Luiz Oosterbeek, 56, scientific coordinator of the Museum of Prehistoric and Sacred Art in the Tagus Valley and president of the Earth and Memory Institute, in Mação, and coordinating professor of the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (IPT), is responsible for the international seminar of the APHELEIA project that took place in Mação at the beginning of April and which brought together about a hundred experts from all over the world, among teachers and students from areas such as archaeology, anthropology, history, philosophy, geography, communication sciences, education, among others.
It was 10 days of the APHELEIA project. What did it consist of?
This is a unique experience. It is a 10-day experience with almost a hundred people living together, from morning to night, which also has its difficulties, with a single goal. On the one hand, to produce knowledge and, on the other, to be happy to be able to transform reality.
And what is the APHELEIA project, effectively ?
The APHELEIA project began as a network of European universities, with research centers and local government organizations, including the Municipality of Mação and the CIMT (Intermunicipal Community of Médio Tejo), which are fundamental to change the models of territorial management. What I can say is that after three years, which was the duration of our project but now it will continue,and to which UNESCO joined from last year, will be presented at the UNESCO General Assembly this year.
