Teacher and entrepreneur
“Above all, science is about creativity and, therefore, it cannot be learned as a method or through formulas. The best way to learn how to do science well is to do it alongside other people who do it well. That is why teachers, lineages, schools are so important”. (Opening address at the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, 31 May 2017).
Pedro Miguel Echenique began teaching while he was still a student in the Faculty of Physical Sciences at the University of Navarra (1970-1972) and continued at the Autonomous University of Barcelona as an Assistant Professor (1972-1973), Senior Lecturer (1977-1978) and Full Professor (since 1978). He was a Guest Lecturer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA) at various times between 1987 and 1995; and also at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge (1987) – where he was a fellow in the 1970s – and at the Bariloche Atomic Centre in Argentina (1988, 1989).
Professor at the University of the Basque Country, he has taught PhD courses both at the University of the Basque Country and at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. In addition to the Cavendish, Oak Ridge and Bariloche centres, he was a visiting research fellow at Lund University (Sweden) and at the Bohr Institute in Copenhagen (1977).
With a founder with this wealth of experience, the DIPC is a distinguished centre that has promoted the internationalisation of research activity in the Basque Country in two ways: firstly, by attracting scientists from other countries; and secondly, by offering a place for Basque scientists who have previously worked in international centres to develop their careers. The DIPC has played a key role in putting Donostia-San Sebastian on the global science map. Pedro Miguel Echenique has been the President of the DIPC since its inception.
Echenique’s entrepreneurial endeavours are underpinned by a vision of the country that is rooted in his in-depth knowledge of its culture, history and identity. And by his desire to contribute to a fair and enlightened society, both economically and politically.
