Daniel Neves da Costa, a CES junior researcher, was awarded the Maria Cândida da Cunha Prize from the National Institute for Rehabilitation for his PhD thesis entitled «O Touro que nos Puseram na Arena. Ou: O Desdobrar das Fronteiras nos Interstícios da Palavra - Gaguez, Ciência e Comunidades de Responsabilidades».

The thesis aims to reflect on the role of science and its knowledges not only regarding decision-making political institutions but also in the composition of the common world, society and its institutions, in the everyday life of citizens, in the identity construction of individuals and social collectives or in the construction of political narratives of social interpellation, be it in the struggle against inequalities, in the deconstruction of social stigmas or in the definition of therapeutic activism associated with health conditions. In a partnership carried out with the Portuguese Association of Stutterers this research problematises the conditions that allow the development of collaborations between citizens, communities and civil society organizations and scientists, research centres and universities, in a democratic logic of co-production of knowledge that stimulates the empowerment of individuals, communities and civil society organisations through participatory involvement with technoscience and inspired by the concept of 'Responsible Research and Innovation'.

Daniel Neves da Costa is a Junior Researcher at the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra in the Research Group on Science, Economy and Society (NECES). MA in Sociology and PhD in "Governance, Knowledge and Innovation". His research interests articulate the social studies of science and technology, sociology and political philosophy with disability studies. His work analyzes science and society relations especially the dynamics of interaction between scientific and lay knowledge and how they can promote the empowerment of individuals, groups and civil society organisations.

This annual award aims to distinguish scientific projects of excellence from the social and human sciences in the areas of disability, disability and rehabilitation.