On November 5, ISEL hosted the inauguration of the installation “I can’t believe it’s not a tree”, the winning project of the university competition organized by Escola da Energia and promoted by the EDP Foundation. Developed by a multidisciplinary team, mostly composed of ISEL alumni, the project combines art, engineering, and sustainability, proposing a new way of thinking about urban spaces and air quality in cities.The presentation session was led by Nuno Cordeiro and Duarte Teixeira (graduates in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, respectively) and Catarina Gentil (Visual Artist), who shared the journey of the project from conception to the implementation of the proof of concept installed on the ISEL campus. Other team members included Cristiano Rodrigues (Electrical Engineering), Duarte Gonçalves (Informatics and Multimedia Engineering), and Maria Carnall (Product Designer).A tree that breathes technologyThe installation “I can’t believe it’s not a tree” is an urban structure built with recycled materials, equipped with photovoltaic panels, air purifiers, and environmental sensors. This “technological tree” is capable of generating clean energy and purifying the air, continuously measuring particles (PM2.5 and PM10) and carbon dioxide. The collected data is made available in real time through an online dashboard, updated every 15 minutes, allowing for near real-time environmental monitoring.“Not a tree is an air purifier, a work of art, and a living laboratory. People can enjoy the space while also tracking online the energy produced and the air quality”, explained Nuno Cordeiro during the presentation. The self-sustaining structure is powered exclusively by solar energy and was designed to operate mainly during periods of higher pollution and urban activity, maximizing its environmental impact.Art and engineering serving the cityBeyond its technological aspect, “I can’t believe it’s not a tree” incorporates a strong artistic component, resulting from collaboration between engineers and creatives.Inspired by nature, the installation proposes a “symbolic urban forest,” a space that combines aesthetics, functionality, and reflection on the role of technology in sustainability. “From the start, we wanted it to be a functional sculpture that people could enjoy. We didn’t want just a decorative piece, but something useful, beautiful, and inspiring”, said Catarina Gentil.A replicable and modular modelThe team designed the project as a prototype with expansion potential, capable of being replicated and interconnected in different urban contexts, such as bus stops, squares, or public parks.Representatives from the EDP Foundation, which promoted the competition, attended the session and expressed interest in supporting its implementation in other locations: “This project is art and engineering. It’s exactly the type of initiative we’d like to see at the EDP Foundation campus”, said Rosa Amado, Senior Project Manager at the EDP Foundation.Innovation and community at the heart of ISELRepresenting ISEL’s Board, the session also included professors Alexandra Costa (Vice-President for Infrastructure and Equipment) and Carla Viveiros (Vice-President for Pedagogy and Quality), who congratulated the team for their work and for embodying the institution’s innovative spirit.Closing the event, Professor Carla Viveiros highlighted the pride in seeing projects like this emerge from the ISEL community: “It’s always rewarding to see our students move from theory to practice. They leave, but their work remains”, she said, expressing satisfaction that students wanted to implement the proof of concept on campus. “It’s good for them and for future professionals still here, who will realize that if they have an idea, they can also make it happen with ISEL’s support. We’re here to help”, she added.Professor Alexandra Costa emphasized the value of entrepreneurship and continuous improvement: “You now have big responsibilities, with the EDP Foundation and ISEL. When this proof of concept is perfect, you might think ‘we can replicate it ten times,’ but by the 11th, new ideas should emerge. You must always improve”, she said, encouraging the team.See the photo album on Flickr.

The Polytechnic University of Lisbon (IPL) has announced the results of the 6th edition of the #ErasmusDays 2025 Photography Award, which received 101 photographs from 29 entries.Maria Luísa Geraldes Barba de Melo e Sampaio, a student in the Bachelor’s Degree in Informatics and Multimedia Engineering at ISEL, was awarded one of the three honorable mentions for her photograph “Rowing Boats on Lake Bled.” The image was captured during her Erasmus+ experience at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in the 2024/25 academic year.From the submitted photographs, the jury selected 30 works for the ErasmusDays – IPL 2025 Exhibition, including the winning entries and honorable mentions. The exhibition will be on display at Espaço Artes – Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Estrada de Benfica N. 529, in November 2025 (date to be confirmed).About the InitiativeThe #ErasmusDays Photography Contest is aimed at IPL students, faculty, technical, administrative, and management staff who are currently participating or have participated in Erasmus+ mobility activities over the past three academic years.Participants’ photographs focus on the following themes:New countries | new cultures | new landscapesAcademic life experiencesSocializationThrough the #ErasmusDays Photography Contest and Exhibition, the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon once again joins the global initiative taking place in November 2025, with the goal of promoting the Erasmus+ Program to the local, national, and international community, giving a voice to those who have never had an international experience.#ErasmusDays celebrates the Erasmus+ program with various Europe-wide activities that encourage sharing experiences and showcasing the benefits Europe offers through this international mobility program.

Miguel Rosa, a final-year student in the Bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Telecommunications and Computer Engineering of the ISEL, won first prize in the student category of the international competition promoted by the H2O & Sustainability Innovation Hub, held on October 14 and 15 at the University of Algarve, on the Penha Campus in Faro.The winning project, titled “Smart System for Microplastics Quantification and Analysis in Water”, was developed under the co-supervision of ISEL professors António Serrador and Nuno Datia, and Jan Halfar, professor at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic).This is the first ISEL undergraduate final project developed in collaboration with the U!REKA European network. Its goal is to deepen understanding of the presence of microplastics in the watersheds of the municipalities of Oeiras and Lisbon, including their impact on the marine environment, thereby contributing to research and monitoring of one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.The project also received support from the Municipal Councils of Oeiras and Lisbon, strengthening collaboration between higher education institutions, local authorities, and innovation ecosystems dedicated to sustainability, the blue economy, and environmental transition.The recognition achieved by Miguel Rosa highlights the work carried out at ISEL and within the Polytechnic of Lisbon in promoting applied research and technological solutions with real social impact — helping to train professionals capable of addressing the environmental challenges of both the present and the future.Text by MFC/GCIImages courtesy of the University of Algarve

From October 19 to 22, Nuno Henriques (DEM/ISEL), an ISEL faculty member accredited as a EUR-ACE evaluator, joined the team of experts appointed by the CAAAE (Central Asian Association for Accreditation of Education), an accreditation agency of ENAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education), to conduct a EUR-ACE accreditation visit to TECNUN – School of Engineering, University of Navarra (Spain).Nine engineering education programs at that institution were submitted for international accreditation with the EUR-ACE label, including the Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, in which the ISEL professor was directly involved.The delegation included specialists from Portugal (ISEL and ISEP), as well as from universities in Spain, Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Ecuador.The EUR-ACE label is a European quality mark for engineering programs, certifying their compliance with European quality standards and recognizing the excellence and high standard of the education provided.

On October 28, the signage identifying one of the 86 Emergency Meeting Points across the city of Lisbon was installed in the ISEL parking lot. This initiative is part of the Lisbon City Council’s policy to implement and identify designated safe areas where the population should gather in the event of major accidents or disasters, facilitating the coordination of rescue operations and the assistance provided by emergency teams.The occasion was attended by representatives from the Lisbon Municipal Civil Protection Service (SMPC) — Margarida Castro Martins, Director of the SMPC Lisbon; Raquel Milho, Head of the Public Prevention and Awareness Division; and engineers Edgar Vaz and Luís Mesquita. ISEL was represented by Vice-President Alexandra Costa, Vanda Pacheco, Head of the Infrastructure and Equipment Management Service, and Paula Castro, Head of the Hygiene, Health, and Safety Unit.See the photo album on Flickr.

ISEL and the Portuguese Criminal Investigation Police (PJ) have developed the educational game “Rage Quit”, an interactive experience that will be implemented nationwide in secondary schools. The game “transforms an ordinary school day into a series of episodes in which the player is responsible for the consequences of their decisions,” as stated by the PJ in a press release.The platform on which the game was developed was created by students João Pires and Tiago Neves as part of the Project course unit of the Bachelor’s Degree in Informatics and Multimedia Engineering.The initiative was presented on October 14th, as part of the celebrations of the PJ’s 80th anniversary. The conference “Cybercrime in Focus: Trends and Prevention in the Digital Age” featured the participation of ISEL’s President, Professor José Nascimento, representing the institution.