2010 Doctoral Consortium Promotes Interdisciplinary Environment
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On June 15, 2010, more than 20 dual degree Ph.D. students in the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program attended the Second Doctoral Consortium. The goal of this even was twofold: first, to proved students with feedback and general advice on developing their research and preparing for their future careers; and second, to provide a forum where Ph.D. students can learn about the general set of activities being developed in the context of the partnership. |
João Sentieiro, president of FCT, made the welcome session speech. Sentieiro praised the importance of this initiative, impar- ting a message of support and confidence to all the Ph.D. students that embraced this innovative partnership between Portuguese universities and Carnegie Mellon University. During the day, ten dual degree Ph.D. students presented their work and discussed how it is carried out.
Sven Stork, a Ph.D. student in Software Engineering (SE), gave a presentation entitled “Æminium—Freeing Programmers from the Shackles of Sequentiality.” This project is carried out in the scope of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program by Paulo Marques, from FCTUC, Nestor Cataño, from UMa, and Jonathan Aldrich, from Carnegie Mellon University.
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“You [Ph.D. Students] will bring the positive change in the environment(s) that needs to evolve.”
– Diogo Gomes and Francisco Veloso.
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Ana Venâncio, a Ph.D. student in Technological Change and Entrepreneurship (TCE), talked about her last paper entitled “Does Red Tape Hold Back Entrepreneurs? Evidence from Portugal.” In her paper, Venâncio concludes that the Portuguese “On the Spot” firm program increases the number of start-ups because it simplifies the registration procedures. “However, the number of firms created is not terribly large,” Venâncio said, “nor are these firms particularly vibrant.”, Other presentations included “P2P on Campus: Who, What and How Much,” given by Alexandre M. Mateus, a Ph.D. student in Engineering and Public Policy (EPP); and “Aliasing control with view-based typestate,” given by Filipe Militão, a Ph.D. student in Computer Science (CS).
António Câmara, CEO of YDREAMS, gave the guest speech: “The Ph.D. dissertation: an opportunity to change the World.” He talked about his memories has a Ph.D. student and about the Ph.D. students he advised when he was a professor. Câmara encouraged them to dream, and most importantly to strive for goals that can change their lives.
To close the event, Diogo Gomes and Francisco Veloso, scientific directors of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program and coordinators of the Doctoral Consortium, left a message for the students: “You will bring the positive change in the environment(s) that needs to evolve. We, the coordinators serve to empower you to make the change happen.”
June, 2010
