In the Recoleta Dominica Cloister, at 9.00 am, started the 2008 National Prizes delivery ceremony. Besides Dr. Inestrosa, in the occasion were awarded too: Efraín Barquero in Literature, Eduardo Cavieres in History, Jose Miguel Aguilera in Applied Sciences and Technology and Miguel Letelier in Musical Arts.
After it was sang the national anthem, the maximum authority of the Education Ministry, Ms Mónica Jiménez, spoke to the attendants, emphasizing the talent and work of the awardwinners and their contribution to Chile's development."I'm grateful for the generosity in the delivery of your knowledge and in new generation's formation... These men are a model for the new generations ...Each of them can give certain account of their human quality and because of that, entire Chile celebrates them, recognize and reward them with the highest distinction, because they enlarge the Mother land and the Chilean people", she said during her speech.
"To grant the National Prize to this notable professionals group, who in addition have dedicated their lives to the academic labor, can't be other than an unequivocal sign that the individual capacities, for very extraordinary that may be, are not transcendent until they are accompanied by the aptitude to share them, of transmitting to others ", indicated the Minister.
The first one in receiving the prize was the Cellular Regulation and Pathology Center director, CRCP, and the Aging and Regeneration Center, CARE, Dr. Nibaldo Inestrosa, who spoke to the attendants with an emotive speech.
I proudly declare myself as a "made in Chile" scientist!!
This is undoubtedly a good opportunity to be grateful for all who have made possible that I'm receiving today this recognition, for my parents, teachers, colleagues and collaborators, for all who inspired me, and undoubtedly to my family.
But I believe that beyond the names and the institutions, one of the significant things of this recognition is that, in my case, not only emphasize more than 30 years that I have dedicated to the research in the neurobiology area, including, the chemical synapsis function and their alterations in Alzheimer, but to the trust ... This country has believed in me and I have believed in it.
This path began 57 years ago in Puerto Montt, in the Number 2 Public School, then it was this city's Boy Lyceum and later, the Salesiano Institute in Valdivia.
In Santiago my first steps were at the University of Chile, but my house has been undoubtedly the Catholic Pontifical University of Chile, where I can proudly say, I was one of the first chileans to graduate as Doctor in Biological Sciences with a mention in Cellular Biology.
This way, when all looked abroad, I believed in Chile and the years they have given me the reason ... To train young scientists in the country is priceless, helps to enlarge us as country and society.
The great quality of our doctorate programs reinforces this idea, not uselessly 3 out of the last 4 National Prizes in Natural Sciences, performed their doctorates in Chile.
With the perspective of time one sees the panorama better and what can be lost in equipment and resources for fungibles, is gained in reflexive and creative capacity, because making science in Chile, not only means to work in lines brought from abroad, fundamentally means to open ways, and to find the paths of creativity, along with passion, patience and the continuity in the daily work.
I am grateful, finally in my name and in name of my students to have received this 2008 National Prize in Natural Sciences, it fills me with pride and at the same time it gives us new vigors to continue with more strength in our scientific work helping, at the same time, in new generation's training.
Thank you very much.
The 5 2008 National Prizes will recieve an annuity equivalent to 20 UTM - since January of 2009 - and, for the only time, will become creditors of 14 million pesos.
FONDAP-CRCP
Av. Bernardo O´Higgins 340 -
Santiago -
Región Metropolitana
Chile
Phone: 56-2-6862592 - Fax: 56-2-6862959
fondapni@bio.puc.cl
http://www.fondap-crcp.cl
