On May 28, 2025, Center for Portuguese Studies Executive Director, Sydney Weaver, presented at the “Follow the Sun and Study in Portugal” event held in San Diego at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Sydney was among an esteemed panel of presenters including the Consul General of San Francisco, Filipe Ramalheira, Executive Member of the Executive Consul of the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), Michael Baum, and other esteemed members of the Portuguese and international education communities. Sydney delivered a dynamic presentation highlighting academic and research collaboration opportunities between UC Berkeley and Portuguese universities.
The presentation was attended by approximately 50 invited guests including representatives from leading Portuguese universities Designed to foster international academic exchange, the event served as a platform for strengthening institutional ties and showcasing Portugal as a hub for global learning.
Sydney’s presentation centered on the array of grant opportunities available through the Berkeley Portugal Program, including
faculty exchange, collaborative research, and graduate student mobility initiatives. Detailed information was provided from the program’s official grants page (https://ies.berkeley.edu/cps/grants), where prospective applicants can explore funding options aimed at promoting interdisciplinary research and innovation across science, technology, and the humanities.
Through her engaging talk, Sydney emphasized the program’s mission to cultivate impactful transatlantic partnerships and to support scholars at all stages of their academic careers. Her remarks underscored the strategic importance of collabora
tion between UC Berkeley and Portuguese institutions, particularly in fostering academic and cultural ties through joint research and knowledge exchange. Sydney’s participation not only spotlighted the rich potential of the Berkeley Portugal Program, but also inspired new avenues for academic mobility, cross-cultural learning, and research-driven innovation.
This presentation was made possible through the collaboration and generous support of the Luso-American Development Foundation, República Portuguesa, Fulbright Portugal, and Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação.
The presentation was followed by a reception extended to the broader Portuguese Community in San Diego.
Gostaríamos de agradecer aos nossos incríveis colaboradores Portugueses e ao Museu Marítimo de San Diego por sediarem este evento!