Queen Sofía could not help but be moved at the tribute that the Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) of Madrid paid this Friday to the researcher and scientist Emilio Lora-Tamayo, former president of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), when he , in the mouth of her son Jaime, due to his breathing problems, thanked the King’s mother for her presence at the event and her “genuine interest in the progress of knowledge.” With her hand on her mouth, the King’s mother, especially sensitive in these days of so many family emotions, he held back tears while receiving encouraging applause from the audience.
Professor Lora-Tamayo, who has serious health problems that force him to use a wheelchair and an artificial respirator, has been named honorary life rector of the university and Queen Sofía wanted to participate in the event since, like herself, , visibly moved, said: “I will never forget the moments we spent at Coto Doñana when you were president of the CSIC. They were wonderful moments.” The King’s mother, a great lover of nature, maintained a special relationship with Lora-Tamayo and upon seeing the effort she made to participate in the event, despite her obvious physical deterioration, she could not help but be infected by emotion. general. At the end of the event, Queen Sofía walked hand in hand with Lora-Tamayo sitting in the wheelchair, a scene that shows the affectionate relationship that united them for years. ent and, at the ,l, in an event organized on its central campus that Queen Sofia presided over.
Lora-Tamayo, 72, was rector of the UCJC for the last four years and concluded his term last September, when Héctor Escamilla took over. The ceremony for the appointment of the honorary rector for life was held on the Villafranca del Castillo campus, in the Madrid town of Villanueva de la Cañada, with the attendance of the president of SEK Education Group, Nieves Segovia, Escamilla and family members of the honoree .
An expert in innovation processes and knowledge transfer, Lora-Tamayo presided over the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) in two terms (2003-2004 and 2012-2017) and was rector of the Menéndez Pelayo International University in the 2017-18 academic year. .
