Science and society
“I believe that science is aesthetically beautiful, culturally important and economically decisive. I hope that I, to the best of my ability, can help you to convey this message to society. One thing seems clear: unless we get smarter, we will also get poorer”. (Opening address at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, 31 May 2017).
Pedro Miguel Echenique see this combination – science and society – as being essential and intrinsically linked to communication. As such, his commitment to society is reflected in the countless academic conferences and informative talks he has given, activities in which he continues to engage. It is also clear from the interviews he has given to the media, always conveying this vision of science as an intellectual human endeavour.
The policy that the DIPC has pursued on the dissemination of science is evident from the fact that whenever the centre is mentioned, Passion for Knowledge – the conference that the DIPC has been holding every three years since 2010 – immediately springs to mind. It invites renowned scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, to each event. The open sessions gather a large, faithful and dedicated audience. Without question, it is the most popular science event that is held in the Basque Country. In 2018 Echenique was made an Honorary Member of the European Physical Society for two reasons: his achievements as a researcher and…for creating and developing Passion for Knowledge.
The DIPC’s activities are pervasive. Together with TECNALIA, and led by the University of the Basque Country, it was one of the entities that set up Euskampus Fundazioa in 2011, the Campus of International Excellence, which collaborates with the University of Bordeaux.
Before that, in 2006, Pedro Miguel Echenique promoted the publication of Pentsamenduaren Klasikoak – Classics of Thought: a collection of one hundred essential works of philosophical and scientific thought, translated into Basque. It was produced by a company that was owned by the BBVA Foundation, Basque savings banks, the University of the Basque Country and the University of Deusto.
The countless awards and honours Echenique has received not only reflect his outstanding scientific career, but also his contribution to society, rooted in his commitment to his country.
