Carlos Alberto Mendes

Carlos Mendes studied and worked for four decades in the chemical industry, graduating in electrical engineering and specializing in industrial automation. He participated in two engineering networks in the areas of automation and electrical safety, where he exchanged knowledge with colleagues from different cultures in the European space. After retirement, he felt an existential void and decided to enter the Open University in 2014. He is currently a PhD student in intercultural relations, and his research topic is the aging population. The research uses a sociological approach and the qualitative paradigm as methodology, aiming to understand and explain the aging processes in Portugal in the global context, with an emphasis on the role of the State and policies that can make the longevity society fairer for all ages of life.