Limelight

In a universe of more than 1200 collaborators, there are many months when there is more than one collaborator with a performance suitable for “Limelight”. An example of this is the fact that for several months we receive more than one nominee. This led to a change in the publication policy: BIP has started to highlight all nominees, without considering the merit (because all nominees have much merit!). Additionally, considering the criteria for news opportunity, an interview with one of the nominees is developed.

This month we spoke with Catarina Carvalho (SCOM)

1 – You have a Degree and a Master in Communication Sciences and a Postgraduation in Marketing Management. Did you know you wanted to be a communicator since you were a child?

When I was a child I wanted to be a cashier in a supermarket! I loved all that scheme of having to talk to people, the sound of typing on the cash register or computer, of dealing with numbers and doing math... I think later down the road, I've only enjoyed the first part of it! Around that time when we start to understand a little something about jobs, I always thought I wanted to be a psychologist, specially in the law and justice side of things, and so I followed that path since a young age. Communication, even though it was a pleasure, was never really an option for my future... That is, until I stumbled on my college application and ended up, by mere coincidence, in the Communication Course. Because of that misfortune, I fell in love at first sight! Since then, it was easy to tread the path within communication. That idea that the universe always knows what it's doing? I think that fits perfectly in here! As for Marketing, that came out later, just because I thought it was an interesting and useful addition to my basic training.

2 - How did INESC TEC came up on your career path?

I was always a fan of changing and experiencing new things. INESC TEC came up precisely in one of those moments, just when I thought my career path had come to a stall, and I needed a breath of fresh air. In reality, and since I wasn't very picky, my idea was very simple: to look up for an opportunity in my training area that was at the same a new challenge and that could bring me to Porto. It was in the middle of that search that I stumbled upon a Formal Call from INESC TEC that satisfied those three requirements. Staying true to myself, I had to give it a try. Even though it was only a three month grant, it was the perfect excuse to put myself on the line, to leave my steady job over in Braga and to start a new adventure. What was the worst it could happen?! Everything went really well of course, and two years later I'm still here.

3 - Since you started working on the Communication Service, what were the most difficult challenges that you faced and what works can you highlight as being the most rewarding?

I never thought working in Communication of Science could be so motivating, but the truth is you're discovering new things every day. And the work at the Communication Service has revealed itself to be an unexpected activity, challenging and surprising, even more than what I had imagined. Deep down, all exercises are somewhat characterised as a challenge and a gratification. I think that the main challenge isn't directly related to tasks but instead it is posed transversely by the institution itself because, by being so sui generis, it turns difficult challenges into rewarding works and vice-versa. It becomes more complicated when the effort and commitment (not always by our own responsibility) simply aren't enough to achieve the expected results. And for that, even though it is a an ever-growing path, there is always more rewarding periods and some others who are more frustrating. I particularly highlight the event organisation area, more evident in the eyes of others, in which, in spite of the difficulties, there is usually a feeling of gratification in the end that always comes from the people in different ways. That is the kind of battery charger that we need to keep going. Sometimes, a simple gesture or a simple word can make all the difference in our work.

4 - You organize events, you produce content, you present INESC TEC to the new collaborators, you play the role of hostess on stage in prestigious events... How do you think INESC TEC's collaborators see you?

As a chatterbox! In fact, that is the common thought! In spite of that, I think I show everyone the pleasure I feel when doing two things that I love: write and talk. I think I'm an accessible and funny person, who is always there to help. On top of all this, I think I'm very transparent so all collaborators who look at me for more than two seconds can actually see what kind of person I am, regardless of the moment that I'm in, whether I'm on jeans and snickers writing on my computer or I'm in a suit and heels presenting an event.

5 - We will end this interview by asking you to comment on your nomination by the Board:

“I nominate Catarina Carvalho for Limelight for her exemplary commitment and proven capacity in the coordination of all the process of receiving, validating and editing the content of the posters and factsheets supporting the FCT’s evaluation visit that took place in November.”

FCT's visit was as an event as imposing to INESC TEC as the work that was behind its organisation. It was demanding and exhausting but regardless of the result that we'll have in the evaluation, I think we all must be really satisfied with this final product. Naturally, it wasn't an individual achievement, it was the result of a phenomenal teamwork, which had the participation of people from different services who, with all their respective contributions, managed to organise a successful event. Sara Brandão, Sandra Pinto, Pedro Regadas, Vera Pinto, Eunice Oliveira are some of the names of the people with whom I worked closely and without them I wouldn't have had this nomination. But there are several more. In fact, there is a group of people that I can't name that were silently responsible for having the back of those more involved in the visit, supporting and helping in everything that was necessary. My gratitude towards all them is immense. It is never enough to stress that the success that INESC TEC’s activity is surrounded with, is mostly, (if not totally) due to the human resources that makes part of it.

Limelight - November

• Catarina Carvalho

“I nominate Catarina Carvalho for Limelight for her exemplary commitment and proven capacity in the coordination of all the process of receiving, validating and editing the content of the posters and factsheets supporting the FCT’s evaluation visit that took place in November.”, Board

• Joana Paiva

“C-BER nominates Joana Paiva for her commitment and great scientific contribution in the area of processing of advanced biological signal, resulting in a high number of publications and a contribution for three patents. Joana started as a grant holder of C-BER, working in cardiac signal (ECG) and brain signal (EEG) and then she received a grant from the MAP-fis PhD programme (with the co-supervision of CAP) in order to study micro and nano-sensing of biological particles with optical fibre tools, which is being developed in a partnership with INESC TEC/ I3S under the NanoSTIMA project.”, Coordination C-BER