Na primeira pessoa, Sara Mesquita partilha connosco a sua experiência Fulbright. Ao abrigo de uma Bolsa Fulbright para Investigação com o apoio da FCT (23/24) e no âmbito do seu doutoramento em “Global Public Health” da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Sara desenvolveu parte da sua pesquisa no Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), MA, EUA:

 

«My nine-month experience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was nothing like I expected, but it was everything I needed it to be. I’m always thrilled to be exposed to cultural differences, and this time I did so at a great institution under a prestigious program.

The winter near the Charles River was harsh, and at some point, it seemed endless. However, being able to go to work every day in such an inspiring environment at the Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism (LCAU), located in the Media Lab building, kept my mind off the meteorological struggles and gave me the motivation to make the most of my experience.

In addition to participating in the initiatives of my host group, such as conferences and exhibitions, I also attended countless other talks on campus from other research groups and initiatives. There was never a dull scientific moment at MIT. One of the great things about Boston is that it is a hub for scientific discoveries and creativity, attracting people eager to push the limits of knowledge further and further. To be honest, my time was not spent entirely at MIT, but also at Harvard and Northeastern University. I decided to connect with several professors whose work was of interest to my research and started some parallel collaborations or simply attended their research meetings to learn what I thought was valuable for me. I used to hear people joke that the metro line connecting MIT and Harvard must be the most educated one in the world. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it definitely felt like it. However, we have to be careful not to drown ourselves in work while embedded in such an environment. The intensity never stops, and it’s not uncommon to see people taking these competitive circumstances too seriously. For this reason, I also traveled a bit around the country, mainly to the Southwest and the East Coast.

I decided to join the Civic Data Design Lab with the goal of advancing my skills in Geographic Information Systems and applying them to my own research, as well as finding ways to connect data visualization techniques with public health practices. I might not have fully succeeded in this. Perhaps it was due to the limited time, not being involved in the right projects due to the stage they were at when I joined the team, or maybe for other reasons I’m not fully aware of. However, I did learn more about how to communicate complex concepts, like how generative AI models work, to broad audiences. My experience also validated the combination of traditional research methodologies with more innovative approaches to science, which allow us to ask bolder questions. Another highlight of my experience was that it helped me create a scientific network that will continue to be invaluable throughout my career. And an important personal outcome: realizing that the science at MIT is as good as the science we do at our home institutions. It’s important to recognize that, and I’m bringing that idea back with me to Portugal. I hope that my research from now on can reflect the sense of confidence and ambition I was able to cultivate during my time as a Fulbrighter. I’m sincerely grateful to the Fulbright Commission for making this period a reality in my life.»

 

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Thank you so much, Sara, and welcome back!

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