The winners were awarded during the PhD ceremony of the new Doctors of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the academic year 2020-2021.
The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) recognised two researchers from the University Institute for Research in Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (ECOAQUA) last Saturday, 29th January, with two Extraordinary PhD Awards, during the ceremony of Investiture of the new PhDs for the academic year 2020-2021 and recognition of the university institution's research.
David Domínguez Montesdeoca, PhD from the Aquaculture Research Group (GIA), won the award in the Science Category, while Dr. Beatriz Fonticiella Hernández, from the Tourism, Territorial Planning and Environment Group (TOTMA), was awarded for her work in the Social and Legal Sciences Category. Both also won the Banco Santander Award for the best doctoral thesis. In addition, ECOAQUA member Daniel Bondyale Juez, from the Marine Ecophysiology and Organisms Group (EOMAR), was awarded a PhD during the same ceremony.
The ULPGC's Extraordinary PhD Awards 2021 recognise the best PhD theses in each branch of knowledge. "A merit, cercertainly, based on countless hours of work, effort, absolute dedication, hours in the laboratory or library and thousands of corrections. Always in search of excellence, in search of perfection. The Academy demands nothing else and deserves no less” as Beatriz Fonticiella expressed during her speech of thanks on behalf of all the award winners.
For her part, the head of the PhD School, Professor May Gómez, took the floor after the investitures and the presentation of the awards to congratulate the new PhDs and the award winners, in a speech that served to briefly review what has been a very "intense" first year at the head of the doctoral institution, in which "We have all collaborated to continue doing science despite all the inconveniences generated by Covid-19".
During her speech, Gómez wanted to dedicate a few words in memory of the student María Casanova Masjoan, from the Degree in Marine Sciences and the Master's and Doctorate in Oceanography, who died when she was about to present her thesis, whose relatives were presented with a diploma in memoriam during the event and who, according to Gómez, "has left us her scientific legacy forever and above all her memory engraved in our hearts".
The rector of the ULPGC, Lluís Serra, and the vice-rector for Research and Transfer, Marisol Izquierdo, presented the awards to Beatriz Fonticiella, associated with TOTMA, in the Social and Legal Sciences Branch; and to David Domínguez, of the GIA, recognised in the Sciences Branch. The Banco Santander Prize for the best doctoral thesis was given to them by Gustavo Nuez García, Director of Institutions in the Canary Islands at Banco Santander.
Beatriz Fonticiella, PhD in Law from the ULPGC and associate of the TOTMA Group, currently focuses her research career on the protection of retail investors in the financial market, a subject on which she has published several publications, as well as participating in various R&D projects.
Domínguez, who is currently working at the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Bergen, Norway, mainly studies the supplementation of micronutrients (especially minerals and vitamins) in feed for the main marine species produced in Europe, while he continues to be associated with the ECOAQUA's GIA.
Finally, the postdoctoral researcher from ECOAQUA's EOMAR group, Daniel Bondyale, who was recognised as a PhD during the ceremony, stands out for his physiological research focused on respiratory metabolism in invertebrate marine organisms and macroalgae, while studying their basic biochemical composition.