Numerous Catalan and Spanish policy makers, along with leading scientists, came together yesterday for a ceremony during which BSC Director Mateo Valero was presented the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle.
The honour, the highest recognition which the Mexican governement bestows upon foreigners, was awarded to Valero in recognition of: his outstanding contribution to Mexican science, particularly in the area of high-performance computing; his brilliant academic and research career, recognised across the globe; and for playing a key role in the development of high-performance computing in Mexico. Representing the Mexican government, Roberta Lajous, the Mexican ambassador to Spain, was entrusted with presenting the medal to Mateo Valero. Following the presentation, Ulises Cortés, head of the artificial intelligence group at BSC and a Mexican national himself, read a moving speech.
Mari Carmen Oñate, Consul General at the México Consultate General in Barcelona; Carmen Vela, Secretariat for Research, Development and Innovation of the Spanish Government; Arcadi Navarro, Secretary of Universities and Research of the Generalitat; Francesc Subirada, General Director of Research at the Generalitat; Francesc Torres, Rector of the UPC; Andreu Mas-Colell, Chair of Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology; Elías Campo, Director of Idibaps, and Bonaventura Clotet, IrsiCaixa Director, among others.
