TERCUD - Territory, Culture and Development Research Centre is a R&D Unit at ULHT – Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon.
Following the concept that the uniqueness of natural, cultural and economic specificities are the constitutive elements of and decisive factors for the transformation of geographic space and territorial development at all scales in the context of the local/global nexus, the overall objectives of TERCUD are to design, implement and disseminate research and other scientific activities in favour of: The multidisciplinary character of TERCUD’s objectives and activities is guaranteed by diverse academic profiles and professional expertise of the research staff and collaborators, both Portuguese and foreign, including Physical and Human Geographers, Urban Planners and Architects, Cultural Anthropologists and Socio-Economists - all specialists in different spheres of Development Studies, with considerable international experience in fundamental, policy and applied research and consulting.
The complementary activities, as well as those with strategically important potentials for the attainment of TERCUD’s objectives, are carried out by the Associated Research Groups “Natural and Technological Hazards” and "Architecture Lab", which are open to the teaching staff members of other ULHT Faculties and Schools.
The Main Research Group “Sociomuseology” is devoted to: research projects and provision of services to public and private entities in the area of integration of museological planning with local/regional development; editing of Cadernos de Sociomuseologia, a unique publication in Portuguese dedicated to museology, produced in close cooperation with Brazilian researchers; partnership with the MINOM - Movimento Internacional para uma Nova Museologia, integrated in ICOM – the International Council of Museums, UNESCO.
The Associated Research Group “Natural and Technological Hazards” is devoted to spatial analyses and identification of elements at risk (population, infrastructures, natural and cultural heritage), to application of Geographical Information Technologies in preventing and managing emergencies, and to human resources development in the area of Civil Protection for Local and Regional Development.