Accompanied by the academic community, family and friends, the new doctors received their caps in a formal ceremony presided over by the rector, where five extraordinary doctoral prizes were awarded, and the university anthem was played for the first time in a public ceremony.
The Aula Magna of UIC Barcelona yesterday, 28 January, hosted the formal investiture ceremony of 30 new doctors, a moment that symbolises the recognition of having achieved the highest academic degree. The ceremony, held in the name of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of universities, was an emotional and dignified ceremony presided over by the rector, Dr Alfonso Méndiz, during which for the first time the university anthem composed by the orchestra conductor Carlos Checa, was publicly performed. This piece was created specifically to reflect the spirit of these academic ceremonies.
Dr Núria Casals, director of the Doctoral School, welcomed the event highlighting the efforts of doctoral students and the values of the University. “This is the end of your academic training, but I am confident that it will be the beginning of a research career. Wherever you go, take the values of UIC Barcelona with you. Thank you for your efforts and congratulations on this new stage,” she said.
Patron of the event, Dr Mercè Boada, founder and medical director of the ACE Alzheimer Center Foundation, delivered some inspiring words to the new doctors. “Investigating and working on research is not easy, but it is a unique opportunity to transform society through science. Transforming means working to achieve great goals such as excellence, commitment and self-improvement… Transforming is a revolution,” she said. She also underlined the importance of the cross-cutting nature of knowledge. “Research is an exciting journey. We are all indispensable on this path, and we must approach it with humility, honesty and determination.”
During the event, the Extraordinary Doctoral Awards were presented, which recognise the best theses presented in different lines of research. The winners were Dr Maria Merino Gómez in Basic Sciences and Bioengineering; Dr Aida Cadellans Arroniz in Physiotherapy; Dr Blanca Goñi Fusté in Nursing; Dr Natalia Amat Lefort in Economics; and Dr Pau Cirer Ferrà in Humanities.
Dr Maria Fitó also spoke, highlighting the social work of research shared by the entire group of UIC Barcelona doctoral graduates, “Today we celebrate the effort, sacrifice and resilience that have allowed us to get this far.”
The rector, Dr Alfonso Méndiz, closed the event by underlining the importance of this academic achievement and thanking the new doctors for “not having chosen the easy path, but that of rigour and continuous work. Wear the cap with honour, humility and generosity, sharing your knowledge with society.”
