On July 1, 2024, the Chemical Engineering Department at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto hosted a successful workshop titled “Valorização de subprodutos e/ou resíduos agroalimentares” (Valorization of by-products and/or agri-food waste). This event, targeted at final-year Chemical Engineering students and researchers, was organized by LSRE-LCM/ALiCE researchers Isabel Martins, Cláudia Gomes da Silva, Ricardo Santos, and Yaidelin Manrique.

The workshop was supported by researchers from the CyChest project (PD23-00008) as part of its dissemination action plan, aimed at promoting innovative approaches to the valorization of byproducts and waste in the agro-food sector. The event featured the participation of several key stakeholders and partners, including   CCDR-N, COLAB4FOOD, FCUP, GreenUporto, LEPABE/ALiCE, and CIMO/IPB.

The workshop included a presentation by Researcher Isabel Martins(LSRE-LCM/ALiCE) and Professor Filomena Barreiro (CIMO/IPB), the project coordinators, who provided valuable insights into the project's objectives.

A significant highlight was the round table “Desafios e oportunidades na valorização de resíduos para a criação de produtos de valor acrescentado" (Challenges and Opportunities in Waste Valorization for Creating Value-Added Products), chaired by Ricardo Santos (FEUP, ALiCE). Panelists included Lúcia Santos (FEUP, ALiCE), Carina Costa (FEUP, ALiCE), Daniel Sousa (COLAB4FOOD), and Elsa Ramalhosa (IPB, CIMO).

The workshop provided a platform for attendees to learn from experts, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations in the field of agro-food waste valorization.

Cychest project intends to promote better integration of waste management of chestnut production in the Parque Natural de Montesinho activities, with actions targeted at soil protection and pest control and creating value to guarantee the sustainability of the park's activities. The planned strategy is based on the valorisation of residues from the chestnut production by extracting compounds with high added value from their residues.

Isabel Martins, a researcher from LSRE-LCM and ALiCE, recently brought the wonders of science to young children in two separate events. The first session took place at Colégio "O Pimpolho" in Maia, where enthusiastic children participated. The second event was held at Escola JI/EB de Paradela in Trofa, engaging children aged 4 to 10, as part of their summer activities.

In these interactive sessions, Isabel introduced the children to the fascinating world of scents. The young participants enjoyed a lively game of guessing various scents, including rosemary, cinnamon, and lavender. The activity stimulated their sense of smell and sparked curiosity about the natural world around them.

This initiative by LSRE-LCM highlights the importance of early science education and the role of researchers in fostering a love for learning among young students. Isabel's engaging approach educated and entertained, leaving a lasting impression on the young minds she interacted with.