Madeiran students visit Massachusetts after winning national scientific competition
NEW BEDFORD – Five students and a teacher from the island of Madeira said they made memories of a lifetime in Massachusetts during the weeklong trip they earned as the top prize winners of Luso American Development Foundation’s Atlantic Junior Award competition.
“This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Daniel Tiago Valente, a 12th-grader at the Escola Secundária Francisco Franco in Funchal. “It’s going to be very hard to have an experience like this again.”
Launched by Luso American Development Foundation (FLAD) and Ciência Viva, the Atlantic Junior Award is aimed at secondary and professional schools throughout Portugal, distinguishing scientific projects focused on the Atlantic and the sustainable use of its resources.
“The [15 competing] teams identified real problems and sought technological solutions in clear interaction with the surrounding community, applied previously acquired knowledge and developed new technical skills to build and validate the prototypes built,” said FLAD Administrator Elsa Henriques in a prepared statement.
To earn the covet award, the Madeiran team created ph7-SPAR, an autonomous aquatic robot that guides itself by GPS to help in the study of ocean regions and in the development of sustainable practices that preserve marine ecosystems.
More: VIDEO: Launching of ph7-SPAR
The five students, guided by teacher Jorge Monteiro, received 2,000 euros (about $2,135) for technological equipment and materials and were awarded the trip to the Bay State, which was aimed at exposing them to places and institutions of scientific interest and to the local culture and lifestyle.
The group traveled to Massachusetts from Sept. 9 to 16, and were lodged at the Barry House, Bridgewater State University’s presidential residence.
Dr. Gregory DeMelo, Director of Travel Services and Special Projects at BSU, and João Caixinha, Coordinator for the Portuguese Language Programs and Education Affairs in the USA, helped plan the group’s itinerary and accompanied them on their visits.
“This trip serves to recognize what they have done, but also to open up opportunities for them so they can think about their future,” said Caixinha.
The winning team visited about a dozen places, including the Museum of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts State House, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Fall River’s Gates of the City, Old Colony History Museum, and Clube Madeirense S. S. Sacramento. They were also at Taunton High School, where they had the chance to visit classes and interact with students, and at the Consulate General of Portugal in Boston, where they chatted with several Madeiran students who are pursuing their academic dreams at local institutions of higher education.
One of the highlights for João Marcos Pontes, also a 12th grader, was the opportunity to speak about the winning project with Dr. John J. Leonard, a professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering in the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, and interact with students working on one of the institute’s robotic labs.
“We’ve seen things we’ve never seen in our lives. They’ve created pieces from scratch, and budget is no object,” said Pontes. “This [trip] will open doors academically, and I’ve learned a lot.”
In addition to Pontes and Valente, the winning team is composed of 12th graders Francisco Abreu, Joana Lopes Monteiro, Norberto Vieira and computer/electronics teacher Jorge Monteiro.
I am very grateful for this experience,” said Joana Monteiro, who unlike her four classmates does not aspire to pursue an engineering degree, but rather become a doctor. “America is such a nice place to live and study… it’s very different from Portugal. It’s been amazing.”
What does the winning project do?
Vieira said their prototype will contribute to a better understanding of Madeira’s coastline.
ph7-SPAR captures images and videos. It also collects data, such as water temperature and depth, and other marine and atmospheric information.
The model is composed of two solar panels and a motor to ensure the correct operation of the structure.
“We built it with PVC pipes and other affordable materials,” explained Vieira. “It carries a solar panel to charge the battery. It could be used in many cases, for instance in rescues and marine research.”
The prototype has been successfully tested in the water with the help of SANAS Madeira, the Madeiran Association in charge of Sea Rescue and Protection of Human Life at Sea.
“They want us to develop a rover to help find people missing at sea,” said Abreu. “We have rough currents in Madeira. It’s easier to operate a robot than to have three people risking their lives to pick up someone who possibly is no longer alive. It’s something we’re aiming to help with and we’re going to try to tackle it next year. Let’s hope it goes well.”
According to the teacher, the plan now is to add more sensors to the prototype in order to be able to gather additional data, such as water acidity (PH), salinity and so forth.
“The sensors we’re using are low-cost because we didn’t have the budget for more, to be accurate you need to invest more,” he said. “The fact we won this contest will not only motivate the students but will certainly serve to encourage them to develop the technology and knowledge they are so eager to achieve.”
Students received with open arms by local Madeirans
On Sept. 13, the students were welcomed by the Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento at Madeira Field with dozens of local Madeirans in attendance, as well as Rep. António F. D. Cabral, City Council President Linda Morad and Ward 2 City Council Member Maria Giesta.
They were treated to a carne de espeto dinner, visit to the Museum of Madeiran Heritage and a mini concert by club members, featuring traditional Madeiran songs.
The students had such a great time that some even joined the musicians on the iconic Bailinho da Madeira.
“We are so proud of these students for winning the contest,” said Steve Duarte, spokesperson for the Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento. “We’re very enthusiastic of hosting them here. It’s all about the kids. We’ve given out close to $2 million in academic scholarships and we’ve started the vocational awards. So, this just fits into our motto of ‘help us to help others.’”
The teacher and students were presented with New Bedford City Council Official Citations by Morad and Giesta.
Monteiro received the citation “for his dedicated guidance and leadership of the students from Escola Secundária Francisco Franco in the development of their award-winning SPAR Project.”
Each of the students received a citation recognizing their role in the development of the aquatic robot.
“The entire citizenry extends its best wishes on this memorable occasion and express the hope for continued good fortune,” read the citations.
Summing up their trip, the students said they are getting a lot out of this trip, more than just experiencing scientific advances and the hugeness of America.
“It’s been a fascinating experience,” said Valente. “Everyone has been so welcoming. We’re very grateful for that.”
BSU president wants to expand partnerships with Portugal
This is the second year Bridgewater State University has partnered up with the Luso American Development Foundation and served as host to the Atlantic Junior Award winners.
“Two years ago, there was a conversation between [BSU] President Frederick Clark and Senator Marc Pacheco about an opportunity for Bridgewater to host a group of students that were sponsored by FLAD to come to the United States. President Clark said yes immediately,” revealed Dr. DeMelo. “I was brought into the mix because I speak Portuguese fluently, of my relationship at the university, and my job title allows me to do these special projects.”
On Sept. 11, President Clark welcomed the contest winners at Boyden Hall. At the breakfast in their honor, the BSU president expressed his intention of expanding the university’s partnership opportunities with Portugal.
“We have partnerships around the world, but we’re a little late in partnering with Portugal,” Clark admitted.
He said that part of the reason for that was the sense that UMass Dartmouth wants to be the leader of all things Portuguese.
“Out of respect, because they are our sister institution and we’re very close to them, we let them take the lead,” explained the president. “But in recent years, we realized that because so many of our students, a huge percentage of our students, are of Portuguese descent… we need to be more active. We have a partnership with the University of the Azores, and we aspire to have more partnerships in Portugal.”
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Madeiran students visit Mass. after winning scientific competition