This is the second edition of the annual cycle of the Caminhos do Conhecimento/Streams of Knowledge conferences organized in honour of José Mariano Gago on his birthday. Besides recalling the national and international legacy of Mariano Gago, this year’s conference will institute the celebration of the National Scientists Day, thus designated by the Portuguese Parliament* to commemorate and acknowledge the historic, pertinent and innovative role of the scientific community for the advancement of knowledge and, therefore, for the progress and welfare of society.

This year, the conference will address the question “Portugal, a country of science, culture and knowledge – How to strengthen this purpose?”

Programme

• José Manuel Mendonça | President of the Board of INESC-TEC
• Mário Barbosa | Director of i3S
• Nuno Ferrand | Director of CIBIO-InBIO
• Rui Moreira | Mayor of Porto

• Invited speaker: Elizabeth Rasekoala | President of African Gong, Pan-African Network for the Popularization of Science and Technology and Science Communication.
• Introduction: Rosalia Vargas | President of Ciência Viva
• Comments: Margarida Mano | Member of Parliament

• Alexandre Quintanilha | President of the Parliament Education and Science Committee
• Manuel Heitor | Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education
• Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa | President of the Republic

• Moderator: Ana Sousa Dias | Journalist, Diário de Notícias
• Invited speaker: Manuel Sobrinho Simões | Diretor, IPATIMUP/i3S, Universidade do Porto
• Comments:
  • Álvaro Laborinho Lúcio | President of the General Council of University of Minho
  • Célia Reis | CEO, Altran
  • João Vieira | Teacher, D. Maria II Secondary School, Braga
  • Manuel Carvalho da Silva | Researcher, Centro de Estudos Sociais, University of Coimbra
  • Miguel Santos | Development Director, Bosch Portugal
  • Nicolau Santos | Journalist, Expresso

• Moderator: Ana de Freitas | Rectory, Universidade de Évora
• Invited lecture: “DNA edtiting” | Carmo Fonseca, IMM, University of Lisbon
• Comments:
  • Elvira Fortunato | CENIMAT, New University of Lisbon
  • Salomé Pinho | i3S, University of Porto
  • Ana Nunes Alonso | INESC-TEC, University of Minho
  • Manuela Bronze | ESMAE, Polytechnic Institute of Porto
  • Alexandra P. Marques | 3Bs, University of Minho
  • Marco Lemos | MARE, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

• Paulo Ferrão | President of the Science and Technology Foundation
• Manuel Heitor | Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education
• Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues | President of the National Parliament