Carlos Salema, the former president of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences and a prominent figure in Portugal’s telecommunications sector, died on Saturday, April 25, 2026, following a prolonged illness. The news was confirmed by family sources to the Portuguese news agency Lusa, as reported by multiple national outlets. Born in 1942 in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Salema dedicated his professional life to advancing telecommunications research and education in Portugal.
Salema earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon in 1965. He later pursued doctoral studies at Queen Mary College, University of London, where he completed his thesis on “Theory and Design of Dielectric Cone Antennas” in 1972, receiving his Doctor of Engineering Sciences degree in 1973. His academic career at IST spanned from 1979 to 2003, during which he held the position of Full Professor in Electrical Engineering.
Throughout his career, Salema made significant contributions to microwave technology, particularly in the design and application of dielectric antennas. His research also extended to microwave propagation in atmospheric conditions with rough surfaces, redundancy reduction in still and moving images, and computer simulation of industrial processes, including those related to grain handling and storage. These efforts were recognized by IST in 2021 when he was awarded the Scientific Merit Medal.
In 2002, Salema was conferred the title of Professor Emeritus by the Technical University of Lisbon. From 2003 onward, he served as an Invited Full Professor and member of the Scientific Council at the Faculty of Engineering of the Portuguese Catholic University. Earlier in his career, he presided over the National Board for Scientific and Technological Research (JNICT) from 1989 to 1992, overseeing the SCIENCE and STRIDE programs.
Salema’s leadership extended to the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, where he was elected a Corresponding Member in 2002 and became a Full Member in 2007 within the Section of Information Sciences and Technologies. He later served as the Academy’s president, a role that underscored his standing among Portugal’s scientific elite. In 2025, he received an honorary doctorate from ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon in recognition of his lifelong contributions to science and technology.
Colleagues and institutions have highlighted Salema’s dual impact as both a rigorous researcher and a dedicated educator. His work bridged theoretical electromagnetics with practical engineering solutions, influencing both academic discourse and industrial applications in telecommunications. The Academic community in Lisbon has noted his role in fostering international collaboration and advancing national scientific policy during his tenure at JNICT and the Academy.
Funeral arrangements have not been publicly disclosed as of this report. The Lisbon Academy of Sciences and the Portuguese Catholic University are expected to issue official statements in the coming days. Salema is remembered as a key architect of modern telecommunications research in Portugal, whose legacy continues to influence engineers and scientists across the country.
For updates on official tributes or memorial events, readers are encouraged to consult the websites of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences and the Portuguese Catholic University’s Faculty of Engineering.
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