The 2019 CMU Portugal Board Meeting counted with the presence of James H. Garrett, Provost Carnegie Mellon University, and Sir John O’Reilly, Chair of CMU Portugal External Review Committee. On the occasion, the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, distinguished both with a Medal of Scientific Merit (Medalha de Mérito Científico) that is intended to reward national or foreign individuals who, by virtue of their high professional and performance duties, have been recognized by their exceptional contributions to the development of science or scientific culture.
“James H. Garrett Jr., Provost at Carnegie Mellon University since January 1, 2019, has been following the progress of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program since its foundation and has been one of its major drivers since 2012 and especially in its renewal. He has been a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and has distinguished himself in the development of adaptable and efficient urban systems. In 2012 he received the research Award “Alexander von Humboldt”, added Minister Manuel Heitor emphasizing the now CMU Provost’s contribution to the development of the CMU Portugal Program since its beginning in 2006.
During the ceremony, the Minister also highlighted Sir John O´Reilly’s role with the development of ICT in Portugal during the past 30 years: “Sir John O´Reilly, Visiting Professor of Telecommunications at University College of London and Chairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) in Singapore, has been the Chair of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program External Review Committee since its beginning in 2007. He has followed and supported Portuguese scientific progress over the past 30 years, especially in the areas of Information and Communication technologies, having participated in several FCT evaluation Committees and in evaluation panels of Portuguese scientific institutions».
