Single-molecule electrical contacts on silicon electrodes under ambient conditions

The ultimate goal in molecular electronics is to use individual molecules as the active electronic component of a real-world sturdy device. For this concept to become reality, it will require the field of single-molecule electronics to shift towards the semiconducting platform of the current microelectronics industry. Here, we report silicon-based single-molecule contacts that are mechanically and electrically stable under ambient conditions. The single-molecule contacts are prepared on silicon electrodes using the scanning tunnelling microscopy break-junction approach using a top metallic probe. The molecular wires show remarkable current–voltage reproducibility, as compared to an open silicon/nano-gap/metal junction, with current rectification ratios exceeding 4,000 when a low-doped silicon is used. The extension of the single-molecule junction approach to a silicon substrate contributes to the next level of miniaturization of electronic components and it is anticipated it will pave the way to a new class of robust single-molecule circuits

Shift for engineering horizons

Science, Engineering and Technology cross nearly every facet of modern life and, as problem solvers, engineers are perfectly capable of managing entrepreneurial activities, mastering innovative ways of business development, when they spend time and efforts understanding and acting in the field. Engineers rely on science and methods for analysis to ensure the quality and liability of design; nevertheless a pinch of creativity is required in order to find innovative solutions for economic and entrepreneurial problems. So, at present, engineers with technical skills must also learn how to work in interdisciplinary teams, how to develop designs rapidly, how to manufacture sustainably, how to combine art and engineering and how to address global markets. Providing opportunities in the work market for future engineers has become now part of university training, as a way to assure also the future competitiveness of universities. In many places, enterprises and universities have still difficulties in working together, it is up to engineering schools and universities to have the initiative to enhance their programs, to assure the proper training for future professionals that can perform in this mutant work environment of the 21st Century. According to the report “The Engineer of 2020”, developed by the National Academy of Engineering, USA, which paints a picture of a dynamically changing and evolving world: “The successful future engineer will need strong analytical skills, practical ingenuity, creativity, good communication skills, business and management knowledge, leadership, high ethical standards, professionalism, dynamism, agility, resilience, flexibility, and the pursuit of lifelong learning”. Currently, the opportunities for professionals seem to be very narrow, once economic crisis is impacting countries and communities worldwide, as the result of a natural cyclic wave of economy, until a new economic model starts to work somehow. To provide future professionals an opportunity in the work market has now become part of university training as a way to assure the future of university. COPEC – Science and Education Research Council’s education research team has designed and implemented a program for engineering students which is called “Working with Communities Course”, providing 3rd year engineering students the chance to work as consultants for the entrepreneurial community in the city. The goal is to offer a space that has been named “Innovative Office”, to which local entrepreneurs can resort to in order to discuss and to find sustainable solutions for a specific problem or project. The choice of the name working with communities was due to the enticing appeal once as young “green generation” they want to cooperate with society segments in any way. However the true goal is to give them a chance to have a professional experience and also some time of internship although early in the program. As they work using their creativity to design and present solutions within the constraints of ethical practice grounded in science and engineering methods and standards, they can evaluate the reality of professional practice and see if engineering is really what they want to pursue as a career. They have to work using their creativity to design and present solutions within the constraints of ethical practice grounded in science and engineering methods and standards. The process involves face-to-face meetings and discussions with entrepreneurs of the city, from the presentation of the problem until the delivery of the plans. Once engineers are part of society it is important that they have a stronger interaction with the wider public. So the goal of including this course in the program is to provide students the opportunity to work closely with the real local entrepreneurship environment. Apart from this, engineers need to develop broad fundamental understanding of their professional responsibilities, as well as the need to be entrepreneurial in order to understand and contribute in the context of market and business pressures. If engineers can work with the public to explain how engineering can help address their problems, and to help them to decide which are the most effective and affordable ways to address their concerns, the community can make great progress and improvements. It will surely be a great acquisition for the city business community as well as for the students themselves, once they can get a glimpse of what it is to engineer in real world. This project has the chance developed in partnership with a City Hall as a way to improve entrepreneurship in the region, aiming at fostering employment and private initiatives to change community’s profile. It is an immersive period of internship, in real engineering work environment.Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-010145-FEDER-007043FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/201

Análise genética em populações de Butia eriospatha (Mart. ex Drude) Becc utilizando marcadores moleculares RAPD.

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Innovative on demand international engineering programs

Following the new trends of higher education, COPEC International Institute of Education is offering courses in engineering that are customized not only for enterprises but also for groups of professionals or academia interested in acquiring special knowledge with a valid certification. The programs are dimensioned in accordance with the knowledge and practice that are necessary for the group of professional engineers or academia. They make the requirements and the program is designed to fit their needs. They are partially on class and some content is delivered on line as long as it comprises the amount of hours that are necessary to accomplish the program, focusing in the main goal that is to have a certified course of specialists in a certain field of expertise. The proposed program is an investment that guarantees return by the strategic vision for a successful performance, the higher management capacity and the growth of intellectual capital.This work is funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE) and National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the Project: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674 and PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2013

A program designed to empower engineering educators

Utilizing emerging technologies to provide expanded learning opportunities is critical to the success of future generations. So teachers have to be prepared to motivate and entice the students about getting knowledge pertinent for their formation as engineers. This paper describes the "International Engineering Educator" developed by the engineering education research team of COPEC – Science and Education Research Council. It is offered by the International Institute of Education of COPEC, which is a certification organization in accordance with the Ministry of Education of the Country referring to the National Law of Higher Education. It also offers a professional register as "International Engineering Educator" of the International Society for Engineering Pedagogy for those who are interested in such certification as something else. The target attendees for this program are the engineering community of CPLP – Community of Portuguese Language Countries. It is successful and many interested professionals are attending the program

Engineering programs for engineers: a global higher education perspective

New demands for engineering education are taking place due to the deep transformations that the world is facing. The way to overcome the constant mutation and challenges that engineers have to face professional programs are dimensioned in accordance with the knowledge and practice that are necessary for the group of professional engineers. These are the customized courses. Students make the requirements and the program is designed to fit their needs. Briefly, classes are in classroom with technical visits to different organizations and the content is available on line. The amount of work comprises the amount of hours that are necessary to accomplish the program focusing in the main goal, which is to have a certified course of specialists in a certain field of expertise. The proposed program is an investment that guarantees return by the strategic vision for a successful performance, the higher management capacity and growth of intellectual capital

“Innovative office”: building future for young engineers

This paper shows the course designed by COPEC – Science and Education Research Council education research team, for engineering students what is called “working with communities course”, which provides the students of engineering in 3rd year the chance to work with consultancy for the entrepreneurial community, in the region. It is for an engineering school of a private university and the goal is provide the needed resources to enable interdisciplinary efforts to prepare engineering students to tackle real-world challenges in engineering, entrepreneurship and new business ventures as professionals. The process is designed in order to offer a space that has been named after “innovative office”, where local entrepreneurs go with a problem or project to discuss and to find sustainable solutions under the consultancy of young engineers. So far the program has been working well and is opening doors for young engineers.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

Focusing the future of engineering education

The definitions of teacher and student are changing and Education is moving out of episodic experiences at traditional institutions like classrooms and schools into learning flows that course through our daily lives. The use of new technologies in classroom is also an important requirement for a teacher in Higher Education especially in engineering; it is part of teaching environment now. So utilizing emerging technologies to provide expanded learning opportunities is critical to the success of future generations. It is clear that there is a life long learning environment not only for future engineers but also for teachers. This paper describes the "International Engineering Educator" developed by the engineering education research team of COPEC – Science and Education Research Council. It is offered by the International Institute of Education of COPEC, which is a certification organization that certifies in accordance with the Ministry of Education of the Country referring to the National Law of Higher Education, with an international certification.This work is funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE) and National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the Project: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674 and PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2013

Engineering the engineering program: the year of discovery

ISBN 978-1-5090-1790-4Retention is an issue that has been faced by many engineering colleges due to the difficulties and lack of knowledge about what it really is to be an engineer. The first 3 years of the course are particularly intense and hard. A way to overcome this period might be achieved by implementing a new kind of course, more enticing and dynamic. That is the idea of COPEC’s engineering education research team, to embed a program with a more interesting activity for students in the first year. It is what has been named after “The Year of Discovery”, a short-term workshop in order to show students the possibilities of performing as engineers in a global environment – a project developed for a private university, in order to decrease the retention rate in their engineering programs.Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-00704