Primarily focused on materials, your research interests are in the field of Civil Engineering. If we could return to the starting point, how did this interest in such a specific area first arise?
I cannot say that I have always wanted to become a Civil Engineer. However, I remember when starting my secondary education, this was already my choice - although I’ve experienced some periods of indecision, common in youth, and wrestled against the “bias” that outstanding students should follow Medicine. I liked construction projects and understanding how a building could come together. Naively, at the time, I was unaware of the full scope of Civil Engineering. Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) was my first choice when applying for higher education. After two years of fundamental training focused on Mathematics and Physics, I recall that during my third year, while taking courses such as Construction Materials, Strength of Materials, and Soil Mechanics, I felt that I had made the right choice. Until entering the University, I had never considered a career in research. However, I enjoyed learning and teaching others. After completing my undergraduate degree, the opportunity to pursue a Master’s funded by FCT (the Foundation for Science and Technology) arose, and I had no doubts. I wanted to continue my education and embark on a career in teaching and research. My interest in the area of Construction Materials emerged when I joined FEUP as an Assistant and began my Doctorate. My Master's dissertation and research carried out in the following years were linked to Geotechnics, but I wanted to focus on an area more closely related to materials. It was in this context that I chose to pursue a Doctorate in the area of Geosynthetics - construction materials typically used in contact with soil, or other materials in various Civil Engineering applications. Later, I expanded my interests into the broader area of construction materials, and my current work focuses on sustainability and the use of alternative raw materials.

There are certainly particularly significant moments in your research career. Could you share some of them and explain why they stand out?
The Doctorate is undoubtedly a significant milestone in the scientific and professional career of any researcher, representing a period of substantial learning and discovery, dedication, and effort. However, I consider that the most pivotal moment in my research career was the approval of my first research project, funded by the FCT, in which I served as the Principal Investigator. From preparing the application, defining objectives, methodologies, and budget through a period of deep reflection, alignment of ideas and responsibility for its execution, team coordination and the autonomy it provided, this project was a turning point for me.

Sustainable Geotechnics and Geotechnics, Environment, and Sustainability are two of your current research interests. Could you share with the U.Porto scientific community which research paths are currently being explored in this area and, looking to the future, what the major upcoming challenges might be?
My current research interests are focused on sustainability and the use of alternative materials (wastes, by-products and recycled aggregates) in various Civil Engineering applications, particularly in geotechnical engineering. Sustainable Geotechnics and Geotechnics, Environment and Sustainability are two broad sub-disciplines that encompass priority and emerging areas, such as transforming waste into resources; using sustainable techniques to improve soils; remediating and rehabilitating contaminated land; using geothermal energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels; mining waste landfills; efficiently utilising underground space and rehabilitating and reusing foundations. The challenges are immense, but the focus should be on minimising the environmental impacts of construction activities by promoting sustainable design (reducing energy consumption and resource use). This requires technological innovation to ensure projects are carried out with less risk and uncertainty (especially in geotechnical projects), utilising more efficient methodologies that conserve natural resources, reduce waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Still on the theme of sustainability, much of your research focuses on the recycling of materials and waste management. In your opinion, what are the best practices to adopt, based on current scientific knowledge, to reduce the environmental impact of construction activities?
The practices necessary to reduce the environmental impact of construction activities include, as I mentioned earlier, all those involving sustainable materials. These are recycled, reused, or have lower carbon footprints. Additional best practices include implementing energy-efficient solutions during construction and throughout the lifecycle of buildings; investing in technological innovation, such as the widespread use of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and the development of new construction techniques that reduce energy consumption and natural resource use; adopting modular construction methods, which minimise waste and, finally, reducing soil movement and the transport of new materials for infrastructure projects. Specifically, regarding waste management and material recycling, best practices include reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills by implementing waste management plans and audits to monitor waste, promoting efficient sorting, reusing, and recycling materials whenever technically possible, and incorporating by-products, waste, and recycled materials as substitutes for traditional construction materials.

Could you briefly outline one or more projects you are currently involved in, including its opportunities for scientific development or innovative technologies with significant potential to promote sustainability and maximise resources in construction?
At the moment, I would highlight a project that is in its advanced stages of development. This project focuses on studying the feasibility of producing paving blocks (commonly referred to as pavés) using a hybrid cement composed of alkali-activated fly ash, partially replacing Portland cement and incorporating recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste.

Sustainable practices in Civil Engineering are, of course, also the result of interdisciplinary collaboration. Could you share some examples of how multidisciplinary collaboration can drive research and scientific progress in this area?
Beyond interdisciplinarity within the diverse areas of Civil Engineering (Construction Materials, Structures, Geotechnics, Transportation Infrastructure, etc.), sustainability practices almost always require a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach involving other fields of knowledge. A good example is the project I mentioned earlier. Developing a construction material incorporating an alternative cement requires collaboration between civil engineers, chemists, and material scientists. This solution was only possible due to these collaborative efforts. Another example is the concept of circularity, or circular economy, in the construction sector. Adopting circularity in construction requires collaboration between civil engineers, architects, economists, project managers, and others. This convergence of expertise is essential for addressing the numerous challenges involved.

What are the main obstacles to the widespread use of sustainable materials in construction, and how can these challenges be overcome?
Focusing particularly on recycled materials, there are obstacles at three levels: cultural, economic, and technical. On a cultural level, the construction industry is mainly composed of SMEs and micro-companies and tends to be quite conservative; there is considerable scepticism from stakeholders, including contractors, about the quality of recycled materials; and finally, environmental awareness in Portugal is generally low. When it comes to the economic stand point, and in the area of aggregates, for example, natural aggregates are widely available in Portugal at low cost, making recycled aggregates less competitive. Additionally, low landfill disposal rates and poor enforcement of penalties for illegal waste disposal are contributing factors. Technically speaking, the main challenges include legal frameworks that are sometimes outdated, standards based on the use of natural materials and the heterogeneity of recycled materials. Overcoming these challenges, in my opinion, could involve strategies such as offering financial and tax incentives to construction companies and clients using sustainable materials, investing in technological innovation to improve recycling processes and educating all stakeholders on the environmental and economic benefits of using recycled materials, while providing targeted training to professionals in the construction sector.

You currently serve as the Vice-President of the Institute for Sustainable Construction. Consulting, knowledge transfer and science communication are essential to integrating science into industrial practices. How can this bridge between research and industry be strengthened?
The Institute for Sustainable Construction, as a scientific and technical association, exists precisely to strengthen the bridge between academia, industry, and society at large. Its mission is centred on transferring innovative knowledge and technologies from research into practice, offering advanced consulting services and technical assistance and promoting professional training. To ensure science becomes a fundamental part of industrial practices, it is crucial to encourage strategic partnerships between universities and companies, foster collaborative research projects to address real-world industry challenges and develop advanced training programmes focused on the sector's specific needs. These actions can ensure that scientific developments and technological innovations translate into practical applications, leading to progress and sustainability in the construction industry.

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