Discover NOVA Talks Sala de Imprensa, the official podcast of NOVA University Lisbon, which delves into a wide range of knowledge areas. Every month, on the first Thursday, NOVA experts join us to reflect on the main challenges of today’s world and the contribution academia can make to society. Tune in directly or on your favorite streaming platforms.
24 September 2026
In the episode that brings mobility into the conversation, we explore the concept of the 15-minute city, an urban model that seeks to bring people closer to the essential services and activities of everyday life. But can it be applied to the Portuguese context, including peripheral areas and smaller cities?
To address this and other questions, we are joined by Fernando Bação, Full Professor at NOVA IMS and an expert in data science, geographic information systems and decision support. Recognised in the 2025 World’s Top 2% Scientists ranking, he leads NOVA IMS’s participation in the European ENHANCE project, which explores the challenges and opportunities of implementing this model in peripheral metropolitan areas and smaller cities. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
13 August 2026
In a society that glorifies productivity, speed and constant availability, do we still know how to stop? In this episode of NOVA Talks, we reflect on the meaning of rest, leisure and the art of living with António de Castro Caeiro, Full Professor of Philosophy at NOVA FCSH, a specialist in Ancient Philosophy, essayist and author of On Feelings.
Drawing on a unique journey that brings together philosophy, punk culture and martial arts, our guest challenges us to think about how we use our time, how we deal with boredom, how we understand our feelings and how we seek meaning in everyday life. In a conversation that brings the relevance of the classics into the present to shed light on contemporary dilemmas, we explore essential questions about leisure and the need to stop. A reflection on attention, freedom, feelings and the possibility of living more consciously in a time marked by acceleration and exhaustion. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
10 July 2026
At a time when multilateralism is facing growing challenges and the world is becoming increasingly fragmented, NOVA Talks welcomes Adriana Abdenur, sociologist, expert in global governance and Co-President of the Global Fund for a New Economy, for a discussion on the impact of inequalities in the 21st century and the future of international cooperation. In this conversation, held as part of the annual meeting of the Academic Council on the United Nations System, hosted by NOVA, Adriana Abdenur explains why inequality has become a global emergency and highlights the consequences of this phenomenon for democracy, trust in institutions and civic participation. Even so, in this context of multiple and interconnected crises, Adriana Abdenur describes herself as an optimist. In her view, hope lies precisely in the ability to identify successful experiences, replicate them and build collective responses that place the fight against inequalities at the heart of international action. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
30 June 2026
This episode of NOVA Talks marks World Social Media Day with a conversation about the impact of social media and a central question: who is really in control, us or the algorithms? To help us better understand what is at stake, we invited NOVA LINCS researcher Joana Gonçalves de Sá, who shared the perspective of complex systems to help explain how these platforms work. In one of the most striking moments of the conversation, the researcher drew attention to the fact that early exposure to screens and social media has not been taken seriously enough, raising important questions about protecting the rights and mental health of younger generations, and about how we want to shape the future of this digital environment. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
To mark EUTOPIA Day, NOVA University Lisbon is launching a special episode of NOVA Talks dedicated to the alliance of European universities it is part of — an alliance that is transforming the way people learn, research, and collaborate across Europe. In this episode, we give a voice to those experiencing EUTOPIA from within: two students and a researcher share concrete experiences of civic participation, pedagogical innovation, and cross-border scientific cooperation. More than a European project, EUTOPIA emerges here as a living community that connects universities, people, and ideas, while also helping to shape the European university of the future. An episode to celebrate the Europe of knowledge. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
In this episode, we mark Earth Day with a reflection on land management in Portugal. Using Storm Kristin as a starting point, we speak with João Joanaz de Melo, Associate Professor with habilitation at NOVA FCT and a specialist in sustainability and spatial planning. Forests, the coastline, energy, planning, and public policy intersect in a critical analysis that highlights the existence of scientific knowledge and a legal framework, but also the challenges in putting them into practice.
This episode is an invitation to informed reflection on the future of Portugal’s territory and on the collective responsibility involved in shaping public policies that will affect future generations. The final message is clear: the choices made today should allow our grandchildren to be proud of us. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
In this special episode of NOVA Talks – Sala de Imprensa, we mark World Sleep Day, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of good sleep and its impact on our health and well-being. To explore these issues, we are joined by two specialists from the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas/NOVA Medical School: Joana Isaac, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, and Alexandra Mineiro, a pulmonologist and invited assistant professor. We discuss sleep needs throughout life, the negative effects of both insomnia and sleep apnoea, and the growing public health issue of dependence on sedatives. We also explore the risks associated with the trend of freely taking melatonin and the excessive attention recently given to the (often inaccurate!) metrics of smartwatches. We even talk about Ronaldo’s sleep! An essential episode for understanding why good sleep is crucial for our health — and what to do when it fails.(This Talk is in Portuguese)
In this edition of NOVA Talks Sala de Imprensa, we explore pedagogical innovation practices at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa with Patrícia Xufre, Associate Professor at NOVA School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE), and Manuela Aparício, Professor at NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) and Vice-Rector for Pedagogical Innovation, both recently distinguished at the NOVA Pedagogical Innovation Awards. The conversation highlights approaches that foster more active and collaborative learning through methodologies such as roleplay, teamwork and dynamics in internationalised groups. It also reflects on the responsible integration of generative Artificial Intelligence in higher education, emphasising the importance of critical thinking, the ethical use of these tools and the continuous training of academic staff. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
In this episode we explore the launch of NOVA’s new hub dedicated to aerospace engineering, to be located next to the Cascais Municipal Aerodrome in Tires. José Branco, NOVA’s Vice-Rector for Institutional Development and Fundraising, and José Alferes, Dean of the NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), explain why this is a transformative project: “this is not just about teaching engineering at an aerodrome, but about creating a true aeropolis.” A conversation about an ecosystem where the university, companies and airport infrastructure coexist. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
Internationalisation is an essential factor for the competitiveness of universities, academic diversity and scientific output. But it goes far beyond welcoming international students: it involves academic mobility, scientific cooperation, cultural diversity and global positioning.
In this episode, we talk with Catherine da Silveira, Deputy Dean for International Affairs and Partnerships at Nova SBE, and Pedro Carreiro Martins, Deputy Dean for Education and President of the Pedagogical Council at Nova Medical School, about strategies, challenges and the future of internationalisation in a context of changing immigration policies and how this may affect the university landscape in Portugal. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
4 December 2025
This episode discusses the role of culture at the University and its importance as a driver of development. Elsa Peralta, Pro-Rector for Culture, Social Impact and Community, and José Moura, Commissioner for Cultural Activities at NOVA FCT, reflect on how culture should be experienced and shared, both within and beyond academia. The conversation covers a range of initiatives, such as heritage digitisation projects, the relationship between culture, sustainability and inclusion, and the impact of digital technologies and artificial intelligence on democratising access to culture. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
6 November 2025
In this episode, we explore the role of universities in promoting inclusion and removing barriers to the full participation of all people. The conversation brings together two key voices in this commitment – Margarida Lima Rego, Director of the NOVA School of Law, who highlights the school’s work in integrating inclusion and equality transversally across academic training, research and the creation of social value; and Vanda Nunes, head of the Valor T project at Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, which has established a protocol with NOVA and offers a practical perspective on the integration of graduates with disabilities into the labour market. A conversation that reflects NOVA’s commitment to building bridges between academia and the professional world. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
2 October 2025
In this episode of NOVA Talks Press Room, we discuss how algorithms influence decisions in our daily lives — from what we see online to political and social choices. With Cláudia Soares (NOVA FCT) and Paulo Nuno Vicente (IC NOVA), we address issues such as the lack of transparency in digital systems, the use of our data without clear consent, and the impact of technology platforms on elections and public policies. We also explore possible solutions, including the importance of digital literacy that can help us better understand this invisible yet powerful world. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
30 September 2025
In this special episode marking the beginning of the new academic year and a new chapter at NOVA University Lisbon, we welcome Paulo Pereira, recently elected Rector of NOVA. A principal investigator at NOVA Medical School, he led the COVID-19 task force and has promoted closer ties between science, art and society. Throughout the conversation, he shares his strategic vision for the University, reflections on the importance of fundamental research, and the role of diversity and transdisciplinarity in higher education. He also speaks about the value of the academic community and the importance of a cohesive and cross-cutting rectoral team. The song “Come Together” by The Beatles serves as the motto for his term of office. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
3 July 2025
In this episode of NOVA Talks Sala de Imprensa, on the occasion of NOVA’s participation in Expo 2025, which will take place in Osaka, we travel through time and space to Japan to explore the ties between the two countries that span five centuries of history. Joining us to help interpret this connection is João Paulo Oliveira e Costa, Full Professor in the Department of History at NOVA FCSH, who has an extensive historiographical body of work on Japan, as well as Alexandra Curvelo, Full Professor in the Department of Art History at NOVA FCSH and the recently elected director of the Faculty. From gastronomy to historical landmarks and monuments, including evangelisation, we discover how this encounter was mutual and transformative, leaving a deep mark on both societies. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
5 June 2025
In this episode, we discuss socio-territorial innovation and the role of academia in transforming cities. João Seixas, Vice-Rector of NOVA University Lisbon responsible for Socio-Territorial Innovation, and Miguel de Castro Neto, Director of NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS), highlight the importance of collaboration between universities, local authorities, and citizens, promoting co-creation and social innovation as a response to urban challenges. An episode that invites reflection on fairer, more sustainable cities, built collectively through knowledge, participation, and innovation. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
2 May 2025
In this episode, we discuss mental health in higher education and reflect on a significant shift: the promotion of well-being is no longer the exclusive responsibility of psychological support services — it has become a shared commitment across the entire academic community. We speak with Joaquim Gago, from NOVA Medical School, and Olga Cunha, from NOVA FCSH, who are actively implementing this vision by engaging students, faculty, staff, and researchers in the creation of healthier academic environments. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
3 April 2025
How is European democracy facing contemporary challenges? Between rising polarization and the declining influence of parliaments, democratic dynamics are undergoing significant changes. In this episode of NOVA Talks Sala de Imprensa, Professor Ana Santos Pinto and Researcher Arturo Zoffmann, both from NOVA FCSH, come together to analyze the current state of democracy, drawing parallels with Europe a century ago. An essential conversation to understand the ongoing transformations in the European political landscape. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
In this episode, Vice-Rector Júlia Seixas shares her vision for the future of universities and emphasizes the importance of sustainability in training new professionals. She discusses the challenges and the measures being implemented at NOVA to reduce the carbon footprint and improve waste management. The conversation also explores how educational institutions can significantly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting that sustainability goes far beyond environmental issues. An essential reflection for those who want to understand how education can be a driving force for global transformation. (This Talk is in Portuguese)
