About Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Teresa Eça, a visual artist and secondary school visual arts teacher, is a prominent figure in art education and research, currently serving as the President of APECV (Associação de Professores de Expressão e Comunicação Visual) since 2008. With a PhD from the University of Surrey-Roehampton focused on visual arts assessment, Eça coordinates the Research Group in Arts, Community and Education (GriArCE) and collaborates with the Center for Research in Arts and Communication at the University of Algarve. Her diverse research interests encompass participatory action research, art education, artivism, participatory art, transcultural projects, and eco-citizenship. Eça's contributions to the field include numerous publications, co-editing the journal Invisibilidades, and serving as President of the International Society for Education Through Art (InSEA) from 2014 to 2019. Through her multifaceted career, Eça champions innovative approaches to art education that promote social engagement, cultural exchange, and environmental awareness, positioning art as a powerful tool for community development and social change.

Ângela Saldanha, Vice-President of APECV (Associação de Professores de Expressão e Comunicação Visual) in Portugal, is a prominent figure in art education and research, focusing on the intersection of contemporary art, community engagement, and sustainability. In her role at APECV, Saldanha coordinates research initiatives in art and community engagement, as well as art education, with her interests spanning contemporary art for sustainability, art and community, art education, and diversity. Her leadership extends to international collaborations, as evidenced by her coordination of APECV's team in the Horizon 2020 EU-funded project AMASS (Acting on the Margins: Arts as Social Sculpture). Through her multifaceted work, Saldanha advocates for innovative approaches to art education that promote community involvement, environmental awareness, and inclusive practices. Her efforts contribute significantly to the use of art as a catalyst for social change and sustainable development, positioning her as a key influencer in the evolving landscape of art education and community-based artistic practices.

César Israel Paulo is a multifaceted professional who seamlessly integrates visual arts education with educational leadership and policy-making in Portugal. With a degree in Fine Arts (Sculpture) and postgraduate studies in Artistic Direction and Educational Administration, Paulo brings a unique blend of artistic and administrative expertise to his various roles. As a visual arts teacher and counselor at the National Education Council, he directly influences art education practices. His leadership extends to key administrative positions, including Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for School Administration and presidencies in teacher associations. Paulo's artistic practice, featuring public installations and participation in collective exhibitions, complements his educational work. He contributes to academic discourse through speaking engagements and teaches courses on arts in educational contexts. Through his diverse roles in teaching, administration, and professional associations, Paulo serves as a crucial link between artistic practice, educational policy, and public administration, shaping the landscape of visual arts education in Portugal.

Dr. Fátima Silva, a Linguistics professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Porto, is a key figure in Portuguese language education and research. With expertise in Text Linguistics, Semantics, and Linguistics applied to Portuguese as a foreign language teaching, Silva plays multiple crucial roles in academia. She lectures on Linguistics and Portuguese as a Foreign Language at various academic levels, coordinates the Portuguese Courses at the Faculty of Arts, and contributes significantly to the Master's program in Portuguese as a Second Language/Foreign Language. Silva's responsibilities extend to supervising teacher training programs and participating in linguistic research projects funded by Portuguese and European sources. As a member of the boarding committee of the University's linguistic research center, she actively shapes the direction of linguistic studies. Through her multifaceted work in teaching, research, and program coordination, Silva bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in language teaching, making substantial contributions to the field of Portuguese language education and linguistic research

Ana Isabel Fernandes is a dedicated Portuguese language professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Porto, holding a Master's degree in Portuguese as a Second Language/Foreign Language. Her teaching role focuses on instructing Portuguese as a foreign language to international students at the university. Fernandes' research interests lie in the intricate processes of teaching and learning foreign languages, with a particular emphasis on the perception and production of European Portuguese sounds by non-native learners. This specialization in the phonetic and phonological aspects of Portuguese language acquisition positions her as a valuable asset in helping students develop accurate pronunciation and listening comprehension skills. While specific details about her career are limited, Fernandes likely collaborates with colleagues like Fátima Silva in the Portuguese as a Foreign Language program, contributing to the university's efforts in teaching Portuguese to international students and advancing research in effective methods for second language acquisition, particularly in the realm of European Portuguese phonology.