On Friday 22nd November, the Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes (UEMC) of Valladolid conferred the title of doctor honoris causa on the researcher Xavier Gil, head of the Bioengineering Institute of Technology and who is considered one of the most influential scientists in the world owing to his research career and scientific production in the field of Bioengineering according to Stanford University's World's Top 2% Scientists ranking.
The event, held in the UEMC assembly hall, began with a few words from the secretary general of the University, Juan Casado Canales, followed by an address by Daniel Robles Cantero, academic and clinical director of the Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry of the Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes, who, as sponsor, was in charge of carrying out the laudatio of the new doctor honoris causa.
In his speech, Robles Cantero made a brief analysis of Xavier Gil's professional career, highlighting how, throughout his professional life and despite his strong institutional involvement, he has never stopped pursuing one of his greatest passions, research. A field in which he has made very significant contributions in the development of new biomaterials for application in the field of dentistry. Robles Cantero also highlighted Gil's commitment to studying the mechanisms that control the interactions between biomaterials and cells or tissues, which he could not have done without his multidisciplinary team of researchers.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Xavier Gil was then invested as doctor honoris causa by the rector, David García López. Once he had been conferred with the honour, Xavier Gil, as the new doctor honoris causa, delivered a speech to the audience in which he expressed his profound gratitude and excitement at receiving this recognition from UEMC.
In his speech, the researcher highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration as fundamental pillars of his professional career, “because I believe that everything achieved has been the result of a collective effort”. Gil also emphasised the UEMC's commitment to research and the training of new generations of researchers and expressed his desire to continue contributing to research and knowledge transfer. "After a long career marked by research and management, I feel a deep vocation of service", so his goal now is to guide new generations of researchers and teachers, leaving a legacy “of academic excellence and social commitment”.
The event ended with the intervention of the rector of the UEMC, David García López, who highlighted the fact that “Xavier Gil has dedicated his research life to understanding and improving the relationship established between a substance or material and a living tissue, so that the latter can be benefited, cured or strengthened”. The rector also sought to emphasize the merits of the doctor honoris causa’s scientific career.
