University's president encourages researchers to commit to truth and freedom
The University celebrated the investiture of 176 PhDs from 27 countries, in a ceremony attended by Nobel Prize winner Morten Meldal of Chemistry .
PhotoManuelCastells/A moment of the doctoral graduation ceremony
06 | 06 | 2023
"I encourage you to be people who are not anti-anything or anti-anyone, committed to the truth and, therefore, lovers of freedom". Thus addressed the president of the University of Navarra, María Iraburu, to the researchers present at the doctoral graduation ceremony. In the last year, between June 2022 and June 2023, a total of 176 PhDs from 27 countries have defended their thesis at the academic center.
The president, who presided over the event, pointed out that these attitudes are typical of the university spirit: "Whatever your professional future may be, they will help you to put your qualities at the service of society, forming links, building bridges, helping to overcome fractures and joining forces to create projects in the service of the common good".
The event was also attended by the sponsor and professor of the School of Canon Law, Antonio Viana; and Marta Alonso Sanz, PhD from the School of Economics, who spoke on behalf of her class. The event was also attended by Morten Meldal, who visited the University to give a masterclass organized by the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, attendance award Nobel de Chemistry 2022.
The new doctors come from 27 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United States, Uruguay, Tanzania and Venezuela.
Influence of political or ideological positions.
In her speech, the president reflected on a central topic in the research task and in the university as an institution: the connection between freedom and truth. "The teaching is a search for truth and this search is only possible in a context of freedom," she stated. In his opinion, this, which we could consider an undisputed starting point, "is being threatened in recent years from various quarters, and requires a response from researchers and universities".
One of the fronts that threatens this quest, according to Professor Iraburu, is the influence of political or ideological positions in the university, "especially significant in the U.S. university system, but by no means exclusive to it". The examples, she explained, are very varied: from boycotting lecturers or suing professors for content that is offensive to students, to bills prohibiting the teaching of certain subjects or funding research on certain topics. "Censorship," he pointed out, "puts at risk the freedom necessary for students and professors to be able to apply themselves with rigor and dedication" to research.
To ensure an atmosphere of freedom, the president proposed, as the founder of the University, St. Josemaría Escrivá, used to say, not to be "anti-anything or anti-anyone." "The true seekers of truth are ready to establish an open, patient and respectful dialogue with everyone and to recognize it wherever it may be, whoever it may come from.
A tapestry like that of Penelope
Antonio Viana, sponsor of the graduating class, spoke of the main benefit of doctorate, which, beyond prestige and professional possibilities, produces "a kind of transformation". "Each well-oriented doctoral work is a contribution that, together with others, allows us to broaden our vision of reality, of personal situations, of the real and not whimsical or merely sentimental needs of society. It is a contribution to intellectual and social progress". "Before the last terminator eliminates Sarah Connor and artificial intelligence takes over everything, we have excellent university students who have allowed themselves to be transformed by work," he added.
For her part, Dr. Marta Alonso pointed out that " thesis has been a tapestry that has needed to be woven and unwoven as many times as Penelope's tapestry when she was waiting for Ulysses". She also stressed that in the willingness to serve others lies the difference between making the best work and making others better with our work: "If we live like this, others will continue to weave the tapestry that one day we started with the thesis ; they will continue to guard the report, finding the truth and people to help".
The thesis defended in the last year have been made possible thanks to the contribution of the association de Amigos de la Universidad de Navarra, Banco Santander, Fundación Científica association Española contra el Cáncer and other public organizations.
Doctors who have defended the thesis in the last year:
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School of Law
School of Medicine
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Sciences
School of Communication
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IESE
School of Canon Law
Tecnun School of Engineering
School of Pharmacy and Nutrition
School of Architecture
School of Theology
School of Economics
School Ecclesiastical Philosophy
School of Nursing
School of Education and Psychology
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