In 1975 (International Women’s Year), the United Nations recognised March 8 as International Women’s Day, but did you know that the date has been important to women’s rights since 1908, when hundreds of female workers in New York demonstrated to form their own union and demand the right to vote? Each year, this date reminds us to strive for a fairer society, regardless of gender.

February 22 is World Thinking Day, a date originally chosen in 1926 by the Girl Guides which now encourages everyone to take a moment to ponder the deeper questions and stand up for causes that could improve lives around the globe. 

Zoom-In on Champalimaud: Joana Fontes

My name is Joana Fontes. I'm Portuguese and from Lisbon, but I grew up in Costa da Caparica and have roots in the north, in Braga. I graduated in Multimedia and I trained in computing. At Champalimaud Foundation (CF), I am an Administrative Assistant and I am content in my work. Away from CF, I like to be involved in social projects. In recent years I have been closely linked to Refood in Santo António, and right now I like to put my efforts into projects that need help.

Each year, the Champalimaud Foundation’s Communication, Events and Outreach team comes together to create a Winter Postcard to celebrate the season with our colleagues, friends and followers.

Zoom-In on Champalimaud: Alberto Ignacio “Nacho” Herrando

For every argument that construes AI as essential, promising and transforming across nearly all industries, there are voiced concerns about this technology. Many people do not trust AI, claiming that intelligent machines will one day dominate humankind. But while this is a remote possibility, the harm that can be done to people (albeit mostly unintentionally) by deep learning algorithms is very tangible – and has already been known to occur in the real world.

Zoom-In on Champalimaud: Ana Beatriz Machado

On September 15th 2022, the António Champalimaud Vision Award was attributed to two physician-scientists, both of them ophthalmologists, for their pioneering work in the understanding and treatment of corneal disease. Gerrit Melles from the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, and Claes Dohlman, from Mass Eye & Ear and Harvard University, shared the prestigious one million euro award – the former for his innovative surgical methods of corneal transplant, the latter for his advancement of cornea research and the development of an artificial cornea, the “Boston K-Pro”.

Zoom-In on Champalimaud: Liad Hollender

For many years, corneal injuries or disorders have been one of the leading causes of blindness across the world. The two physician-scientists have decisively changed and accelerated the path to the treatment of these problems. A deeper understanding of the transparent outer layer of the eye, as well as the possibility of ensuring an improved and more cost-effective approach to corneal surgery and transplantation, are essential to tackle this plight.