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Her Majesty Queen Sofía welcomed a delegation from Camilo José Cela University (UCJC), led by the university’s rector, Jaime Olmedo, in a formal audience.
During the meeting, Her Majesty was presented with the number 1 copy of the special edition of “Discovering Cajal”, authored by Belén Yuste and Sonia Rivas, and published by Planeta as the official book commemorating the Santiago Ramón y Cajal Research Year. This special edition, promoted by UCJC and limited to 200 copies, includes valuable artistic and commemorative elements.
This meaningful presentation highlighted the legacy of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, regarded as the father of modern neuroscience and the first Spanish Nobel Laureate in Medicine. The bilingual Spanish-English work chronicles Cajal’s extraordinary life as a scientist, artist, writer, soldier, and pioneer in multiple disciplines.
The UCJC special edition includes a foreword written and signed by the university’s honorary and lifelong rector, Emilio Lora-Tamayo. This text, the last he authored and signed before his passing, stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to education and scientific research. During the audience, Queen Sofía fondly remembered Rector Lora-Tamayo, emphasizing his essential role within the academic community.
The volume also features three artworks inspired by Cajal’s renowned metaphor describing neurons as “the butterflies of the soul”:
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“The Butterflies of the Soul Flying Around the Modern Woman”, by Chu Lily, artist and professor at Taipei University, with a numbered and certified print included in the book.
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A portrait of Emilio Lora-Tamayo, painted by Carolina Andrada —scientific researcher, soprano, and UCJC professor.
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A photograph of “Head with Butterflies”, a sculpture by renowned artist Manolo Valdés.
During the audience, both Chu Lily and Carolina Andrada gifted Queen Sofía with original pieces of their artwork. The UCJC delegation shared a warm and heartfelt conversation with Her Majesty, highlighting Cajal’s significance in science and the enduring academic and human legacy of Emilio Lora-Tamayo.
Through this event, UCJC reaffirms its mission to educate the leaders of tomorrow —fostering knowledge and creativity, while always remembering that each individual holds the power to sculpt their own path within the vast universe of learning.
