Mariano Gago
Encyclopedia
Mariano Gago, ComSE fullname José Mariano Rebelo Pires Gago, graduated as an electrical engineer by the Technical University of Lisbon
's Instituto Superior Técnico
in Lisbon
, and did advanced research work in Paris
at the École Polytechnique
as a high-energy physicist
. Professor of Physics at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, he worked at CERN
(European Nuclear Research Organisation) in Geneva
for several years. He was a member of the CERN Council (1985–1990), the EC Joint Research Centre Board of Governors (1986–1989), President of the Portuguese National Board for Science and Technology (1986–1989), and was chair of the European EUREKA
initiative from July 1997 to June 1998. Prof. Gago has been the Minister for Science and Technology of Portugal since 1995, and represents Portugal at the Council of Ministers for Research and Development of the European Union
. He is also responsible for the coordination of the Portuguese policy on Information Society, and for the promotion of science education and scientific culture.
Throughout his career, Prof. Gago has emphasised the link between teaching and research, and has examined issues such as whether universities should specialise more in teaching or in research and whether there are possible divergences between teaching and research priorities, although never managing to reach acceptable educational levels within some Portuguese higher education institutions. Prof. Gago is a founder of the Ciência Viva programme (since 1996), which on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology, aims to promote scientific and technological culture among the Portuguese population. "My generation's legacy will be that research and technology made great progress in being more accessible and understandable to the public. The present development of technical advancement would have been unthinkable if we were unable to rely on the basic technical knowledge of the average citizen," states Prof. Gago.
He has also fostered research that is increasingly carried out in a framework of international cooperation, as a chance for Portugal to develop new products and provide new types of knowledge-intensive services.
During his tenure as Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education of the XVII Governo Constitucional
, Mariano Gago's Ministry was responsible for the compulsory closing of problematic and unreliable private higher education institutions (Independente University
and Moderna University
).
Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal of the XVII Governo Constitucional (Prime Minister José Sócrates
)
Minister for Science and Technology of Portugal of the XIV Governo Constitucional (Prime Minister António Guterres
)
Minister for Science and Technology of Portugal of the XIII Governo Constitucional (Prime Minister António Guterres
)
Technical University of Lisbon
The Technical University of Lisbon is a Portuguese public university. It was created in 1930 in Lisbon, as a confederation of older schools, and comprises, nowadays, the faculties and institutes of veterinary medicine; agricultural sciences; economics and business administration; engineering,...
's Instituto Superior Técnico
Instituto Superior Técnico
Instituto Superior Técnico is a reputed school of engineering, part of Universidade Técnica de Lisboa . IST is the largest and the most prestigious school of engineering in Portugal...
in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, and did advanced research work in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the École Polytechnique
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
as a high-energy physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
. Professor of Physics at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, he worked at CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
(European Nuclear Research Organisation) in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
for several years. He was a member of the CERN Council (1985–1990), the EC Joint Research Centre Board of Governors (1986–1989), President of the Portuguese National Board for Science and Technology (1986–1989), and was chair of the European EUREKA
EUREKA
EUREKA, often abbreviated as "E!" or "Σ!", is a pan-European research and development funding and coordination organization. EUREKA aims to coordinate efforts of governments, research institutes and commercial companies concerning innovation...
initiative from July 1997 to June 1998. Prof. Gago has been the Minister for Science and Technology of Portugal since 1995, and represents Portugal at the Council of Ministers for Research and Development of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. He is also responsible for the coordination of the Portuguese policy on Information Society, and for the promotion of science education and scientific culture.
Throughout his career, Prof. Gago has emphasised the link between teaching and research, and has examined issues such as whether universities should specialise more in teaching or in research and whether there are possible divergences between teaching and research priorities, although never managing to reach acceptable educational levels within some Portuguese higher education institutions. Prof. Gago is a founder of the Ciência Viva programme (since 1996), which on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology, aims to promote scientific and technological culture among the Portuguese population. "My generation's legacy will be that research and technology made great progress in being more accessible and understandable to the public. The present development of technical advancement would have been unthinkable if we were unable to rely on the basic technical knowledge of the average citizen," states Prof. Gago.
He has also fostered research that is increasingly carried out in a framework of international cooperation, as a chance for Portugal to develop new products and provide new types of knowledge-intensive services.
During his tenure as Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education of the XVII Governo Constitucional
José Sócrates
José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, GCIH , commonly known by José Sócrates , is a Portuguese politician who was the Prime Minister of Portugal from 12 March 2005 to 21 June 2011....
, Mariano Gago's Ministry was responsible for the compulsory closing of problematic and unreliable private higher education institutions (Independente University
Independente University
Independente University was a private university, headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 1993 by Luís Arouca, Rui Verde and Amadeu Lima Carvalho...
and Moderna University
Moderna University
Moderna University ' was a Portuguese private university headquartered in Lisbon, with departments in Setúbal, Porto and Beja. The institution was authorized by the Portuguese Ministry of Education to provide university higher education services in 1994...
).
Career as minister in the Government of Portugal
- Since 2005-03-12:
Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal of the XVII Governo Constitucional (Prime Minister José Sócrates
José Sócrates
José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, GCIH , commonly known by José Sócrates , is a Portuguese politician who was the Prime Minister of Portugal from 12 March 2005 to 21 June 2011....
)
- 1999-10-25 to 2002-04-06:
Minister for Science and Technology of Portugal of the XIV Governo Constitucional (Prime Minister António Guterres
António Guterres
António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, GCC is a Portuguese politician, a former prime minister and President of the Socialist International. Currently he is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.-Early life:...
)
- 1995-10-28 to 1999-10-25:
Minister for Science and Technology of Portugal of the XIII Governo Constitucional (Prime Minister António Guterres
António Guterres
António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, GCC is a Portuguese politician, a former prime minister and President of the Socialist International. Currently he is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.-Early life:...
)