CIHEAM Zaragoza’s auditorium will be the venue of the inaugural ceremony of the 2024-2025 academic year held on 28 October, commencing at 11:30 h CET. The ceremony will mark the official start of the International Master in Sustainable Water Management and Governance in Natural and Agricultural Environments, organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza in colaboration with Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID), Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Group Tragsa, SEIASA and ICARDA.
The director of CIHEAM Zaragoza, Raúl Compés, will preside the ceremony, together with representatives of the Government of Aragon and of some of the institutions collaborating in the MSc programme commencing this year at CIHEAM Zaragoza, located on Campus de Aula Dei.
Alberto Garrido, Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics and Vice-Rector of Quality and Efficiency at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), will deliver the inaugural lecture titled "New paradigms for water management in the context of climate change".
Climate and hydrology research indicates that extreme climate events are becoming more frequent and more severe. In the Mediterranean region, water resources are expected to become scarcer and more variable. To address these challenges, it is crucial to strengthen regulations, improve water basin and drought management plans, and regulate water demand as both water quality and water bodies face increasing anthropogenic pressures. However, there are opportunities to enhance resources, restore ecosystems and improve water use efficiency. Irrigated agriculture in the region is highly productive, supplying essential healthy food products such as legumes, fruits and vegetables. This agriculture is compatible with effective resource scarcity management. Advances in water technology, agronomy, and improvements in the agri-food sector’s operations are essential factors for consolidating the sector and ensuring its sustainability. The conference will highlight some of the most successful innovations aligned with these new paradigms.
Plaza del Mediterráneo
After the academic event, the inauguration ceremony of the Plaza del Mediterráneo will take place at the CIHEAM Zaragoza facilities. This new emblematic space, in addition to bringing the Mediterranean Sea closer to the Institute, aims to pay tribute to the most representative symbols and icons of Mediterranean culture and heritage: water and the olive tree, and to reflect the organisation's spirit of cooperation and dialogue.
Ramón Esteruelas-CIHEAM Zaragoza Prize
During the ceremony, the winner of the Ramón Esteruelas-CIHEAM Zaragoza prize for outstanding achievement (2022/2024) will be announced. The prize is named in memory of Ramón Esteruelas, founder and visionary of CIHEAM and President of the Governing Board between 1962 and 1983. Through this award, CIHEAM Zaragoza acknowledges the pursuit of academic excellence to enhance cooperation and development in agriculture and food within Mediterranean countries.
The agenda is as follows:
- Welcome address.
- Presentation of the academic programme for 2024/2025.
- Announcement of he winner of the Ramón Esteruelas-CIHEAM Zaragoza prize.
- Keynote Lecture.
- Official opening of the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Musical performance.
- Inauguration of Plaza del Mediterráneo.
- Welcome reception.
If you wish to attend the ceremony, either in person or on line, please register here.
EXCELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL TRAINING
El CIHEAM Zaragoza ofrece formación internacional de excelencia y promueve la investigación y la CIHEAM Zaragoza provides international training and fosters research and cooperation to address key challenges in Mediterranean agriculture, livestock, fisheries, the environment, and natural resources.
This year two other MSc porgrammes commence, in las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Barcelona/Valencia, the International Master in Marine Aquaculture jointly organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza and Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the International Master in Animal Breeding and Biotechnology jointly organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza and Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV) and Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB).
Brilliant young students from the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean have been awarded scholarships to continue their postgraduate studies, focusing on key aspects for the future of the agriculture and food sector in the Mediterranean and across the world.
For the full catalogue of CIHEAM Zaragoza’s master programmes, visit iamz.ciheam.org/education/master-programmes.