Modesto Hurtado Ferrer

He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Havana and a Ph.D. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo. He has been a university professor for over 30 years, with experience in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of materials and manufacturing. Since 2013, he has been a professor at the Technological Center of Joinville (CTJ) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. He has experience in developing research on topics related to the design, development, and characterization of advanced materials (steels and cast irons) for various industrial purposes. He also has extensive experience as a faculty advisor for the Formula SAE and Baja SAE projects at CTJ, where he applies methodologies that innovate the way engineering is taught, focusing on the professional and human development of students, encouraging their creativity and innovation, as well as their entrepreneurial and leadership skills, among other competencies. Additionally, he develops social projects that encourage the inclusion of young people from underprivileged communities through education. He has held various leadership positions, such as coordinator of undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as director-level positions, and has participated in various collegiate bodies and higher councils. Currently, he holds the position of Technical Director of the Joinville Innovation Center - Ágora Tech Park and chairs the Joinville Municipal Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation - COMCITI (terms 2020/22 and 2022/24). He represents UFSC in municipal bodies such as the Municipal Education Forum, where he has served as president since 2022, and the Joinville Business Association - ACIJ, where he has served as President of the Technology and Innovation Committee (terms 2020/21 and 2021/22) and currently serves as President of the Council of Committees (terms 2022/23 and 2023/24). He is also the creator of innovative projects, including the Akademos Education Award, which in 2024 celebrated its fifth edition, recognizing teachers who innovate in the classroom, and Education Talks, an event that discusses education in the context of ongoing social and technological transformations, which in 2024 celebrated its fifth edition. Additionally, he contributes to the curation and organization of major events, such as Expoinovação (since the sixth edition), the Ibero-American Congress of Mechanical Engineering, and the Ibero-American Congress of Project Engineering. He has led World Creativity Day in Joinville since 2022 and is currently the Executive Director of the World Creativity Festival in the Southern Region, which was held for the first time in April 2024, events promoted by the World Creativity Organization, impacting thousands of people. He also acts as a mentor in career management and in entrepreneurship, development, and innovation journeys, such as JEDI and StartUp Weekend, held in Joinville and the State of Santa Catarina. He is a TEDx Speaker and lecturer on topics related to education, innovation, human behavior, leadership, and team development. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)