FROM THE FIELD TO THE LABORATORY: A DAY DEDICATED TO RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION

On 16th April, the ACPMR took part in the 7th edition of the ‘Science on Holiday – Engineering and Geological Resources’ activity promoted by CERENA – the Natural Resources and Environment Centre of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). After visiting Mocapor on 15 April, the secondary school students who took part in this CERENA – IST activity immersed themselves in the laboratory characterisation of the samples collected, applying physical-mechanical tests and macroscopic analysis techniques. A real exercise in applied science! In the afternoon, an inspiring talk by Carolina Carreiras from Visa Consultores, who guided us through an essential perspective: environmental recovery in the extractive sector. This was followed by a quarry recovery simulation, where the groups presented proposals for environmental rehabilitation with a focus on economic, ecological and social sustainability. Science, awareness and creativity combined in one day. These young people are not only learning, but rethinking the future of geological resources with responsibility and innovation.

ACPMR IS A PARTNER IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINHO’S POSTGRADUATE ALLIANCE PROJECT

The Associação Cluster Portugal Mineral Resources, Critical Catalyst, Congeo, Dstgroup, Grupo Erre, Quadrante, are partners of the University of Minho in the project ‘Aliança de Pós-Graduação – Competências para o Futuro’ (PRR/NextGenerationEU) within the scope of the Short Course on Integrated Management of Mineral Resource Exploration Areas, coordinated by Teresa Valente, Associate Professor with aggregates at the UMinho School of Sciences. This course, which is taught on a face-to-face basis, aims to identify the main environmental and economic factors environmental and economic factors associated with the extraction of mineral resources, defining measures to minimising environmental risk in the extraction of resources and applying measures to recover and rehabilitation of degraded areas.