On Feb 21, 2022, the Institute of European Studies held a panel discussion on Contrasting Science Education and Science Research in Portugal and the US by Prof. Randy Schekman and Prof. Carlos Fiolhais. Randy Schekman is a professor at the Cell and Developmental Biology department at UC Berkeley and is the 2013 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine. In his presentation, he discusses his research in the field of molecular biology. He was joined by Professor Carlos Fiolhais of the Department of Physics at the University of Coimbra, who discusses his physics research as well as a discussion on the difference in constructions of knowledge, education policies, and integration in non-academic sectors in the US and Portugal which impact scientific research.
The panel was attended by 30 guests and included guest speaker Francisco Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal to the USA, who introduced the event by honoring the relations between Portugal and the U.S. and the amazing programs Berkeley has to offer through the Institute of European Studies and the Center of Portuguese Studies.
Schekman began his presentation by discussing the power and education of basic research the United States has to offer and how the boost of scientific research in the United States started with a report that was issued to President Roosevelt to launch funding for the National Institute of Science and Health to promote individual scientists by funding research and education of the natural world themselves. In the 1950-60s, with the report and the new improvement for research, Schekman shares the story of how he found his passion for science through participation in science fairs and a little toy microscope given to him as a birthday gift. He began exploring the natural world around his home and decided to save his money from his chores to buy himself a professional student microscope from a pawn shop which he would end up using for the rest of his middle school and high school years. As an undergraduate, Schekman was admitted into UCLA and later went on to graduate school at Stanford University where he worked with Noble Laureate Arthur Kornberg who was a large mentor and model in his education. Post-graduation, Schekman changed his research to work on biological membranes and was offered to come to UC Berkeley, by Daniel Koshland. Berkeley made a difference in his career was his ability to work with some of the best scholars of students and is quite certain that he would not have achieved what he has without the people and students he worked with. In 2013, Schekman won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and donated his first professional student microscope from his school years to the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm as he still believes the microscope changed his life.
In the second half of the presentation, Fiolhais continues the lecture to discuss his own work while ending the presentation on the comparison between Portugal and the U.S. on science and research. Fiolhais also was the Director of the famous Library at the University of Coimbra and has been teaching at the department of Physics for more than 45 years. Fiolhais has written many science books, papers, and journals that have been used in many countries. He has won several awards, including the 2022 Merit Medal from the Portuguese Minister for Science and Technology. Fiolhais grew up at a time when technology was rising, especially in Silicon Valley, which contributed to his work as he now works with more computational physics due to his upbringing with technology. Fiolhais continues his presentation with the comparison between Portugal and the U.S finds that while Portugal has accomplished much; however, the nation needs to invest more in research and development in comparison with the most advanced nations in the EU and U.S., as well as create jobs for young scientists and engineers in both public, and private sectors to improve Portugal overall in its research and development. Lastly, Fiolhais believes that Portugal has to improve in innovation and transfer science to society; while there is a need for advancement, Portugal has had remarkable output for its reduced means.
The presentation ended with closing remarks from Elvira Fortunato, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education for Portugal. Minister Fortunato expressed how California has shown her the strong collaboration between research and technology and announced her vision to oversee the contribution of science and technology for global innovation and development for the future through research and education.