Exclusive interviews with the new SPOT Nordic team: Rodrigo Gonçalves 🇵🇹❄️

SPOT Nordic
6 days ago
4 min read

Today we give voice to Rodrigo Gonçalves, originally from Viana do Castelo and currently living in Stockholm, where he is pursuing a Master's in Materials Science and Engineering at the prestigious KTH Royal Institute of Technology. After a degree in Metallurgical Engineering at FEUP and international experience in Belgium, Rodrigo brought his scientific curiosity and energy to Sweden. He now joins SPOT Nordic with the aim of strengthening the bridges between academic science and the metallurgical industry. 🇵🇹🔬

▶️ Who are you?

Hi! 👋 I'm Rodrigo, I was born in Viana do Castelo and I’m currently a student of Materials Science and Engineering at KTH, in Stockholm. I completed my degree in Metallurgical Engineering at FEUP, in Porto, and after an internship in the same area in Belgium, at a research and development center, I decided to continue my academic journey in Sweden.

I’ve been sailing since I was 9 years old ⛵, and I’m also interested in rugby 🏉. I enjoy bike rides, reading 📖, and listening to music 🎧. In the future, I want to pursue a PhD and work in research in the metallurgical industry. One of my greatest professional interests is bringing together academic research and industrially relevant projects. 🏭📘

▶️ What do you do? As a materials engineer, it is my responsibility to understand the chain effect that processing has on a material’s structure, at the nano and microscopic level, and the repercussions on its various properties.

The greatest advantage of a materials engineer is knowing how to manipulate a material to make the most of its performance and applications ⚙️🔍.

Generally, the roles of a materials engineer include: process engineer, product engineer, researcher, sales technician, quality engineer, among others.

▶️ What’s a typical day like? Most days I have several classes — both theoretical and practical (exercises and lab work) 🧠🔬. After classes, I usually stay at university with my classmates and we study there. Around 4:30 PM, we always have a coffee and snack — the typical Swedish “fika” ☕🍰. Sometimes I stay at the lab to do experimental work for ongoing projects. I usually get home around 7:30/8:00 PM, have dinner 🍽️, and at night I either read a book 📚 or play computer games 🎮. Other times I go out with friends to the city center or to the student bar 🏙️.

▶️ What do you value most about living in your city and country? Sweden places great value on the relationship between people and nature, and on the vital role of nature not only on a national level but even within cities 🌳.

Also, I feel Stockholm is a very well-connected city and aware of the importance and benefits of sustainable mobility 🚲🚆.

▶️ What do you value in Portugal as an emigrant that you didn’t as a resident? I think the most honest — and cliché — answer is the food and the people. On a more personal level, I’d say the openness in communication and the ease with which Portuguese people can talk to anyone. ❤️

▶️ In your opinion, what are the priority areas of collaboration between Portugal and the Nordic countries?

⚡ Energy and electric grid – The Nordics have very stable, interconnected, and smart grids. Portugal has expertise in solar energy and tidal power generation, as well as a grid more adapted to intermittent energy sources (wind and solar). This is one of the areas where scientific exchange would be most beneficial to both sides.

🔁 Circular economy and resource efficiency – Portugal has seen many innovations in biodegradable materials and sustainable product design. The Nordics have an advanced and distinct view of the circular economy, especially when it comes to industrial symbiosis and resource recovery, with particular emphasis on electronic waste.

🌍🌡️ Urban planning and environmental protection – Portugal has made many efforts in coastal protection and in adapting to droughts and heatwaves. However, one area that would greatly benefit is the green urban planning of Nordic cities and the thermal efficiency of Nordic housing.

▶️ Why did you decide to join SPOT Nordic? I decided to join SPOT Nordic for the opportunity to be part of the scientific community abroad in the Nordics and to contribute to institutional relations with Portugal. The many projects SPOT Nordic is involved in and actively promotes also motivated me to join the association. 🤝

▶️ How can you contribute to the SPOT Nordic team? As a current Master’s student who recently moved to Sweden, I believe I can offer a fresh perspective and useful tips to those who are in the same position I was in less than a year ago. Being from a more industrial area, in the conventional sense of the word, also allows me to bring another scientific perspective and experience to SPOT Nordic ⚙️🧠