Between 23 and 27 March, ISEL hosted the on‑site component of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Sustainable Engineering in Action: from Idea to Impact”, organised under the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. The programme brought together students and lecturers from different European institutions to address current challenges in sustainability and engineering.The BIP organised by ISEL stood out for its innovative character, the transdisciplinary nature of its teams, and its focus on some of today’s major global challenges, such as the circular economy, sustainable materials, innovative business models, and the social impact of engineering. Throughout the programme, participants were challenged to transform sustainability ideas into concrete engineering solutions, strengthening skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork.Virtual component: from research to solution preparationThe virtual component took place between 23 February and 22 March and was structured in two phases: a research phase (23 February to 8 March) and a phase dedicated to analysis and preparation of presentations (9 to 22 March). Students worked in groups focused on one of the seven key areas of the circular economy defined by the European Commission: plastics; textiles; electronic waste; food, water and nutrients; packaging; batteries and vehicles; buildings and construction.This preliminary work allowed participants to understand the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of advanced sustainable engineering practices, serving as a foundation for the development of the solutions presented and further explored during the on‑site week.On‑site component: learning, collaboration and discovering LisbonDuring the on‑site week at ISEL, participants attended several specialist talks, developed collaborative activities and projects, and had direct contact with real‑world contexts for the application of sustainable engineering. The programme also included various activities in Lisbon, such as a team‑building session at the VR Arena, an industrial visit to the company Hychem, and a cultural visit to the Lisbon Oceanarium.What is a BIP?Blended Intensive Programmes were created to promote the internationalisation of higher education, making it accessible to all students regardless of their academic background, scientific field, or level of study. These programmes combine a virtual component, developed over several weeks, with an intensive one‑week on‑site component at a foreign higher education institution.See the photo album on Flickr.

ISEL and the Military Academy signed a cooperation protocol on March 20th, reinforcing the commitment of both institutions to the development of entrepreneurial and innovative skills.This partnership aims to carry out Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) projects, disseminate scientific knowledge, and promote the exchange of resources and experiences between the parties involved, with particular attention to strategic areas of interest to both institutions, including national security and defense.Following the protocol ceremony, a visit to the Bemposta Palace facilities took place, along with the traditional photograph on the interior staircase.    Texto e imagens: Academia Militar

ISEL is launching its first doctoral programme, the PhD in Cyber-Physical Systems for Sustainable Development (CPS-SD), which will begin in the 2026/2027 academic year, marking a historic milestone for the institution.The programme represents a decisive step in strengthening ISEL’s role in advanced education and research in engineering and technology. It reinforces the institution’s position as a reference in engineering higher education, innovation, and applied research, while also highlighting its strategic commitment to internationalisation and sustainability, through a doctoral programme taught in English and focused on global technological challenges.According to the President of ISEL, Professor José Nascimento:“The approval of this programme represents a key milestone in fulfilling ISEL’s commitment to further strengthening its position within the field of engineering research.”Engineering and technology for sustainable developmentFully taught in English, the programme has been designed for both national and international students, promoting a global academic environment aligned with the major technological and societal challenges of the 21st century.With a duration of four years (240 ECTS), the PhD focuses on applied research in Cyber-Physical Systems. Building on the expertise of ISEL’s academic staff and researchers in areas such as sensing, computation, communication, and control of physical processes, the programme is dedicated to the development of technological solutions that enable intelligent real-time interaction between the digital and physical worlds.These systems form the technological foundation of strategic areas such as smart cities, resilient infrastructures, sustainable energy systems, digital health, and advanced industry.The programme promotes technological solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, placing engineering at the service of global challenges such as environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and digital transformation.Interdisciplinary education and researchThe PhD brings together scientific expertise from several areas at ISEL, including electronic engineering, computer engineering, physics, and biomedical engineering, long recognised both nationally and internationally in academia, research, and collaborative projects with leading R&D partners.During the first year, students attend advanced courses covering topics such as sustainable development, research methods and scientific ethics, foundations of cyber-physical systems, and technological innovation.In the following years, doctoral candidates focus on developing their research project leading to the doctoral thesis, contributing to the advancement of scientific and technological knowledge.A new step for ISELThe approval of this programme represents an important step in implementing ISEL’s strategy as a reference institution in engineering research, strengthening its capacity to train researchers and specialists capable of leading high-impact technological projects.With this PhD programme, ISEL opens a new chapter in its academic history, strengthening the link between education, research, and innovation, and contributing to the training of professionals prepared to address major technological and environmental challenges.More information about the programme here.

On February 26th, ISEL formalized a collaboration protocol with the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT), clearly reinforcing its strategic commitment to promoting Occupational Safety and Health.The ceremony was attended by the Inspector-General of the ACT, Dr. Maria Fernanda Campos. Representing ISEL were the President, Professor José Nascimento, the Vice-President, Professor Pedro Silva, the Director's Advisor, Professor Patrícia Barata, as well as the Head of the Hygiene, Safety and Health Unit, Eng. Paula de Castro, responsible for coordinating with the ACT for the implementation of the protocol, and the Heads of the Infrastructure and Equipment Management Service, Eng. Vanda Pacheco, and the Communication and Image Service, Dr. Marta Coelho.The main objective of signing this protocol was to reinforce the institutional importance of this partnership and promote the convergence of efforts between the two entities in promoting safe, healthy work environments aligned with best practices.The protocol establishes a framework for technical cooperation aimed at strengthening institutional coordination, encouraging the sharing of knowledge and best practices, and boosting joint initiatives. Among the areas of action foreseen, the prevention of occupational risks stands out, understood as a central element of consistent, planned action focused on the early identification and mitigation of potential risk situations.With this initiative, the ISEL Directorate reinforces its commitment to placing safety at the center of the institution's priorities, consolidating an organizational safety culture based on valuing and caring for people.Occupational Safety and Health is not only considered a legal obligation, but a continuous commitment to the safety, well-being, health, and quality of life of the entire academic community—an investment that contributes to a safer and healthier future for all, as assumed in the Occupational Safety and Health Policy.         

ISEL has recently registered, with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), the design of a robot‑fish prototype developed by student Mário Nunes as part of his Master’s Final Project in Mechanical Engineering (MEM). The industrial property registration establishes a solid foundation for the future development of innovative solutions, promoting a better response to engineering challenges.The constructed prototype stands out for its use of FDM 3D‑printing techniques, enabling a single‑piece structure and self‑assembly, with a tail of complex geometry. This bio‑inspired design, manufactured in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), uses an optimized lattice mesh to provide lateral flexibility—essential for simulating natural swimming and reducing energy consumption during underwater locomotion.The multidisciplinary project was supervised by faculty members Mário Mendes (DEM/ISEL) and Tiago Charters (DM/ISEL). Prototype testing was carried out at the ISEL Digital Workshop, at the Industrial Automation Laboratory of DEM/ISEL, and at the Construction Materials Laboratory of Civil Engineering at DEC/ISEL.

The R6379 seismic station installed on the ISEL campus by the geophysics group of the IDL@ISEL hub once again demonstrated yesterday its importance for monitoring local and regional seismicity. In the early afternoon of February 19, 2026, the station clearly recorded the two earthquakes that occurred in the Alenquer area.Due to their temporal and spatial proximity and their nearly identical characteristics, these two events can be considered doublet earthquakes, a term used when two earthquakes have very similar magnitudes, virtually coincident epicentres, almost identical waveforms, and occur in sequence, reflecting a common origin and a very similar rupture process. Relative amplitudes are shown on the y‑axis. The red lines mark the event times (12:14:02 for the 1st and 12:16:04 for the 2nd), as computed by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).The seismic signals were clearly recorded on the three components of the seismometer—vertical, north–south, and east–west—allowing precise identification of the arrival of P and S waves. The sensitivity of the short‑period sensor makes this station particularly effective for recording local or regional earthquakes. Integrated into the global network Raspberry Shake, which brings together thousands of sensors worldwide, this station enhances seismic monitoring capacity in the Lisbon region and complements the existing network. The recorded data are openly accessible, an approach aligned with the open‑science principles and societal engagement that guide the IDL@ISEL hub. You can consult the station’s earthquake records here.With this new recording, the station once again establishes itself as a scientific, educational, and civic tool, enabling students, researchers, and the public to follow the region’s seismic activity in real time.More information about these events is available on the IPMA website in the shakemaps information at this link, and on the EMSC website (1st Earthquake and 2nd Earthquake).You can view the earthquake records from the ISEL station here.