Professor Carlos Salema Dies After Prolonged Illness

Pioneering engineer Professor Carlos Salema dies after long illness

Professor Carlos Salema passed away this morning following a long illness, a source close to the family told Lusa News Agency.

Born in 1942 in Ponta Delgada, Carlos Eduardo Rego da Costa Salema was renowned for his contributions to the telecommunications sector.

His research focused on microwave antennas—particularly dielectric antennas—as well as microwave propagation in the atmosphere over rough surfaces, redundancy reduction in still and moving images, and computer simulation of industrial processes, including applications in grain handling and storage, according to a statement on the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) website marking his 2021 Scientific Merit Medal.

He earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from IST in 1965 and was immediately invited to join the faculty as an assistant, as noted in a profile published by the Lisbon Academy of Sciences.

"He attended Queen Mary College at the University of London, completing a 1972 doctoral thesis on radiation and transmission titled Theory and Design of Dielectric Cone Antennas, earning his Doctorate in Engineering Science in 1973," the profile states.

A full professor at IST from 1979 to 2003, he was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor by the Technical University of Lisbon in 2002.

He also served as President of the Instituto de Telecomunicações, Chair of the Electrical Engineering College of the Portuguese Engineers' Association, Executive Board Member of the Foundation for National Scientific Computing, a member of the General Council of the University of Beira Interior, and a founding member of the Portuguese chapter (established in 2005) of the Education Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), among other prominent roles.

He was further honored with the Grand Cross of the Order of Public Instruction.

Carlos Salema's body will be taken to Santo António Church in Estoril this Sunday at around 5:00 PM. A funeral Mass will be held on Monday at 9:30 AM, followed by burial at Galiza Cemetery in Estoril at 10:30 AM.

President Mourns Loss of Renowned Scientist and Researcher

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his condolences over the death of Carlos Salema, highlighting "a life devoted to knowledge, public service, and the advancement of society" that left a lasting mark on "the nation's education and technological progress."

"His legacy will endure in the institutions he served, the students he mentored, and all those he inspired throughout his life," wrote António José Seguro in a statement of mourning published on the presidency's official page.