Pedro Miguel Echenique receives the 2023 NIE Award

Pedro Miguel Echenique has received this honour in recognition of his contribution to science and his research work, and for championing and promoting the use of the Basque language, among other things.

Donostia-San Sebastian, 19 January 2024. Yesterday, the President of the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) received the 2023 NIE Award, which the Navarra Federation of Basque Language Schools (Ikastolas) awards annually. He was honoured for his contributions to science and research work, for championing and promoting the use of the Basque language, for his bold advocacy for education, work, research and the use of science in the Basque language, for his reflections and articles on education, for encouraging critical thinking among students, and for understanding and brilliantly articulating the learning process of students today, and for his ever-firm commitment to the ikastola movement.

One of the aims of the Navarra Federation of Basque Language Schools (NIE) is to promote the Basque language and culture, linking both with educational and social development. Accordingly, each year it presents the NIE awards to individuals or entities that have played a part in achieving these objectives.

The NIE’s President, Elena Zabaleta, and Director, Josu Reparaz, presented the award. There were institutional representatives at the ceremony: Mikel Irujo, the Basque Government’s Minister for Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition; Jabi Arakama, Managing Director of Euskarabidea; family and friends of Pedro Miguel Echenique, and representatives of Navarra’s Basque language schools. Previous winners like Carlos Garaikoetxea were also in attendance. During the event, attendees were treated to a performance by the children’s choir of Paz de Ziganda Ikastola and the aurresku of honour by the Basque folk dancer Ainhoa Egizabal.

The physicist from Navarra, born in Isaba in 1950, is considered one of the world’s leading scientists in physics research. He has had an extensive, far-reaching career, both in terms of scope and impact, with a plethora of honours, awards, titles, positions and publications; of ideas and experiences; of certainties and doubts.

Just to name a few, we know that he is especially thrilled to receive awards from the land where he was born, like the Prince of Viana Culture Award, Favourite Son of Isaba, Manuel de Irujo Award, an Honorary Doctorate from the Public University of Navarra, and the Gold Medal of Navarra.

And there have also been many other awards: Universal Basque of the Year in 1998, Full Member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, the Max Planck Physics Prize and the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research.

Son of Pedro Miguel Echenique, a doctor from the Roncal Valley, and Felisa Landiribar, a teacher at San Fermín Ikastola until she retired. Just like the ikastolas, he champions openness to the world, but without forgetting his own roots, or that scientific progress is like a trawler whose crew “rows ahead while looking back”, always drawing on past knowledge. Throughout his long career he has argued that education is the best investment in the future of a country, of a society, and that a country like ours can only compete in the world by making quality and education a top priority.

According to Echenique, there are cultures in the world that have contributed technology and knowledge, but the main contribution Europe has made to the world is human rights, and this includes the right to education. Education means solidarity with the future. And equity. Equity and solidarity with the future. In the 1980s there was a hiatus in his research career and his devotion to his country led him to enter politics as Minister of Education and Culture.

Professor Echenique was thrilled about the award. “It is an honour to receive this award”. In his thanks, he expressed his support for the Basque language: “We don’t just need laws for the Basque language; we need to foster love for the Basque language through culture”.