High school students from across the country were challenged to present their projects at BIOFASE – High School Bioengineering Research 1st Congress. This innovative event was organized by the Faculty of Biotechnology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and brought together around 50 young researchers and their teachers for a day of sharing, discovery, and some awards.
The focus of the projects was very broad: from microbiology to biotechnology, including health and artificial intelligence. The emphasis on problem-solving through biological tools resulted in high-quality work and proved that there are high schools at a level that deserves visibility and recognition.
'This first High School Bioengineering Research Congress was an excellent opportunity for students to explore science, technology, engineering, and ethics in a practical and creative way, preparing them for a future in a constantly evolving interdisciplinary field', concluded Paula Castro, director of the Faculty of Biotechnology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
'I really enjoyed presenting my work! I learned a lot about the field of Bioengineering. It’s an interesting event to develop and learn about ideas in this area', shared Joana Antunes, a 12th-grade student from Escola Secundária do Entroncamento.
Throughout the day, participants were involved in plenary sessions, interacted with guest speakers, participated in discussion groups, and attended oral presentations from their peers. The projects competed for four monetary awards: food innovation, food biotechnology, best oral presentation and best poster.
'It’s motivating for the students to come and present and share the work they’ve been developing throughout the year', stated Natália Ferreira, a teacher from Escola Secundária de Rio Tinto who accompanied her students to the event.
The success of this congress, comparable to its adult counterparts, reflects the broader interest of young people in science and technology and demonstrates the opportunity for research and innovation events from the earliest stages of education. With the promise of more editions in the future, BIOFASE has already established itself as a milestone in the scientific landscape of high school education.
| Prize | Year | School | Students | Project | Teacher |
Amount |
| BEST ORAL PRESENTATION | 12th grade | Escola Secundária do Entroncamento | Joana Patrícia Malhó Antunes | Exploring the Potential of Brufen as a Modulator of Tomato Growth | Marta Azevedo | 150 € |
| BEST POSTER | 12th grade | Escola Secundária da Maia | Beatriz Ribeiro de Sousa; Maria Veiga; Irene Constantino | HealingScales | Luísa Santos | 100 € |
| FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY PRIZE | 12th grade | Escola Secundária Luís de Freitas Branco (Paço de Arcos) | Manuel de Castro Violante; Pedro Martins; Rodrigo Passos; Rúben Silva | Rice DNA barcoding | Cristina Dias | 120 € |
| FOOD INNOVATION PRIZE | 10th grade | Escola Secundária com 3º Ciclo de Alcanena | João Maria Marques Miguel; Guilherme Nascimento Vieira; Rafael Correia Calado | CurtiPol: Transforming Tannery Industry Waste into Sustainable Biopolymers | José Fradique | 120 € |
| RESEARCHER TEACHER | Escola Secundária do Entroncamento | Marta Azevedo | This recognition is automatically awarded to the teacher who coordinated the winning project of the Best Oral Presentation prize and grants them the opportunity to nominate a group of students who will receive regular mentoring by a university researcher throughout the following school year. |
This activity is carried out within the framework of the BLUE DESIGN ALLIANCE project, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) funds for 2021-2026.
