“If we look closely, both a scientist and an artist share the same root: curiosity — the desire to understand, to express, to transform. They share creativity and the excitement of discovery, of doing something for the first time. Art and science are two ways of observing the world, two languages that, though distinct, constantly intertwine,” Ibarra added before an audience that included representatives of the Government of Spain, the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Provincial Council of Granada, the City Councils of Escúzar and Granada, the University of Granada, as well as members of public and private organizations, IFMIF-DONES team members, friends, and family.

The Foundation’s manager, Íñigo Entrela, stated that the Board of Trustees of the Rodríguez-Acosta Foundation had unanimously agreed to award the 2024 Medal of Honor to the IFMIF-DONES  España Consortium, “as it represents, to date, the largest scientific project and facility ever built in Spain, marking, among other positive outcomes, the opening of our city to new horizons.”

The laudatio was delivered by former University of Granada Rector Pilar Aranda. The medal and diploma were presented by Antonio Granados, Delegate of the Andalusian Government in Granada; José Antonio Montilla, Deputy Delegate of the Spanish Government; and Antonio Miguel Posadas, Secretary General for Research and Innovation.

International scientific photography competition

During his speech, Ángel Ibarra also announced the launch of the Fundación Rodríguez-Acosta International Science Photography & Digital Art Challenge, organised jointly by IFMIF-DONES and the Rodríguez-Acosta Foundation.

The competition aims to explore scientific phenomena through an artistic lens, celebrating the beauty hidden in the microscopic, the cosmic, and the technological. “This initiative also reflects our commitment to Granada’s cultural projection, supporting its candidacy as the European Capital of Culture 2031,” concluded Ibarra.