The choice of which degree to pursue after finishing secondary education is often seen as a decisive moment in many young people’s lives. However, the path is not always a linear one. Luana Oliveira, currently a third-year student in the Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (LEEC) and a member of the Formula Student Técnico (FST Lisboa) powertrain department, is an example of how change can be a positive step. In an interview with DEEC, she spoke about her journey, from her childhood in Brazil to the present day.

During secondary school, she never considered pursuing an engineering degree. Her fascination with the study of DNA, influenced by the awarding of the Nobel Prize in the field of genetic editing (in 2022), led her to choose Biology. In her first year, she joined a tuna (traditional academic music group), where she met several students from Electrical and Computer Engineering. “That was my first contact with the programme,” she recalls. In the second semester, she began to realise that she no longer identified with her initial choice and decided to apply to LEEC: “It was one of the first options that came up because it combined many things I like, including robotics (…) and programming,” she explains.

With the knowledge base we acquire in this programme, we can use mathematical formulas to describe the real world and solve problems, whether small or on a spatial scale.

Luana Oliveira, LEEC student and member of FST Lisboa

She is currently part of the department responsible for energy management in FST Lisboa’s latest prototype, the FST15. She first discovered the team while researching degree programmes: “I remember very clearly being on Técnico’s website and thinking, ‘It would be really cool to be in the degree programme and gain practical experience with this, especially in engineering,’” she says. She decided to attend the open day and apply to the electronics and software department during her first year at Técnico.

“I think I was always very fascinated, because everything was so new. It’s also impressive that we have so much investment. There are companies that trust us to build a car from scratch, and it’s really incredible that I can have that experience,” she emphasises.

In my mind it was really strange to build a formula car like this at university; it felt very far removed from reality.

Luana Oliveira, LEEC student and member of FST Lisboa

However, due to a malfunction in the computer she used to complete the required tasks, she ended up withdrawing from the recruitment process. This did not mean giving up: she registered again for the open day and applied to the team in her second year. This time, she joined the powertrain department.

“[Currently], I’m responsible for cell testing. We receive lithium cells and can test them under several parameters: pulse, discharge, charging… and see how much the cell can handle in a real-world situation, for example during a car’s acceleration or braking,” she explains.

When asked about the reasons that motivated her to pursue a place in the team, Luana Oliveira highlights that her passion for motorsport has always been present in her family. She recalls that, during her childhood, one of the main topics of conversation in family gatherings was the career of Ayrton Senna, the iconic Brazilian Formula 1 driver who left a lasting mark on the country’s culture.

Growing up, on Sundays you could hear Formula One cars roaring in the living room. I would leave my bedroom at my grandparents’ house and go to the living room to watch the races on TV with my parents.

Luana Oliveira, LEEC student and member of FST Lisboa

She moved to Portugal with her parents at the age of 13, facing changes in culture, the education system and communication. However, she notes that the transition was not particularly difficult: “In Brazil, we have a strong influence of studying abroad and experiencing other cultures… so I’ve always loved travelling and didn’t feel much resistance to leaving the country,” she says.

Overall, the student sees the different challenges she has faced along the way as beneficial opportunities for personal and professional growth. “My experience here at Técnico has been very challenging, but also very good. I really enjoy this university environment (…) where I can learn and share knowledge. (…) It’s great for broadening horizons,” she adds.

However, exposure to different perspectives is not limited to academic life. Since secondary school, she has also volunteered in the Gambozinos project.

We organise summer camps and it’s really interesting because it brings together two very different worlds: children from private schools and children from social housing neighbourhoods. These two worlds ‘collide’ there for two weeks in a summer camp.

Luana Oliveira, LEEC student and member of FST Lisboa

Luana Oliveira highlights that participating in this project has also helped her develop teamwork and communication skills, which she considers essential for both academic and professional life, regardless of the field.

Regarding the future, she says that the path remains open. Throughout her degree, she has developed an interest in telecommunications, energy, and the modelling and simulation of electronic circuits, and she hopes to gain industry experience in at least one of these areas. She also stresses that gender should not be seen as a barrier, as girls have the same abilities to contribute to scientific development in these fields.

“I see that fact [that there are fewer women in electrical and computer engineering] in an optimistic way. When I joined the programme, I knew what to expect. I saw the list of admitted students and realised it was something like 80% boys and 20% girls (…) but over the years the number of girls in several engineering fields has been growing.”

We will see change in the coming years, but we need to keep insisting on it. (…) I think it needs to be encouraged, to show that girls can also take that place.

Luana Oliveira, LEEC student and member of FST Lisboa

In conclusion, Luana highlights that, in addition to encouraging young women to pursue careers in areas such as high voltage engineering, a small change in the basic and secondary education system could also be beneficial for both genders. “There should be a connection between the subjects we study and university degrees. I remember learning about electric circuits in physics and chemistry, but I don’t remember hearing the word ‘electrical engineering’,” she says.

To address this gap, she encourages younger students to attend university open days, so they can interact with laboratories, faculty members and students from different fields.

It’s important to understand why we want to go to higher education, to attend open days and talk to people in the programme to understand the challenges and whether the practical courses are something we will enjoy.

Luana Oliveira, LEEC student and member of FST Lisboa

This year, Técnico’s Open Day will take place on 18 April.