Photonics21 Board of Stakeholder member Lluis Torner and three further Spanish scientists have been recognised by Nature, the international weekly journal of science,for exemplary personal mentoring of other scientists. Nature has hosted these annual awards since 2005 to champion the importance of mentoring and inspiring a generation of young scientists.
At the ceremony held at the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences in Madrid, Sir Philip Campbell PhD, the Editor-in-Chief of Nature, presented the awards and congratulated the recipients on their laudable contributions.
The joint-recipients of the mid-career achievement prize are:
- Professor Lluís Torner, a physicist and founding Director of ICFO- The Institute of Photonic Sciences, in Barcelona
- Professor Carlos López-Otín, a molecular biologist from the University of Oviedo
The joint-recipients of the lifetime achievement award are:
- Professor Carlos Belmonte, founding Director of the Institute of Neuroscience of Alicante
- Professor Margarita Salas, former Director of the CSIC Centre for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa in Madrid
Carmen Vela, the Spanish Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation commented on the importance of the awards: "Nature is an internationally renowed science journal in which researchers from around the world seek to publish their studies, so it is very important for us to recieve the 'Nature Mentoring Awards' here this year. Spain is a country full of talented scientists, and many of them have been guided by Margarita Salas, Carlos Belmonte, Carlos López-Otín and Lluis Torner, four great Spanish researchers. I would like to express my gratitude for their work over these years".
Through the Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science Nature recognises outstanding scientific mentors in different regions around the world. Each winner has received a prize of €5,000.