Humberto Rosa, Maria do Carmo Ornelas and Ana Luísa Rodrigues take up their posts on the School Board of the Faculty of Sciences

Humberto Rosa, former Director for Biodiversity at the European Commission, visiting professor Maria do Carmo Ornelas and journalist Ana Luísa Rodrigues were sworn in as appointed members of the School Board of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon (Ciências). The ceremony took place in the office of the Rector of the University of Lisbon, Professor Luís Ferreira, in the ULisboa Rectory building.

Bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds strengthens the Faculty’s links with society and brings fresh perspectives to the governing body on the challenges facing higher education, research and innovation. For Humberto Rosa, returning to the Faculty also has personal significance. A former professor in Ciências, he put his academic career on hold to take up government posts and, later, a role at the European Commission. Despite his institutional distance, he insists that the connection never faded: “I’ve always maintained that connection. I know many colleagues, I’ve kept up with what’s been happening in the departments and, so, in a way, this is a homecoming.”

The newly appointed member believes that the experience he has gained over recent years could be useful in helping the Faculty tackle current challenges, by advocating an increasingly integrated approach to science: “If I had to summarise the university I would like to help build, I would say it is a more integrative university. The complexity of the world demands systemic approaches and greater coordination between different fields of knowledge.”

For Maria do Carmo Ornelas, a former student of Ciências, this moment also represents a very special honour. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she pursued a career spanning almost four decades outside the Faculty, later returning to complete her master’s degree: “Coming here is almost like winning an Oscar. It is the Faculty recognising that I can help change a single comma in its history.”

Maria do Carmo Ornelas advocates for a university that is increasingly connected to society and capable of transforming scientific knowledge into tangible impact: “We must succeed in putting into practice in society what is studied here. Fundamental research is essential, but we must also communicate more effectively and demonstrate the purpose of science and the benefits it brings to people and the country.”

The diversity of backgrounds among the newly appointed members also extends to journalism, with the appointment of Ana Luísa Rodrigues to the School Board. The journalist holds a degree in Communication Sciences and a Master’s in Social Sciences from the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon, and has built a distinguished career in television journalism, particularly at RTP, where she specialises in in-depth reporting. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself through her coverage of social and human rights issues, work which has earned her several journalism awards; she has also held teaching posts in higher education.

The appointment of these members marks the start of a new term of office for the School Board, the body responsible for overseeing the Faculty’s strategy and institutional development, drawing on the experience and vision of external figures of recognised merit.