The creation of internal exploratory projects is a central strategy for strengthening the Lab2PT team. Assembling interdisciplinary teams proves crucial in developing and establishing research networks that promote the internationalization of knowledge production, exploring new research avenues, and enhancing applications for competitive funding. Energizing teams is therefore seen as essential in cementing interdisciplinary research practices that bring together coordinated teams of senior and junior researchers, while also attracting master’s and PhD students. The aim is to create horizons of sustainability and boost the scientific employment policy through opportunities to attract and enlist top researchers.

Exploratory funding is awarded annually to applications aimed at exploring new research paths, or consolidating paths already underway, with a particular intention of strengthening transdisciplinary approaches.

 

In the 2025-2026 edition, 6 Exploratory Projects were approved, which we present below:

 

1. Geira – territórios com futuro
Scientific Areas: Geography, Architecture, Geology, History, and Civil Engineering
PI: Vítor Patrício Rodrigues Ribeiro
Team: Paula Cristina Almeida Remoaldo, André de Moura Cerejeira Fontes, Eduardo Jorge Henriques Noronha, Carlos Alberto Simões Alves, Márcia Carolina Ferreira Oliveira, Rui António Rodrigues Ramos, Lígia Maria Marques Torres Silva
Project duration: 01/10/2026 to 31/08/2027

 

2. Memórias, Arquivos, Materialidades e Mediações do Trabalho | WorkMem
Scientific Areas: Geography, History and Visual Arts
PI: Bruno Madeira
Team: Alexandra Esteves, Hélder Lopes, Susana Gaudêncio
Project duration: 01/11/2026 to 30/06/2027

 

3. Território, Educação, Relações e Aprendizagens em Extremo | T.E.R.R.A-E
Scientific Areas: Architecture, History, Archaeology and Education
PI: Cidália Silva
Team: Liliana Neves, Cristina Maria Vilas Boas Braga and David González-Álvarez (Incipit-CSIC), Margarita Sánchez Mier (University of Oviedo, Spain), Celtia Rodríguez-González (University of Santiago de Compostela) – currently on a stay at UAUM and Lab2PT, Escola Imaxinada, a collective composed of Vicente Blanco, Salvador Cidrás and Estella Freire (University of Santiago de Compostela)
Project duration: 27/06/2026 to 26/06/2027

 

4. Valorização integrada do património pré-histórico de Vila Velha de Rodão | PRÉ-RODÃO

Scientific Areas: Archaeology, History, Geology, Communication

PI: Telmo Pereira

Team: Francisco Mendes, Olga de Matos, and João Caninas (AEAT – Association for the Studies of Alto Tejo, CHAIA, EMERITA), Francisco Henriques (AEAT), Jorge Gouveia (AEAT), Pedro Proença e Cunha (University of Coimbra, MARE), Carlos Neto de Carvalho (Geopark Naturtejo, Municipality of Proença-a-Nova), Sara Garcês (Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, CGeo-Center for Geosciences), Luís Raposo (ICOM President), Ana Carmona (Municipality of Vila Velha de Rodão), Isabel Gaspar (Municipality of Vila Velha de Rodão, CIART)

Project duration: 11/07/2026 to 10/07/2027

 

5. Território Têxtil, Resistência, Agência, Materialidade e Ancestralidade | T2RAMA
Scientific Areas: Design, Visual Arts, History
PI: Bernardo Providência
Team: Mónica Faria, Natacha Antão Moutinho, Joana Sequeira, Isabel Fernandes, and Cristina Parente (ISUP – Institute of Sociology at UPorto), Germannya D’ Garcia Araujo Silva (Federal University of Pernambuco, Design Lab O Imaginário), Joana Cunha (2C2T – Textile Science and Technology Center-UMinho) with the Capuchinhas of Serra de Montemuro and Helena Cardoso (archive)
Project duration: 15/09/2026 to 14/09/2027

 

6. Arqueologia, Património e Mediação Cultural – Braga ComVida | HERIT-LAB
Scientific Areas: Archaeology, History, and Geography
PI: Maria do Carmo Franco Ribeiro
Team: Ângela Maria Rodrigues Calisto, Fernanda Eugénia Puga de Magalhães, Juliana Araújo Alves, Maria Marta Lobo de Araújo, and António Manuel Portela de Sá Pereira (Braga City Archaeology Unit), Catarina Miranda Basso Marques (Braga City Councilor for Culture), Fátima Pereira Rolim (Director of the Biscaínhos Museum), João Antero Gonçalves Ferreira (CITCEM and Casa de Sarmento), Alberto Teixeira de Sá (Department of Communication Sciences-UMinho, CECS-UMINHO), Demy de Brito (CIEC-UMINHO, MEI-PPGMUS/UDESC), José Gabriel Andrade (Department of Communication Sciences-UMinho, CECS-UMINHO), Pedro Rangel Henriques (Algoritmi Research Center)
Project duration: 01/01/2027 to 31/12/2027