Prof. Rodrigo Martins, president of AlmaScience Technical and Scientific Council, received last Tuesday (April 13th) the Career and Recognition Award from the Portuguese Materials Society. The prize was established in 2015 with the aim of recognizing, encouraging, and promoting excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and industrial production in the area of ​​Materials in Portugal.

The prize represents the recognition by SPM of Rodrigo Martins’ brilliant academic career, and widely recognized ability to anticipate new trends and promote strategies to increase research relevance and social impact. During his career, Prof. Rodrigo Martins was invited to integrate numerous national and international advisory boards, strategic committees, leading innovation development groups, editorial boards, and science policy development initiatives. Some recent examples of his outstanding international recognition were the election for President of the European Academy of Sciences – EurASc; President of the International Union of Materials Research Societies – IUMRS; and member of the Scientific Council of the ERC – European Research Council.

The impact of his activities is also reflected in Prof. Rodrigo Martins ability to promote the creation and consolidation of research institutions and infrastructures, from which AlmaScience is one example.

The prize was given by the president of SPM, Jorge Lino, during the closing ceremony of the Materiais 2022 conference held at Marinha Grande, and has counted with the presence of the Minister for Science Technology and Higher Education – Elvira Fortunato, President of Marinha Grande Municipality – Aurélio Ferreira, Vice president of Polytechnic Institute of Leiria – Rita Cadima and Vice president of Portuguese Engineers Order – Jorge Liça.