Competition at the University of Coimbra pays tribute to biologist Jorge Paiva

The Biology Student Group of the Coimbra Academic Association (AAC) launched the Jorge Paiva Competition today, challenging the university community to develop projects to rehabilitate spaces and preserve species in the district of Coimbra.

“As students and future biologists, we feel responsible for the disappointment expressed by the professor [Jorge Paiva] in his last 'Christmas card' sent, where he reports feeling disappointed by the lack of action by the population towards climate change and the degradation of the environment and nature”, said that AAC nucleus today, indicating that the initiative to pay tribute to the 91-year-old botanist is open to the participation of students, teachers, staff and researchers from the University of Coimbra (UC).

In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, he explained that he intends to “show that the entire UC community can play an active role in the Coimbra district and in this way make a difference to nature, demonstrating that it is not necessary to destroy it in order to live”.