Donostia International Physics Center acts as a bridge with external scientists

2000/04/28 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Ikerketa-zentroak

The opening ceremony of the new Foundation Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) gathered yesterday a large number of people. The familiar faces of the world of Basque politics, university, science and the media were present at the official opening ceremony of the first such centre in Euskal Herria. The Nobel Prize in Physics, Heinrich Rohrer, the Minister of Education of the Basque Government, Inaxio Oliveri, the Deputy General of Gipuzkoa, Roman Sudupe, the Mayor of San Sebastian, Odón Elorza, and the Deputy Mayor, Manu Montero, Rector of the Basque University

The president of the Foundation, Pedro Miguel Etxenike, thanked all the entities that have collaborated in the development of the new project: Basque Government, Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa, UPV-EHU, Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián and Kutxa Gipuzkoa.

He also recalled that the inauguration held yesterday is the first phase of the project, developed with the budget of the Department of Education of the Basque Government. The second phase will be executed in an adjoining building, with the budget of the Department of Industry in this case.

Etxenike said that in Euskal Herria there has been a “breakthrough” in science and technology in the last twenty years, “thanks to the resources provided by the Statute of Gernika”. He then summarized the four main objectives of the new foundation. On the one hand, to stimulate interest in the appropriate advances to the Basque social and international scientific development in the field of applied and basic physics, and on the other, to foster collaboration and collaboration between researchers, research groups and international scientific institutions, as well as to strengthen collaboration with the UPV/EHU and, fourth, to coordinate with other research centers, maintaining the policy of the Basque Government in this area.

A platform for attendees

Etxenike noted that scientific research requires project, grants and infrastructure. In short, adequate spaces for young people to learn and act. In the opinion of the president of the foundation, young people are needed in the field of science and research, and for them the new foundation wants to be a stimulus. In addition to them, the foundation wants to reserve a space for Basque researchers who have gone abroad. To do this, and with the collaboration of the Diputación de Gipuzkoa, they will offer five-year contracts so that they can achieve a space in the educational and industrial field.

According to Etxenike, this year the Foundation has a budget of 60 million pesetas and plans to carry out its first acts this year. Meetings will be held on current issues in the world of science and technology, providing expert scientists worldwide. Also this year XX. A symposium on the scientific heritage of the 20th century will be held.

The president of the DIPC said that in the future the networks of centers and institutions surrounding the university will become increasingly important: e-dams in foundations, institutes, consultative centers and campuses, which will act as autonomous in collaboration with the university.

For Etxenike, progress is not only achieved by applying knowledge, but by making repeated decisions. "Knowledge helps but does not replace decision. Not only does knowledge generate. Creation is completed with ideas, convictions, decisions and actions."

The smaller a community is, the more important education is. A small village cannot live in quantity, but in quality.