Pedro Abrunhosa and José Azeredo Lopes discuss the new meanings of Sovereignty at the Faculty of Biotechnology

What does Sovereignty mean today? This was the starting point for another edition of the "Conversations on Science & Society" series, featuring José Azeredo Lopes, professor and coordinator of the International Studies Programme at the Faculty of Law of the Universidade Católica, and musician Pedro Abrunhosa.

The concept of sovereignty is no longer exclusively tied to the power of States over physical territory; it now encompasses diverse dimensions such as culture, technology, science, energy, and individual identity. In a dynamic and multidisciplinary dialogue, moderated by Tim Hogg, professor and coordinator of the Bachelor's degree in Liberal Sciences at the Faculty of Biotechnology, participants explored how sovereignty is fragmenting, reinventing itself, and taking on new meanings in an increasingly global and interconnected world.

"Without cultural and digital affirmation, one day we may no longer be able to claim we are sovereign," said Pedro Abrunhosa, emphasising the need for active engagement in culture and the digital sphere to preserve autonomy.

“If we lose our language, we are erasing part of our sovereignty, even if we don’t lose the territory. Those who identify come together, those who come together create a territory, and those who have a territory build a power structure. This is a form of sovereignty that increasingly distances itself from traditional territorial notions,” said José Azeredo Lopes.

The conversation took place on 5 June in the Comendador Arménio Miranda Auditorium, at the Biotechnology Building of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, as part of the "Conversations on Science & Society" cycle. The initiative aims to highlight the importance of multidisciplinarity and knowledge exchange in addressing the complex challenges of today’s world.