On June 17, 2026, José Barbosa, a PhD student from the LSRE-LCM research group of AliCE, was awarded the Best Presentation Prize in the competition “ExpliC2a-Me como se nem tivesse 18 anos 2026” (“Explain It to Me as If I Were Not Even 18”), held during the XIII National Meeting on Catalysis and Porous Materials and the IV Carbon Group Meeting.

The competition challenged participants to present their research in a clear, accessible, and engaging manner for a non-specialized audience. José Barbosa’s work, focused on the development of carbon-based catalysts through 3D-printing technologies for water treatment applications, stood out for its highly interactive and demonstrative presentation style.

This distinction highlights the importance of science communication as an essential skill in a researcher’s career, demonstrating that an excellent scientist must not only generate knowledge but also be able to communicate it effectively and engagingly to society.

Joana Lopes, currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at LSRE-LCM, has been awarded the Ramôa Ribeiro Award for the Best PhD Thesis in Catalysis, granted by the Catalysis and Porous Materials Division (DCMP) of the Portuguese Chemical Society (SPQ).

The award was received on June 17th during the 13th National Meeting on Catalysis and Porous Materials (XIII ENCMP) and the 4th Meeting of the Carbon Group (IV RGC), recognizing the scientific excellence and impact of her PhD research.

Joana Lopes defended her PhD thesis in November 2024. Her research focused on developing innovative photocatalytic materials and sustainable processes for organic synthesis, while advancing the integration of catalyst design with continuous-flow technologies for fine-chemical production.