This year, as in previous years, CERENA and DER (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Engineering) organized the eighth edition of “Science on the holidays” - an activity for high school students to get familiarized with Mining and Energy Resources Engineering during the Easter Holidays. This activity took place between 30th March 2026 and 2nd April 2026.
This year, we have received 29 high school students from the Lisbon area, between the 10th and 12th grades. The students started the day by being confronted with what the world would look like in the absence of mineral resources. During the first day, the students got familiarized with geological maps, an important tool for the visit they did on the second day to Secil. Additionally, they did a peddy paper around the Alameda Campus, and received a visit from C5Lab. Engineer Miguel Monteiro demonstrated the fabrication process of cement and highlighted projects focused on the decarbonization of the cement industry and the search for more environmentally friendly solutions.
On the second day, the group visited Secil to see firsthand how the production of cement and aggregates is made. During the visit, the students collected stone samples that were used, on the third day, to perform physical and mechanical tests. Additionally, the students were visited by Associação Cluster Portugal Mineral Resources, with the activity “Bag of Mineral Applications” and Visa Consultores, who challenged the students to rehabilitate an old mine/quarry, a hands-on activity that stimulated the creative minds of the future engineers.
The week finished off with a day to summarize all the activities and data in a storytelling activity and the construction of equipment for the Mining Industy, an activity dynamized by Fravizel SA.
