IDia +
Research
Development
Innovation
Application
THE UNIVERSITAT SUCCESSFULLY ORGANISES THE EUROPEAN UNION CONTEST FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS That the Universitat de Valencia puts effort
high level of sophistication, their spirit of
into research is nothing new, but if it also
solidarity and commitment as well as their
works to find future Einsteins between the
potential in future practical applications.
ages of 15 to 20 years, we start to have an
A keyboard pedal for the computer, a bicycle
idea of how far this institution is willing to
with an I.V. for sick children, a system that
go to get involved in scientific initiatives and
prevents slipping during braking in cars, an
look for new talent.
invention that helps the hearing impaired
The result of this search is the organisation
listen to music using vibrations - all these
+
+
Issue n.2
XIX European Union Contest for Young Scientists
2
Esteban Morcillo, ViceRector of Research
3
Longevity. Leading Research in Physiology
4
The ICMUV participates in the restoration of Sorolla’s paintings
5
The ESTEPA Group, Valencian Hydraulic Heritage
6
Excellence Marketing for the Tourism sector
7
of the 19th European Union Contest for
figured prominently in the contest, as well
Young Scientists, a meeting of minds which
as new environmentally-friendly initiatives in
was held in mid September, bringing
the conservation of natural resources as a
together a hundred young scientists and
source of renewable energy, as well as
authors of a total of eighty unpublished
original prototypes that will contribute to the
projects.
improvement of quality of life for people
This contest is part of an initiative of the
with disabilities associated with sensory or
European Union, organised this year by the
motor impairments.
Universitat de Valencia, the objective of
Coming from rather diverse scientific fields,
which is to promote the spirit of research
the projects were displayed at the Museo
Meetings and Conferences
among young students. The majority of the
Príncipe Felipe of the Ciutat de les Arts i les
The University in figures
projects were outstanding; this due to their
Ciències.
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
1
8
MEDICINE AND ARCHITECTURE, THE SPANISH CONTESTANTS
WINNING PROJECTS WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS 19th European Union Contest for Young Scientists
R. C. Two contestants represented Spain in the International Contest for Young Scientists. These two students from Catalunya, Pau Machado and Àngel Solanellas, are currently studying Medicine and Architecture, respectively. Machado presented a molecular study of antiretroviral drugs for AIDS, and Solanellas studied the Pantheon's light and distribution in order to explain what society was like during that era. These entries unfortunately did not receive a prize, but the members of the jury made special mention of the
Winners at the ceremony in the Red Sea Exhibit of the Hemisférico
quality of the work behind the entries.
R. Castelló
Another project which did not
The University turned Valencia into a
applied to the development of ecological
receive a prize coming as it did
meeting place for future scientists and a
pesticides.
from an invited country (in this
world showcase for their research. The
In addition to the main objectives of
case, China) and as such was not
teams from Germany, Hungary and Ireland
obtaining the prize for the best scientific
an official entry in the contest,
were the winners of the first three prizes of
project
attracted the public's attention.
5,000 Euros each in this European Union
investigative attitude of the participants,
These students built a pedal for a
Contest for Young Scientists.
there were other objectives – that of
computer, the aim of which being
The projects selected as winners by an
promoting comradeship among peers of
to help those with physical
international jury composed of fifteen
other
impairments control their keyboard
experts
knowledge
with their feet. A Danish student
phenomenon of why water drops from
built a bicycle with a drip, allowing
stalactites seem to shine;
hospitalised children to have fun
another on how plants
while receiving medication. The
defend
French teams also presented two
against
attractive projects. One of the
environment; and finally
teams built a hydroplane which
another project on the
AMONG YOUNG
quality of the projects and
used hydrogen (a future source of
RSA cryptography system,
STUDENTS.
in some cases advising
energy) as fuel and solar panels to
presented by two German
keep the entire device functioning.
students aged nineteen and twenty. The
their work.
This project, from start to finish,
young Irish student, originally from
During the contest, the Universitat de
was a model in the use of
Somalia, Abdusalam Abubakar, aged
València was the meeting place for more
renewable energy. Two other
sixteen, showed through mathematical
than forty members of the international
young contestants asked
postulates that it is possible to prevent
and national press and media, also
themselves if humans could walk
hacker attacks on credit cards. This was
broadcasting daily programming on TV,
on water. These students did the
one of the projects that had the greatest
via Internet with live interviews and
pertinent calculations and
future applicability. Another project with
reports, as well as providing information
concluded that a 50 kg person
future possibilities was the project
in the newspaper Xano Eucys. Both
could walk on water if only at 27
presented by Márton Sophn, a young
initiatives can be consulted on the
km per hour.
Hungarian student aged eighteen. His
Conference
work from the chemistry field could be
http://www.uv.es/eucys07.
2
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
were
the
following:
themselves the
beach
the
and
of
nationalities, and
the
exchanging
presenting
new
inventions and prototypes based on their own
THIS
promoting
CONFERENCE
TRIES TO PROMOTE THE INVESTIGATIVE SPIRIT
research.
Also
present at the event was the
European
Patent
Office which helped the students, highlighting the
them on how to protect
web
site
BREVES
THE PALAU DE CERVERÓ, HOME TO THE INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIÓN LÓPEZ PIÑERO
Isabel Morant Deusa, professor of History of Medicine of the Universitat de València, has been awarded with the FECYT Award for the promotion of equality in Knowledge, for her wide academic work and diffusion of knowledge that “decisively contributes to the scientific fundamentals of feminist thinking in our country, making her an important figure in the international sphere”. The Universitat de València hosted the Training Seminars for the Web of Knowledge, an integrated internet-based platform that offers the most comprehensive collection of information on interdisciplinary research to all professionals within the scientific research field. The
9th
European
Science
and
Technology Week has begun at the Universitat de València with activities that range from the traditional Mathematics The Universitat de València has renovated
after one of the most outstanding advocate
Routes
to
conferences
at
Secondary
Education and Baccalaureate Institutes.
the Palau de Cerveró, a building from the
of the History of Medicine and Science, the
18th century located in Valencia’s historical
retired professor José María López Piñero.
centre as the future home of the Instituto
In its new location, the centre will be home
“La riuà, 50 años después” [The flood,
de Historia de la Ciencia y Documentación
not only to research laboratories, but also
50 years later], is an audiovisual co-
López Piñero [López Piñero Institute of the
spaces for the History of Medicine Library
production which has just been edited by
History of Science and Documentation].
and areas for a History of Medicine
the Universitat de València and the local
The Institute is a mixed studies centre, part
Museum. The building, acquired by the
newspaper Diario Levante-EMV . The work
of the Universitat de València and CSIC, El
Universitat de València in 2001, has been
recognises and expands on the City of
Consejo
designated as a monument of Local
Valencia’s recent historical memory. The
Interest. The restoration has been directed
document offers historical rigour and is of
by the Architect Francisco Rozas.
great visual impact.
Científicas
Superior (the
de
Investigaciones
Superior
Council
of
Scientific Research). This centre is named
The activities will end on 30 November.
WHO’S WHO
ESTEBAN MORCILLO, VICE-RECTOR OF RESEARCH Since March 2007, the Research Vice-rectorship of the Universitat de València is led by Professor of Pharmacology Esteban Morcillo. Educated at the Faculty of Medicine of the UV, John Hopkins University (Maryland), and the Universities of Michigan and Strathclyde (Glasgow), Morcillo has been the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine where he studied and the Vice-rector of Research at the University of Alcalá. Holder of the Galien Award in Pharmacology, he is a numerary member of the Real Academia de Medicina de la Comunidad Valenciana [The Valencian Region Royal Academy of Medicine], and has published over 150 articles in specialised journals. From the Vice-rectorship that he directs, Esteban Morcillo leads and articulates the institutional policy of the University with regards to Research and the transfer of Knowledge. To do this, he has at his disposal instruments such as the research grants Programme. Through various instrumental structures – Research Services, OTRI, the Office of European R+D Projects, the Science Park -, the Vice-rectorship carries out activities that dynamically promote research, facilitating the capture of external resources and promoting public-private cooperation in R+D, fulfilling the University’s social responsibility programme.
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
3
WHY DO FEMALES LIVE LONGER THAN MALES? Physiologists from the Universitat de València search for male longevity One of the greatest successes of the
postulated
20th century is the lengthening of
protective
life
Alzheimer’s. But although there exist
reproduces the antioxidant effects of
many
estrogen, by way of a mechanism
expectancy
in
humans.
In
Europe, life expectancy has doubled
that
they
could
agents
studies
on
be
against
the
role
of
which is one of the most abundant phytoestrogens
in
soy.
Genistein
in the years between 1900 and 1992,
shown in the image: “estrogens,”
and in every case, life expectancy for
explain project researcher Consuelo
women has surpassed that of men.
Borrás,
According
this
induce cascades of signals which
exclusively
ultimately induce the expression of
sociological
antioxidant genes associated with
to
phenomenon
scientists, is
attributable
not to
“activate
receptors
that
differences, given the fact that this
longevity.”
difference
Part of this study appeared in the
also
exists
among
prestigious Faseb Journal, and it is
animals. the
expected that new results will be
Universitat de València’s Physiology
brought to the scientific world. It
Department, led by Professor José
must be remembered that the Faseb
Viña,
molecular
Journal is an American journal from
mechanism by which females live
the Federation of American Societies
longer than males. “This occurs in
for Experimental Biology, the journal
A
research
has
group
found
from
the
the majority of species that matter
with
Borrás et al (2006) FASEB J
to us”, state the authors of the
the
greatest
internationally
study.
in
impact
the
field
of
Biochemistry.
The team has shown that these differences
in
longevity
are
Mechanism by means of which the genistein induces genes of longevity
The group headed by José Viña, a professor
biologically based: estrogens are an advantage
for
the
survival
of
of
Physiology
at
the
Universitat de València specialises in estrogens
in
the
prevention
of
the
study
of
human
aging.
The
females, because they induce the
diseases associated with aging, the
results from recent studies on genes
expression of antioxidant enzymes
mechanism that lies behind their
that lengthen life expectancy, part of
that protect them against oxidative
effects has not been sufficiently
a
studied to date.
previous study, have recently been
THIS
line
of
study
parallel
to
the
This study, which was published two
STUDY, WHICH WILL
years ago in Aging Cell Journal – an
SOON YIELD RESULTS, WAS
THE
important Scientific journal- was the
THE MOST CONSULTED WORK
most
BY THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IN THE FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETIES IN 2005
consulted
article
of
RESULTS OF THEIR
RECENT STUDIES ON GENES
the
Federation of European Biochemical
THAT LENGTHEN LIFE
Societies in 2005, and the article
EXPECTANCY HAVE RECENTLY
which was downloaded the most
BEEN PUBLISHED IN
from the internet. The
study
NATURE.
continues
and
the
challenge now is directed to the study of masculine longevity. In this
published
stress, thereby conferring greater
sense, Viña’s team has discovered
occasion, the work showed that the
longevity.
that
two
The properties of estrogen are the
molecules
chemical
cancer slow the aging process by
subject of study by diverse groups of
structure that is similar to estrogens-
repairing cell damage caused by free
researchers.
for
also possess the beneficial properties
radicals. And the study carried out in
example, that they possess a cardio-
of estrogen but are not feminising;
mice showed that the greater the
protective effect, acting like in vitro
that is, they wouldn’t be harmful to
dose of these genes, the longer their
antioxidants and it has even been
males. One of these is genistein,
life expectancy.
4
It
is
known,
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
specific that
phytoestrogens have
a
–
genes
in
Nature.
that
protect
On
this
against
T H E I N S T I T U T E O F M AT E R I A L S S C I E N C E W O R K S O N TH E RE S TORAT ION OF SOROL LA’S PAI NTI NGS “ITS
NON-DESTRUCTIVE AND
PORTABLE NATURE MAKES THIS TECHNIQUE AN EXTRAORDINARY TOOL IN THE ANALYSIS OF LARGE FORMAT PAINTINGS”
Sorolla can be seen in numerous studies, publications and exhibitions carried out in recent years that focused on his work. Moreover,
from
the
scientific-
analytical perspective, there are very few studies using analytical techniques that give us objective information on the materials used by the painter as well as on the
“THE RESULTS IDENTIFY
process in making them.
THE EXACT COMPOSITION
In this respect, the work by the team of professors Clodoaldo Roldán
OF THE PIGMENTS AND
and José Ferrero (ICMUV) makes up
BRING TO LIGHT VALUABLE
for this deficit. The analysis of
DATA FOR THE
pigments is carried out by way of
CONSERVATION OF
Energy
Dispersive
Fluorescence
PAINTINGS, FACILITATING
X
(EDXRF),
a
Ray non-
aggressive technique in the study of
AND IMPROVING THE WORK
artwork
OF THE RESTORATION
sampling, and is multi-elemental,
PROFESSIONAL.”
that is, it allows the simultaneous
that
does
not
require
identification of different chemical A research group from the Instituto de
Ciencia
de
los
(ICMUV)
[Institute
Science]
of
Materiales
of
Materials
the Archeometry Unit
elements that are present in the
of the ICMUV, the HSA
analysed work. It can also be used
restoration team and the curating
in
team
destructive nature and portability
of
the
Bancaja
artistic
portable
units.
Its
non-
collection.
make it an excellent technique for
València has participated in the
The work of the University consisted
the
restoration of fourteen oil paintings
of the analysis of the variety of
paintings, given that the equipment
by Joaquín Sorolla, these works
pigments used by the Valencian
can be easily transported to the
comprising his “Visiones de España”
painter in this collection of paintings
painting itself.
[Visions
depicting landscapes and early 20th
For over a decade, ICMUV has
owned by the Hispanic Society of
century
Spanish
been
America (HAS). This collection was
results
identified
exact
Sorolla’s work, building a pigment
brought by the Fundación Bancaja
composition of the pigments and
database. The work undertaken on
and is currently on display at the
brought to light valuable information
this
bank’s Cultural Centre in Valencia.
to the field of painting conservation,
represents the completion of the
The restoration work undertaken at
facilitating
reference database that furthers
the HSA in New York has been the
restoration professional's work.
our knowledge of the painter’s
result of the collaboration between
The growing interest in Joaquín
work.
of
the
Universitat
Spain],
a
de
collection
and
customs. the
The
improving
the
analysis
of
large
systematically
American
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
format
analysing
collection
5
“ESTEPA” GROUP, TEN YEARS SPENT MAPPING OUR HYDRAULIC HERITAGE More than 300 historical irrigation systems mapped and 18 Valencian counties studied The irrigation infrastructures of the Valencian Region form an indisputably important part of our architectural and cultural heritage. Although they were built with an intention of bringing water to fields in order to increase their yield, the historical and artistic value of these structures has turned them into key monuments of many tourist, educational and recreational itineraries. Nevertheless, neither the agricultural use which keeps the hydraulic system alive nor its cultural value can guarantee the preservation of our hydraulic heritage. Urban
expansion,
modernisation
of
irrigation techniques and the crisis in rural
Azud de Tormos (Paterna-Manises)
tradition all carry factors that, in recent history,
unfortunate
hydraulic heritage. The research on territory,
December in the Aula Magna of the
restorations and irreparable damage to
have
provoked
landscape and heritage, as well as the
University’s Nau Building,
our centenary hydraulic treasures. But, on
technical
In this way, the dams, irrigation dams of
the other hand, the speed and the
companies and individuals, focuses on the
Valencia’s
intense activity of this group, founded ten
destroyed by the action of the devastating
years ago within the Department of
floods, the mills of the Maestrat, the
Geography.
for
Segura River and the Valencia farmlands,
hydraulic culture, and especially that found
the Safor’s drainage basins or diversion
assistance
to
ESTEPA’s
institutions,
enthusiasm
larger
rivers,
built
and
in Valencia benefits the preservation of the landscape and natural resources, improving our knowledge of history, also bringing to light valuable information about territorial
THE ESTEPA GROUP UNIVERSITAT
mapped
more
than
300
historical
VALÈNCIA
STANDS AS THE MOST
planning. In the Valencian Region alone ESTEPA has
DE
OF THE
POWERFUL FIELD OF
R+D
TEAM IN THE
HYDRAULIC HERITAGE
irrigation systems and carried out studies on hydraulic heritage in 18 Valencian
dams all appear in the cartographic
counties, publishing nine books in this
inventories and material, proof of their
field as a part of the collection “Regadíos
existence and adding value to the
históricos valencianos” [Historic Valencian
hydraulic heritage that constitutes a great
Irrigation Systems], financed by the
legacy acquired and generated through
Dirección General del Patrimonio Cultural
the years by Valencian society.
Valenciano [Head Office of Valencian
In addition to this series of books about
Cultural
Generalitat
the hydraulic resources of the Valencian
Confederación
Region, ESTEPA is also organising the
abruptness of territorial and cultural
Hidrográfica del Júcar [Hydrographic
collection “Gestión tradicional del agua,
changes have also generated different
Confederation of the Júcar River System]
patrimonio
forms of social outcry claiming the
and the Ministry of the Environment. The
[Traditional Water Management, Cultural
protection of these great structures.
latest project which was published under
Heritage and Sustainability], published by
In the Universitat of València, the ESTEPA
the title El Patrimoni Hidràulic del Baix
the Ministry of the Environment, and is
research group, directed by Professor
Túria: l’horta de València [The Hydraulic
also participating in European Projects
Jorge Hermosilla, has become the most
Heritage of the Lower Túria: Valencia’s
dealing with Hydraulic Heritage, within the
powerful group in R+D in the field of
Farmland]
R+D Framework Programme.
Heritage],
Valenciana,
6
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
the
will
be
the
presented
on
3
cultural
y
sostenibilidad”
MARKETING EXCELLENCE FOR THE TOURISM SECTOR The Universitat de València hosts the “2007 Advances in Tourism Marketing Conference” During the month of September,
programme.
the Universitat de València hosted
Also participating in the conference
the
were
second
edition
of
the
the
World
Tourism
international “Advances in Tourism
Organisation, represented by the
Marketing Conference” (ATMC), an
Director
important touchstone of research in
Knowledge Management, Eduardo
marketing in tourism and also in
Fayos-Solá,
marketing
for
Professors of Stockholm University
companies and organisations of the
School of Business and the Tourism
sector.
Management of Calgary University
With over two hundred attendees
Evert Gummersson and Donald
from over forty different countries,
Getz respectively, as well as a
management
of
the conference dealt with a wide
group
range of issues including factors of
professionals
Education the
of
and
Marketing
professors
and
from
renown
success in destination marketing, the
“and to cater to a relational focus
role of tourism interest groups, and
between
current trends in tourism marketing
agents.”
research. Outstanding was the progress
The
made
“network
technology in the tourism sector, social
organised by the Universitat de València,
management”, an important concept for
responsibility in marketing, personalised
the University of Otago (New Zealand)
companies and tourist destinations, of
marketing strategies, the processes of
and the Mucla University in Turkey.
fundamental
brand creation for destinations and the
The
development of sustainable strategies
co-creation
Fundación
and competitiveness within the sector.
associated with destinations, as well as
(ADEIT)
“What we’re trying to do is avoid
the growing use of multivariate analysis
Foundation]
marketing myopia,” states Professor Luis
and neuronal networks in tourism were
València and at the Ciutat de les Arts i
Andreu, the local conference director,
also
les Ciències.
in
research
on
importance
in
the
companies
and
associated
institutions within the national and international sphere. The
application
of
of
information
tourist
included
in
experiences
the
conference
INNOVATION: THE PRINCIPAL CHALLENGE FOR INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY
“2007
Marketing
Advances
in
Conference”
conference
was
Tourism
was
held
jointly
at
the
Universidad-Empresa [the of
University-Company the
Universitat
de
The principal challenge for International
production, such as China”.
2,600 CONFERENCE ATTENDEES IN ONE MONTH
experts in Industrial Economy is the
The Conference dealt with some of the
In one month, from 5 September to 5
advancement
and
challenges for the industrial economy,
October, the Universitat de València
technological progress. That is what they
such as regulation of sectors that are
organised a total of eight academic
declared in September at the Fundación
especially
conferences that brought together
Universidad-Empresa of the Universitat
telecommunications, electricity or water -
more
de València, during the 34th Edition of
, as well as the issue of possible mergers.
attendees from diverse fields such as
Annual European Association Industrial
During the conference, 400 research
neuroscience,
in
innovation
difficult
–
gas,
than
2,600
conference
economics
or
Economy
Conference
(EARIE).
projects were presented, these projects
nanotechnology. The average duration
Innovation
–
to
dealing with different issues related to
of these conferences was about 4.3
conference organisers, Amparo Urbano,
industrial
within
days, surpassing the national average
David Pérez Castrillo and José Sempere –
specific
banking,
of 2.4 days estimated by the Spain
is the basis of a country’s economic
telecommunications and transport.
Convention Bureau (SCB) for this type
growth and productivity. “Countries that
The conference was sponsored by the
of event.
finance and generate strategies that
Fundación ICO, the Ministry of Education
Of
promote innovation are ensuring their
and
Generalitat
international. The direct impact on the
growth and competitiveness with other
Valenciana, the IVIE and the Universitat
city’s economy was estimated at more
countries
de València.
than three million Euros.
that
according
have
low
costs
the
of
economy sectors
Science
and
such
and
the
also as
these
conferences,
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
six
7
were
THE UNIVERSITAT IN FIGURES
THE SECOND MOST CITED UNIVERSITY IN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
UNIVERSITAT DE VALÈNCIA, FIFTH IN SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTIVITY IN SPAIN The Universitat de València occupies the fifth place in scientific productivity among the public universities of Spain, according to a study published by the SCImago Group on the productivity of Spanish Universities with respect to their student volume. SCImago is a team made up of researchers from the Carlos III, Granada, Alcalá de Henares and Extremadura Universities, dedicated to data analysis. The published report quantifies university research from the start of convergence to the European Higher Education Space, and analyses their contributions based on the number of pu-
Emblematic building of the University of Shanghai, author of the renown ranking
blications and professors per university. According to the report, seventy Spanish
The Universitat de València is the
Sciences, the Universitat de València
Universities –nearly all of them- have visi-
second most cited Spanish University
appears
Spanish
ble production in an international data
in international scientific journals,
Academic Institutions most cited by
source. But only half of these surpass a
according to the Academic Ranking of
the international scientific community.
thousand documents in the five year period
World
Universities
2007,
which
is
THE SHANGHAI RANKING
among
the
The top two positions
between 2000-2004.
are occupied by the
The result is a productivity ranking that is
compiled annually by
ALSO PLACES THE
Universitat de Barcelona
led by the Universidad de Navarra, followed
the
UNIVERSITAT DE
and
Universidad
by the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona
Complutense de Madrid.
– the highest ranking public institution on
The
general ranking
the list -, the Universidad Autónoma de Ma-
places the Universitat
drid, the Rovira i Virgili and València Uni-
de València among the
versities.
University
of
Shanghai. The
Universitat
de
València shares second place
with
the
Universitat de Barcelona and
the
Polytechnic
University of Valencia in the
HiCi
VALÈNCIA IN THIRD PLACE AMONG
SPANISH
UNIVERSITIES IN THE FIELD OF
SOCIAL
the
three
hundred
best
universities of the world
SCIENCES
and among the one hundred and fifty best
ranking
(Highly cited researchers in 21 broad
in Europe.
subject categories), which is headed
The Universitat de València’s position
by the Universidad Autónoma de
in this ranking has improved year
Madrid.
after year, always in leading positions
With respect to research in the Social
among Spanish academic institutions.
UNIVERSITAT DE VALÈNCIARANKS FIRST IN AGREEMENTS WITH COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS With a total of 11,700 agreements signed with private companies and public institutions, the Universitat de València leads the ranking in
IDia +
+
+
Butlletí d’Investigació + Desenvolupament + Innovació + Aplicació
agreements according to a study compiled by the Consumer.es portal, in its section on University information. Much further down in the ranking is the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya with a total of 6,853 agreements. According to this portal, the Universitat de Va-
Vicerectorat de Comunicació i Assumptes Econòmics
lència is also the first Valencian University – and the second in Spain -, in the employability
Més informació: bidia@uv.es www.uv.es/bidia
IDia. Year I Issue n.2
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index. This list is led by the Mondragon Unibersitatae in the Basque Country.