchers.

The workshop also included a session presenting the results of the project “Benefits of prolonged anticoagulation in cerebral venous thrombosis”, developed as part of the 6th Research Scholarship of the AstraZeneca Foundation/FMUL by Dr. Bruno Miranda, Neurology University Clinic, at the Clinical Research Neurological Unit of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and at the Neurology Service of Santa Maria Hospital.

After 21 years of GAPIC, this was undoubtedly a day for celebrating scientific research conducted at FMUL, namely research undertaken by young undergraduates. At the end of the day, the satisfaction of students, lecturers and researchers was manifestly clear.

Joana Almeida
GAPIC
gapicmail@fm.ul.pt