The Ateneo de Almagro closes “The Nobel Prizes in Chemistry of the 21st century” with the intervention of Enrique Díez Barra – Lanza Digital

In the presentation of the closing act, the president of the Almagro Athenaeum wanted to highlight the roots of science in the athenaeums in general, and in the Almagro athenaeum in particular, pointing out that in the last two years the opening of the course has focused on the contributions of Nobel Laureates in Physics and Chemistry

The Ateneo de Almagro (www.ateneodealmagro.org) has closed the exhibition on “The Nobel Prizes in Chemistry of the 21st Century”, all this, after two weeks of visits by students, teachers and the general public to the Palacio de los Medrano ( headquarters of the Almagreña cultural institution). The complete exhibition arises from the joint initiative between the Faculty of Chemical and Technological Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine, and the IRICA of the University of Castilla la Mancha and has had the collaboration of the Ateneo de Almagro in order to encourage visits in the city of theater

The event featured the intervention of Professor Enrique Díez Barra, Professor of Organic Chemistry at UCLM, who, in his capacity as promoter and coordinator of the initiative, was accompanied by fellow professors Francisco Jesús García Navarro, Professor of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry of the UCLM, and Coordinator of the Section of Science and Technology of the Ateneo de Almagro, Juan Emilio Feliú, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the UCLM, and coordinator of the Section of Health Sciences of the Ateneo de Almagro, María Dolores Cabezudo , professor of Food Technology at UCLM, José Torres, professor of Chemistry and also promoter of the exhibition, and Jose Antonio Prieto, president of the Ateneo de Almagro.

In the presentation of the closing ceremony, the president of the Almagro Athenaeum wanted to highlight the roots of Science in the Athenaeums in general, and in the Almagro Athenaeum in particular, pointing out that in the last two years the opening of the course has focused on the contributions from the Nobel Laureates in Physics (visit by Professor Michel Mayor, Swiss Nobel Laureate, to the Almagro Athenaeum in October 2021) and Chemistry (UCLM Exhibition now closing). The close alliance of the UCLM with the Almagro cultural institution is specified in the active participation, and monthly, of professors of the regional University in the different Sections of the Almagro Athenaeum. And, finally, he referred to the important contribution of Professor Díez Barra in scientific research and knowledge transfer in his public commitment to Castilla la Mancha.

Immediately afterwards, Professor García Navarro, after an emotional personal thanks, glossed over the professional career of the guest, referring in the first place to his professional career as Dean of the Faculty of Chemical and Technological Sciences, Vice-rector of Teaching Staff and Academic Organization of the UCLM, Vice-counselor of the JCCLM, promoter of Technological Institutes and Joint Centers of collaboration with the CSIC, in addition to designing the main lines of the Regional Research Plan. All this, recently recognized by the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry with the Award for his research career.

Finally, he referred to the main lines of research in the field of reactions in the absence of solvents, heterogeneous catalysis, and by phase transfer, dendrimeric materials, activation by microwave or chemical radiation and applications of carbon nanostructures.

Professor Feliú Albiñana also intervened identifying the main lines of research that, in coordination with the Faculty of Medicine of the UCLM, has incorporated the Exhibition on “The Nobel Prizes of the XXI Century”.

And, in this regard, he brought up some of the main contributions that in the field of biochemistry have decisively contributed to improving the living conditions of citizens and, in this way, have also made the greatest benefit to humanity pursued with the awarding of the Nobel Prizes. He wanted to emphasize in this sense the importance of the perseverance of the scientific work of chemists when it comes to obtaining the results worthy of the valuable recognition of the Nobel Prize.

Finally, Professor Díez Barra made a tour of the geographical distribution of the Nobel Prize winners in the different continents in his speech. He was able to underline that in this category, rather than referring to a specific person, which there are and very important, we must refer to the scientific contribution that the advance or discovery implies (fifty-four people on twenty-two occasions). He stressed the importance of putting sufficient resources into research for the benefit of humanity. He wanted to pay special attention to the five women who have received the Nobel Prize in the 21st century (more than all the women who received it in the last century).

He also focused on the main achievements in the specific scientific developments of the Nobel Prize winners’ research that have been on view at the Exhibition that has been held at the Ateneo de Almagro for the last two weeks, as well as the modern applications that the discoveries have in the field of medicine and drug development.

Very important advances in the study of DNA, with special recognition to Francisco J. Martínez Mojica, whose discovery with the identification of the CRISPR sequence in microorganisms as a defense system against viruses was the starting point that allowed the award of the Nobel to the two researchers who later received it for their progress in cell function. And, finally, he made a tour of the professional career of some of the winners with a presence in the Exhibition “The Nobel Prizes in Chemistry of the XXI Century”.