The confessions of professor João Azevedo on his academic jubilee
The Academic Jubilee of professor João Azevedo took place on 20th April, at Técnico – Alameda Campus, in the Congress Centre.
Over almost 50 years of teaching “he was the master, in his area of expertise, of several dozen generations” who went to the “best school I have known in Portugal ” said the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “He is a force of nature, although apparently he seems calm”, said professor Rogério Colaço, President of Instituto Superior Técnico, at the beginning of the session.
The words of praise to “a master of silence”, as the Rector of Universidade de Lisboa, Luís Ferreira, called him, also came from Stanford. Haresh Shah, his PhD advisor, attended the session remotely invited by Luís Calado, Full Professor at Técnico.
The Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, professor António Pinheiro, stated “besides an honourable retirement”, professor João Azevedo also leaves “a great happiness for his career at Técnico”.
In his last lecture speech, professor João Azevedo spoke about affections and anguishes, childhood and future, the cities of Caminha and Vila Viçosa. Engineering has always occupied “a central role in my life” (in particular earthquake engineering). “A kind and exceptional man” to Instituto Superior Técnico, in Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s words.
João Azevedo received the insignia of the Order of Public Instruction, intended to reward high services rendered to education and teaching, from the President of the Republic.