Carlos Varandas awarded Medal of Scientific Merit
Professor Carlos Varandas, former president of IPFN and a key figure in establishing and developing nuclear fusion research at IST, was awarded this month the Medal of Scientific Merit by the Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor.
The award took place during Ciência 2017, a global meeting of the Portuguese scientific community, which took place from 3-5 July at the Lisbon Congress Center. A total of 17 researchers were awarded the same distinction, four of which related to IST.
Professor Varandas commented about this distinction: 'I am very pleased at the Government's recognition of the work done not only by myself, but also by all those who worked with me.'
His 25-year-long career 'started from scratch and culminated with the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion – a research unit whose competence is now internationally recognised. I feel fulfilled and very much available to work on what I like, as I have always done throughout my career,' he says.
