A few years ago, I was sitting in this room as a student of the MSc in Environmental Engineering (Sanitary Engineering specialization) at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA School of Science and Technology), trying to imagine what my future in this field could look like.
Today, now as a PhD candidate, I returned, this time to give a lecture to those same students.
After two years away from direct teaching (since my time at Shanghai University), coming back to a classroom reminded me how much I enjoy this kind of interaction. Conferences, seminars, and presentations can be part of my daily life, but speaking directly to students, sharing experiences in a more personal and honest way, is something different.
During the lecture, I had the opportunity to present my PhD project (INCLUE) but also the journey that started in that very room and unexpectedly expanded far beyond it. In only 4 years, my path has taken me through international collaborations, research projects, universities, conferences, and professional experiences across different countries and environments.
Sometimes it is difficult to realize how much can happen in such a short period of time. I am still close in age to the students I spoke to, but life, research, and the opportunities this field has given me have already allowed me to build experiences I once only imagined from the other side of the classroom.
Returning to my alma mater was more than nostalgic: it was a reminder that growth often happens quietly until one day you come back to where everything started and suddenly see the distance traveled.
I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to share not only technical knowledge, but also experiences, doubts, lessons, and perspectives that may help others shape their own paths.
If even one student left that room feeling a little more inspired, a little more confident, or a little more open to the world and its possibilities, then coming back was worth it.
Very grateful for the invitation and for allowing me to share both technical knowledge and personal experience with the next generation of engineers and researchers.
Looking forward to continuing these discussions, collaborations, and lectures in other universities and international contexts in the future.