Youth Foundation
Gold medal for Portuguese students – Tomás Lopes, Duarte Brito and Matilde Duarte – in one of the biggest science competitions in Africa
The first prize of I-FEST² – ‘International Festival of Engineering Science and Technology’ in Tunisia came to Portugal.
Tomás Lopes, Duarte Brito and Matilde Duartestudents from Colégio Ribadouro and Colégio Camões, in Porto, received, last week, at one of the biggest science fairs in Africa, the gold medal.
O “Guarda-Rios Project” was chosen to represent Portugal, in Tunisia, following his victory in the National Competition for Young Scientists and Researchers 2025, organized by the Youth Foundation.
Coordinated by Elsa Oliveira and João AlvesPortuguese students intend to create a river water quality monitoring network, through a modular, low-cost and energetically autonomous system, with sensors to detect, in real time, possible sources of pollution and their location.
The ultimate purpose focuses on creating a national network that is based on collaboration of the entire community, from a citizen science perspective.
As the Youth Foundation detailed in a statement sent to ZAP, the event, organized by ATAST (Tunisian Association for the future of Science and Technology), brought together students between the ages of 14 and 24 from various countries around the world, for a week of project competition, educational experiences, activities and excursions to discover Tunisian culture. Gold came to Portugal.
In the 2025 edition of this same competition, the Portuguese delegation had already been on the podium, with third place thanks to the project SeaNetworkdeveloped by Ana Reis, Miguel Aguiar and Leonor Guerra.
The 2026 edition of the National Competition for Young Scientists and Researchers, which could lead more young prodigies to I-FEST²is still open to .
