the author

I am a researcher in the History of Science with a specialised focus on the history of geometry, particularly the production, visualisation, and transmission of solid geometry in the early modern period. My research investigates how geometric knowledge emerged through the interaction of texts, images, material artefacts, and construction practices, with particular attention to polyhedra and their role in mathematical, artistic, and architectural theory.

I hold a PhD in Science and Technology Education Research (2020) and a degree in Fine Arts. My interdisciplinary background underpins a methodological approach that integrates historiographical analysis, geometric reasoning, and digitally assisted reconstruction. I have written sole-authored articles in leading international journals and regularly present my work at major international conferences (see below).

I am an integrated researcher at the Centre for Studies Nuno Portas (CENP), Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto, and a member of international editorial boards and scientific committees. Alongside my research, I have extensive experience in teaching, academic service, and public engagement, including conference organisation, editorial work, and the coordination of research infrastructure. Hopefully, my work has been contributing to advancing interdisciplinary approaches in the history of science and to strengthening international research networks linking mathematics, art, and architecture.

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ciência vitae | orcid | googlescholar | researchgate | web of science | nexus network journal | faup | ceau | youtube | sketchfab | springer | flickr

OUTPUTS: as author and co-author | seminars, workshops, etc. | oral presentations | as editor and co-editor | events and committees

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AS AUTHOR AND CO-AUTHOR

• DOCTORAL THESIS:
  1. Viana, V. 2020. Aplicações didácticas sobre poliedros para o ensino da geometria (Didactic Applications on Polyhedra for the teaching of Geometry) [Tese de Doutoramento, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro]. Repositório Científico da UTAD. http://hdl.handle.net/10348/10337

• BOOK CHAPTERS:
  • Viana, V. 2023. Non-Uniform Polyhedra Described by Daniele Barbaro. In: Monteleone, C., Williams, K. (eds) Daniele Barbaro and the University of Padova. DBSPA 2022. Trends in the History of Science. Birkhäuser, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29483-9_6
  • Xavier, J., Sousa, J., Castro, A. and Viana, V. 2022. An Introduction to Solid Tessellations with Students of Architecture. In Vera Viana, Helena Mena Matos João Pedro Xavier (Eds.) Polyhedra and Beyond Selected Contributions from Geometrias’19, Porto, Portugal, September 05-07. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-99116-6_10. 137-147.
  • Viana, V., Xavier J., Aires A. & Campos H. 2019. Interactive Expansion of Achiral Polyhedra. In: Luigi Cocchiarella (Ed.). ICGG 2018 – Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Geometry and Graphics. ICGG 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 809. Springer. 1116-1128.
  • Viana, V. 2015. Interactive Resources for an Active Descriptive Geometry Learning. In Nélia Amado & Susana Carreira (Eds.) Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Technology in Mathematics Teaching ICTMT 12. Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal, 352-360.

• JOURNAL ARTICLES:
  • Viana, Vera. Archimedean Solids in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries. Archive for History of Exact Sciences (2024): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00407-024-00331-7
  • Viana, V. 2019. Tessellations within Tessellations. Dénes Nagy, Ioannis Vandoulakis, Ryuji Takaki, Ritsuko Izuhara, Shozo Ishihara and Yoshinori Teshima (Eds.) Tradition and Innovation in Symmetry. 11th Congress and Exhibition of SIS-Symmetry. 290-293.
  • Duric, I.; Obradovic, R.; Viana, V.; Krstanovic, L.; Banjac, B.; Letic, J.; Ralevic, N. 2019. Algorithm for Image-Based Architectural Element Recognition. FME Transactions. 47(2), 287–292. https://doi.org/10.5937/fmet1902287d
  • Viana, V. 2018. From Solid to Plane Tessellations, and Back. Kim Williams and Michael Ostwald (Eds.). Nexus Network Journal, 20(3), 741-768.
  • Viana, V. 2014. Dynamic geometry software and augmented reality samples for high school descriptive geometry teaching. Revista Electrónica de Investigación, Docencia y Creatividad, 3, 46-60.
  • Viana, V. 2013. Descriptive Geometry Learning is no more threatened by dynamic geometry software than stairs by elevators. Indagatio Didactica, vol. 5(1), 85-102.
  • Viana, Vera. 2007. Materiais didácticos para o Ensino da Geometria Descritiva no Ensino Secundário. Boletim da Aproged, 27. Porto, Portugal: Aproged.

• CONFERENCE PAPERS:
  • Viana, V. 2025. The icosihexahedron described by Luca Pacioli, whose science will be very useful in many aspects, especially for those who put it to good use in architecture. Kim Williams and Cosimo Monteleone (Eds). Nexus 2025 Relationships between Architecture and Mathematics Conference Book. Kim Williams Books. 283-290. ISBN 978-88-88479-64-4.
  • Viana, V. 2023. Materializing Daniele Barbaro’s Creativity with 3D Printing. Judy Holdener, Eve Torrence, Chamberlain Fong, and Katherine Seaton (Eds.) Proceedings of Bridges 2023: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Culture. Phoenix, Arizona: Tessellations Publishing. 313-320.
  • Viana, V. 2022. Spatial structures based on solid tessellations. Seyed Alireza Behnejad, Gar Parke and Omidali Samavati (Eds.) Inspiring the Next Generation – Proceedings of the International Conference on Spatial Structures 2020/21 (IASS2020/21-Surrey7). Surrey: Spatial Structures Research Centre of the University of Surrey. 2159-2170.
  • Viana, V. 2021. Towards a systematic approach of topological interlocked assemblies of polyhedra. Kim Williams and Cornelie Leopold (Eds.) Nexus 20/21 Architecture and Mathematics Conference Book. Turin: Kim Williams Books. 295-300.
  • Viana, V. 2018. Topological Interlocking of Convex Regular Polyhedra. Cornelie Leopold, Christopher Robeller and Ulrike Weber (Eds.). RCA 2018 Research Culture in Architecture. International Conference on cross-disciplinary collaboration. Kaiserslautern: FATUK. 254-257.
  • Viana, V. 2018. Architectonic Tessellations as Constructive Moduules. Kim Williams and Marco Bevilacqua (Eds.) Nexus 2018 Architecture and Mathematics Conference Book. Turin: Kim Williams Books. 325-328.

• CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
  • Viana, V. 2024. Archimedean solids known in the 15^th and 16^th centuries. Tomislav Doli and Ema Jurkin (Eds.) Book of Abstracts of the 24th Scientific-Professional Colloquium on Geometry and Graphics. Senj, Croatia, 1–5 September 2024. Zagreb: Croatian Society for Geometry and Graphics, 6.

• SCHOOLBOOKS (out of print):
  • Viana, V. 2014. Duas por Três 11: Geometria Descritiva, 11º ano: ensino secundário. Porto: Areal Editores.
  • Viana, V. 2013. Duas por Três 10: Geometria Descritiva, 10º ano: ensino secundário. Porto: Areal Editores.

• ONLINE RESOURCES:
  • Viana, V. 2022. Spatial structures based on solid tessellations.
  • Viana, V. 2022. Studying Polyhedra with Advanced Digital Tools.
  • Viana, V. 2021. Interactive 3D models of polyhedra.
  • Viana, V. 2013-2015. GeoGebra Books

• WEBSITES:
  • Viana, V. 2020. moving geometry
  • Viana, V. 2020. 2º site da Aproged
  • Viana, V. 2010. geometria interactiva (offline)
  • Viana, V. 2008. 1º site da Aproged
  • Viana, V. 2007. Blogue Geometria Descritiva

SEMINAR / WORKSHOPS / COURSES / DISCIPLINES TAUGHT

• Six lectures on Preenchimento do Espaço com Poliedros included in the syllabus “Geometry and Architecture” for 1st year students @ Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, Portugal, | March-April, 2017
• Descriptive Geometry classes at Portuguese Secondary Schools | 1994 to 2011
• Continuing Training Course Produção de Materiais Didácticos para o Ensino da Geometria com o apoio das TIC @ ISCTE – nstituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal | 2010
• Continuing Training Course Produção de Materiais Didácticos para o Ensino da Geometria com o apoio das TIC @ Colégio de Santa Doroteia, Lisboa, Portugal | 2009

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1. The icosihexahedron described by Luca Pacioli, whose science will be very useful in many aspects, especially for those who put it to good use in architecture. Paper with oral presentation included in the Nexus 2025 Relationships between Architecture and Mathematics | 3-6 June 2025 | Vicenza, Italy
2. Dos Cubos e Octaedros e seus derivados ao Facetamento e Estrelação de Poliedros. Invited lecture for students pursuing a master’s degree in mathematics Education @ Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto | 19 May 2025
3. Dos Cubos e Octaedros e seus derivados ao Facetamento e Estrelação de Poliedros. Invited lecture for undergraduate students pursuing a degree in Drawing @ Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto | 02 May 2025
4. Archimedean Solids known in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries. Plenary session as keynote speaker, included in the 24th Scientific-Professional Colloquium on Geometry and Graphics | 1–5 September 2024 | Senj, Croatia
5. Materializing Daniele Barbaro’s Creativity with 3D Printing. Regular paper with oral presentation included in the Bridges Halifax 2023 | July 2023 | Dalhousie University, Canada.
6. Studying Polyhedra with Advanced Digital Tools. Invited lecture included in the Art and Math Seminar Spring 2022, organised by the Department of Mathematics at Kansas State University, United States of America | 21. April 2022
7. Spatial Structures Based on Solid Tessellations. Paper with oral presentation included in the IASS Annual Symposium and Spatial Structures Conference | August 2021, University of Surrey, England.
8. Towards a Systematic Approach of Topological Interlocked Assemblies of Polyhedra. Paper with oral presentation included in the Nexus 20/21: Relationships Between Architecture and Mathematics | September 2021, Faculty of Architecture, TU Kaiserslautern, Germany.
9. Tessellating and Interlocking in Patterns. Invited lecture included in the Summer Semester “Pattern Matters” in the Faculty of Architektur Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Germany | 18 May 2021
10. Non-uniform Polyhedra in Barbaro’s La Pratica della Perspettiva. Invited lecture included in the Giornata di studi – Daniele Barbaro e lo Studio Patavino | December 2020, Universitá di Padova, Italy.
11. Tessellations Within Tessellations. Paper with oral presentation included in the Symmetry Art and Science: 11th Congress and Exhibition | November 2019, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Japan.
12. Geometria Descritiva Interactiva. Keynote lecture included in the 2º Workshop – Software Livre de Matemática | July 2019, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, Portugal.
13. Preenchimento Uniforme do Espaço com Poliedros Convexos. Invited lecture included in the syllabus “Discursos Interdisciplinares sobre Geometria” @ Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto, Portugal | 2018
14. Topological Interlocking of Convex Regular Polyhedra. Poster with oral presentation included in the RCA 2018: Research Culture in Architecture. International Conference on Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration | September 2018, Faculty of Architecture, TU Kaiserslautern, Germany.
15. Interactive Expansion of Achiral Polyhedra. Paper with oral presentation included in the ICGG18: 18th International Conference on Geometry and Graphics | August 2018, Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
16. Architectonic Tessellations as Constructive Modules. Poster with oral presentation included in the Nexus 2018: Relationships between Architecture and Mathematics |  July 2018, Università di Pisa, Italy.
17. Axonometric Representations in Solid Geometry Teaching. Poster presentation included in the Nexus 2016: Relationships between Architecture and Mathematics | July 2016, Biblioteca Campus de Gipuzkoa Donostia, San-Sebastian, Spain.
18. Interactive Resources for an Active Descriptive Geometry Learning. Paper presentation included in the 12^th International Conference on Technology in Mathematics Teaching | July 2015, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade do Algarve, Portugal.
19. Recursos digitais para a Didática e a Aprendizagem da Geometria Descritiva. Keynote lecture included in the Projeto TEA – Tablets no Ensino e na Aprendizagem – Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian | January 2015, Escola Secundária Eça de Queirós, Lisboa, Portugal.
20. Dynamic Geometry Software and Augmented Reality Samples for High School Descriptive Geometry Teaching. Paper with oral presentation included in the Enabling Teachers for Entrepreneurship Education |  June 2014, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
21. Construções Dinâmicas com o Geogebra. Workshop included in ProfMat 2014 Braga, Portugal  | 2014
22. Descriptive Geometry Learning Is No More Threatened by Dynamic Geometry Software Than Stairs by Elevators. Paper with oral presentation included in the III Dia Geogebra em Portugal | June 2013, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal.
23. Introdução ao Rhinoceros. Workshop included in the Geometrias’13 Conference | June, Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, Portugal
24. Construção de exercícios interactivos com o C.a.R. Metal e o Geogebra. Workshop included in the XII Encontro Regional da Aproged, Vila Real, Portugal | 2012

AS EDITOR AND CO-EDITOR

• CONFERENCE-RELATED BOOKS AND PROCEEDINGS:
  1. Vera Viana, Helena Mena Matos & João Pedro Xavier (Eds.) 2022. Polyhedra and Beyond Selected Contributions from Geometrias’19, Porto, Portugal, September 05-07. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99116-6
  2. Vera Viana, Dénes Nagy, João Pedro Xavier, Ana Neiva, Marco Ginoulhiac, Luís Mateus & Pedro Varela. (Eds.) 2022. Symmetry: Art and Science | 12th SIS-Symmetry Congress [Special Issue]. Symmetry: Art and Science. International Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Symmetry. Symmetry. https://doi.org/10.24840/1447-607X/2022/12-01-001
  3. João Cabeleira & Vera Viana (Eds.). 2021. Jornadas Didácticas 2021: Livro de Resumos. Porto: Aproged.
  4. Vera Viana, Vítor Murtinho & João Pedro Xavier (Eds.) 2020. Thinking, Drawing, Modelling. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46804-0
  5. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2019. Geometrias’19: Book of Abstracts. Porto, Portugal: Aproged. https://doi.org/10.24840/978-989-98926-8-2
  6. Vasco Cardoso & Vera Viana (Eds.) 2018. Jornadas Didácticas 2018: Livro de Resumos. Porto: Aproged.
  7. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2017. Geometrias’17: Book of Abstracts. Porto: Aproged.
  8. Vera Viana, Filipe Gonzalez, Gilson Braviano, Manuel Costa & Vítor Murtinho (Eds.) 2016. Geometrias & Graphica 2015 Proceedings, Porto: Aproged, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
  9. Vera Viana & Alexandra Paio (Eds.) 2014. Geometrias 2014 Proccedings. Porto: Aproged.

• JOURNAL ISSUES:
  1. Vasco Cardoso & Vera Viana (Eds.) 2021. Boletim da Aproged, 35. Porto: Aproged.
  2. Vera Viana, Vítor Murtinho & João Pedro Xavier (Eds.) 2018. Boletim da Aproged, 34. Porto: Aproged.
  3. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2017. Boletim da Aproged, 33. Porto: Aproged.
  4. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2015. Boletim da Aproged, 32. Porto: Aproged.
  5. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2014. Boletim da Aproged, 31. Porto: Aproged.
  6. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2013. Boletim da Aproged, 30. Porto: Aproged.
  7. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2012. Boletim da Aproged, 29. Porto: Aproged.
  8. Vera Viana (Ed.) 2009. Boletim da Aproged, 28. Porto: Aproged.

EVENTS AND COMMITTEES:

• ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC EVENTS:
  1. Symmetry: Art and Science | 12th SIS-Symmetry Congress | Co-Chair and Organizing Committee member
  2. Jornadas Didácticas 2021 | Organizing Committee member
  3. Conference Symmetry, Structure, and Information @ 2021 IS4SI Summit | Chair of Session 1 and Session 2 and Organizing Committee member
  4. IS4SI 2021 – Summit of the International Society for the Study of Information | Co-Chair
  5. IASS Annual Symposium and Spatial Structures Conference | Chair of the Sessions “Morphology and Configuration Processing 1” and “Morphology and Configuration Processing 2”
  6. Nexus 20/21: Relationships Between Architecture and Mathematics | Chair of the Session “Mathematics of Natural Forms and Structures”
  7. Geometrias 19: Polyhedra and Beyond (2019, FAUP, University of Porto) | Organizing Committee member
  8. Jornadas Didácticas 2018 (2018, Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto) | Organizing Committee member
  9. Geometrias 17: Thinking, Drawing, Modelling (2017, University of Coimbra) | Organizing Committee member
  10. Jornadas Didácticas 2016 (2016, Escola Secundária de Pedro Nunes, Lisboa) | Organizing Committee member
  11. Geometrias & Graphica 2015: Trends on Graphic Thinking (2015, Universidade Lusíada, Lisbon) | Organizing Committee member
  12. Geometrias’14: New challenges on practice, researching and teaching geometries and drawing (2017, ISCTE-IUL, Lisbon) | Organizing Committee member
  13. Geometrias’13 (2013, FAUP, University of Porto) | Organizing Committee member

• COMMITTEE MEMBER:
  1. Conference Coordination Committee member of Nexus 2023: Relationships Between Architecture and Mathematics | Department of Architecture and Design of the Politecnico di Torino, Italy, since 2022
  2. Researcher/Consultant in the Community of Practices Workgroup of the Program RESET – Redesigning Equality and Scientific Excellence Together, since 11.2021
  3. Scientific Committee member of the Centre for Studies in Architecture and Urbanism (CEAU) in the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto, since 11.2020

• JOURNAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTE MEMBER:
  1. Corresponding Editor of the Nexus Network Journal since 2020.
  2. Boletim da Aproged, from 2009 to 2021
  3. Conference Report Editor of the Nexus Network Journal since 2014.

• SCIENTIFIC/PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER (reviewer):
  1. 2026: Bridges 2026 (upcoming)
  2. 2026: ICGG 2026 (upcoming)
  3. 2025: Bridges 2025
  4. 2025: Nexus Conference 2025
  5. 2024: Bridges 2024
  6. 2024: ICGG 2024
  7. 2023: Bridges 2023
  8. 2023: CAAD Futures 2023 (sub-reviewer)
  9. 2023: Mongeometrija 2023
  10. 2022: ICGG 2022
  11. 2022: Bridges 2022
  12. 2022: 12^th SIS-Symmetry Congress 2022
  13. 2021: IS4SI 2021
  14. 2021: Nexus Conference 20/21
  15. 2020: ICGG 2020
  16. 2019: Geometrias’19
  17. 2018: ICGG 2018
  18. 2018: Mongeometrija 2018
  19. 2015: ICTMT 12 (sub-reviewer)

• ASSOCIATION MEMBER:
  • NEXUS: Relationships between Architecture and Mathematics, since 05.2025
  • SIS-Symmetry: International Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Symmetry, since 11.2019
  • ISGG: International Society for Geometry and Graphics, since 08.2018
  • APROGED: Portuguese Geometry and Drawing Teachers Association, since 01.1999

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