Science

Helena Rafael holds a degree in Social Communication from NOVA University Lisbon, which she completed in 1993, and a postgraduate qualification from ISCTE. She began her career in the digital sector at LaNetro during the internet boom of the 1990s.
She later established the communication departments of the publishing houses Presença and Principia before taking on the same role at Gradiva, where she has been since 2006.
Currently, she is leading an editorial and graphic renewal project at the publishing house, founded by Guilherme Valente in 1981.

Last updated: January 2025

Founder of the consulting company ‘MD Media Fusion’, presenter of the programme ‘Economia Sem Fronteiras’ and television commentator on the ‘News Now’ channel.
She has spent most of her career in the USA, where she was a reporter for ABC News, Fox News and a correspondent for TVI, based in New York, covering the major global events of recent decades.
Specialising in Justice and International Politics, she followed media cases in the New York courts, including those of Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and ‘El Chapo. She has interviewed figures such as Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu and Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Last updated: January 2025

He is an artificial intelligence specialist and co-founder of ‘Data Science for Social Good Portugal’, an association that develops data science and artificial intelligence projects with a positive social impact.
He leads the Data and Artificial Intelligence teams at Mollie, one of Europe's major fintech companies.
With a decade of experience in data and AI, he has developed and implemented artificial intelligence solutions in various sectors. He combines in-depth scientific knowledge with a practical and effective approach to implementing AI, and has been recognised with awards in the field.
He is a guest speaker on ‘data & AI’ at Nova SBE and has a diverse background in national and international companies.

Last updated: january 2025

DeepMind Professor at the University of Cambridge, where he leads the AI field, and a Senior AI Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute.
As a former Director of Machine Learning at Amazon, he implemented solutions for Alexa, Prime Air, and the company's supply chain.
A co-host of the Talking Machines podcast, he has written a series for The Guardian and regularly contributes opinion pieces to various media outlets.
Known for his political and social work with the UK's Council for Artificial Intelligence, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), and the OECD's Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), his research focuses on improving data management, scientific discovery, and empowering humans to regain control over large AI systems.

Last updated: january 2025

Senior Fellow at Harvard University and Former Assistant Director for Space Policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
In almost 20 years of U.S. government service, Dr. Uzo-Okoro has developed several national space policies and contributed to over 60 NASA missions and programs – as an engineer, technical expert, manager, and executive – in space science and technology topics.
At the White House, she led the space, aeronautics, and manufacturing portfolios, and has released space policy on Earth Observations, Orbital Debris, LEO including Microgravity research, Space Weather, In-space Servicing Assembly and Manufacturing, Aeronautics, human exploration, and space science.
She has an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and three masters degrees in Space Systems, Space Robotics, and Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University (APL), MIT (the Media Lab), and Harvard University, respectively. She earned her doctorate degree in Aerospace Engineering from MIT.
Her story is profiled in President George W. Bush’s book, «Out of Many, One».

Last update: january 2025

Andrew Hessel is a distinguished figure in the realm of genomics and synthetic biology, making transformative strides in advancing human and animal health through cutting-edge innovations.
He is a co-founder of Humane Genomics, an early-stage venture committed to the development of synthetic viruses with profound implications for health and wellbeing. Andrew is the Co-founder and Chairman of the Center of Excellence for Engineering Biology, a pioneering institution that catalyzes breakthroughs in the manipulation of biological systems.

Last update: december 2024
Andrew's influence extends to the Genome Project-write, an international scientific initiative that aims to engineer complete genomes, including the human genome.

He is a guest writer for the American magazine «The New Republic» and author of the books «The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom» and «To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism». From 2010 to 2012, he was Visiting Professor at Stanford University and a Fellow in the Bernard L. Schwartz programme at the New America Foundation. From 2009 to 2010, he was a Fellow at Georgetown University and a Fellow at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) from 2008 to 2009, where he also served on the board of the Information Programme from 2008 to 2012. Between 2006 and 2008, he was the New Media Director at the «Transitions Online» newspaper. Morozov has contributed articles to a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, London Review of Books and The Times Literary Supplement. His monthly column for Slate magazine is syndicated in various newspapers, such as El Pais, Corriere della Sera, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and Folha de S.Paulo.

Last updated: June 2015

Scientist, best-selling author, speaker and consultant on new perspectives on technology and the future. He is the author of the novel «The Postman» (filmed in 1997 in Portugal as "The Postman: O Mensageiro») and the author of the Hugo Award-winning novels «Startide Rising and The Uplift War», as well as many others. He is a leading commentator and speaker on contemporary trends and his non-fiction book «The Transparent Society» was awarded the Freedom of Speech Award by the American Library Association. His latest novel, «Existence» explores a big question: there are billions of planets capable of supporting life. So where is everyone? The book is a reflection on questions such as: how will we build the days and years to come – and how will we be shaped by the future?


Last updated: June 2015

She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Genspace, a non-profit community laboratory dedicated to promoting science and access to biotechnology for the public. Her efforts to make Genspace a centre for entrepreneurship, innovation and citizen science have been documented by the media in publications such as Nature Medicine, Science, Discover Magazine, Wired, Make, BBC News, Dan Rather Reports, PBS News Hour, The Discovery Channel and The New York Times. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from New York University, worked for several years in the biotechnology industry and is currently Adjunct Professor at New York Medical College, Scientist-in-Residence at the School of Visual Arts, and Visiting Professor at The Cooper Union. She frequently mentors teams participating in DNA-based scientific competitions, such as iGEM and the Urban Barcode Project.

Last updated: June 2015

Full Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST).
His primary focus is engineering sciences and technologies, with a particular interest in computer engineering, especially robotics and artificial intelligence.
He has published over 200 articles in journals, book chapters and scientific conferences. He is co-author of two books. He has received seven awards and honourable mentions.
He completed his Bachelor's and pre-Bologna Master's Degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering at IST. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.