Jakiunde Plenary Session at the UPV/EHU in Vitoria-Gasteiz

Jakiunde held its spring Plenary Session on the campus of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) in Vitoria-Gasteiz on 4 April. The Faculty of Arts’ graduation hall was the venue for this gathering of academics, which brought together 75 of its 116 members and was attended by Pedro Miguel Echenique.

The Rector of the UPV/EHU, Joxerramon Bengoetxea, and the President of Jakiunde, Ana Zubiaga, opened the Plenary Session in which a minute’s silence was held in memory of the academic Maïté Lafourcade, who passed away on 16 March.

The nine new members of the Academy, elected at the Plenary Session held in Arantzazu on 22 November, were inducted in the ceremony:

Full members elected

• Eneko Agirre Bengoa, Professor of Computer Languages and Systems and Director of HiTZ (UPV/EHU).
• Mari Jose Olaziregi, Professor of Basque Literature (UPV/EHU).

Corresponding members

• Xabier Barandiarán, Professor of Philosophy and researcher at the IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society (UPV/EHU).
• Edurne Bartolomé Peral, sociologist, lecturer and researcher (University of Deusto).
• Martín Llade, journalist and writer (Radio Clásica, RNE).
• Jon Mikel Zabala Iturriagagoitia, lecturer on research and development engineering (DBS – University of Deusto; CIRCLE – University of Lund, Sweden; University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Norway).

Young corresponding members

• Irene Gantxegi Madina, philosopher, lecturer and researcher in conflicts and peace culture (University of Deusto).
• Bárbara Jiménez Pazos, philosopher, lecturer and researcher in the iHPS – Integrated History and Philosophy of Science group (UPV/EHU).
• Jon López Gorostidi, criminal lawyer, lecturer and researcher (University of Deusto).

Joxerramon Bengoetxea, an ex officio full member of the Academy in his capacity as Rector, has become the tenth new member in 2025 and will be a member of the Academy for as long as he holds the position of Rector. The Rectors of the universities of the Basque Country and the Regional Community of Navarra are ex officio members of the Academy. On this occasion, at the ceremony held on the campus of the UPV/EHU in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Joxerramon Bengoetxea was joined by three former rectors of the university, all of whom are currently members of Jakiunde: Juan Ignacio Pérez and Nekane Balluerka, elected full members, and Iñaki Goirizelaria, honorary member.

After the new members were inducted, the elected member Agustin Azkarate, Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at the UPV/EHU, gave a plenary lecture entitled Archaeology as an act of “mediation” between the past and present. Some reflections on current developments.

The members of the Academy meet twice a year to discuss, deliberate and decide on Jakiunde’s activities. The autumn Plenary Session will be held on 7 November at the University of Deusto in Bilbao.