Boa noite a todos,
When the name Dr. Carlos Bassani came up as the MAP best lecturer, it was almost as expected by any MAP student. No debates. No negotiations. No Python script required.
If you have ever attended one of Carlos’s lectures, you know exactly why. From the moment he walked into the classroom, you could feel his energy and enthusiasm. Although lectures were at 8:00a.m., his entropy level woke us all up. You could always feel the Brazilian warmth in every lecture.
Most of us were afraid of coding, as if Python were a snake that would devour us all. But he always tamed that snake for us and showed us that even the most difficult molecular dynamics problems are easy to understand.
You are allowed to ask anything in his classroom, and he won’t hesitate to answer you with the highest form of enthusiasm. And every single time, Carlos answers with the same enthusiasm, as if it were the most exciting question, he had heard all day. Sometimes even more excited than the student asking it.
And then of course, there’s the T-shirts. Some lecturers wear suits, and some wear lab coats. Carlos wears conversation starters. Funny T-shirts. Geeky T-shirts. T-shirts that somehow turned into mini-lectures. At some point, it felt like half of the class was waiting not for the slides, but for the explanation of the shirt. He even once wore a special T-shirt sent from Brazil that had a “special ventilation” feature! None of us will ever forget that very T-shirt 🙂
But beyond the humor, the energy, and the legendary T-shirts, there was something more important.
Carlos had a genuinely caring and inspiring relationship with students. He didn’t just teach content. He supported confidence. He encouraged curiosity. He made students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and learning from them. He made the classroom feel less like a place where you’re evaluated, and more like a place where you’re guided.
Dr. Bassani, thank you for your enthusiasm, your patience, your passion, and yes, your T-shirts. Thank you for reminding us that learning can be both challenging and joyful at the same time.
On behalf of the students of the MAP program, it is a true pleasure to recognize you as one of our best lecturers.
Muito obrigado, Carlos, congratulações!
By MAP student Sandra Mutesi (Matriculation group 2024)