Jun 15 2009
For the seventh year running, the Elhuyar Foundation has organised the Thesis Prize and today the Judging Panel has made the winners' names known. The three prizes have gone to researchers at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU). The first award went to Juan José Gaitero Redondo, for the thesis entitled, Doctor, creo que mi casa tiene osteoporosis (Doctor, I think my house has osteoporosis). Based on this construction material, the researcher makes an entertaining comparison between its process of degradation and osteoporosis (the demineralisation that affects the bones of the human body).
He explains the process of degradation of cement and puts forward the idea of using nanoparticles in order to significantly reduce such decomposition. The topic is highly interesting and, moreover, the comparison undertaken by the researcher is attractive for the reader. These were the salient points taken into account by the Judging Panel in awarding the first prize. Juan José Gaitero won a laptop computer and a weekend break at a farmhouse bed and breakfast, courtesy of Sistek Informática y Microsistemas and Nekatur.
A total of 62 research theses were presented for this year's awards and, for the first time, these were from all disciplines were received. The theses came from the University of the Basque Country, the University of Navarra, the Public University of Navarre, Mondragon Unibertsitatea and the University of Deusto. On selecting the winners this year, the Judging Panel gave credit to the fact that the resume of the thesis was written in an attractive and communicative manner, using appropriate language. The winning theses, as well as the others presented for the competition, can be seen on the website Basque Research in the Thesis Prize section.