Prof. Maria Miguéns Pereira is honorary doctor of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Pécs since 9 November 2023.
"Maria Miguéns Pereira received her PhD in 1992, since then she has been conducting extensive research in several fields, achieving outstanding results, she is the author of 200 publications published in the most outstanding professional journals, and her Hirsch's index is 55. She has significant industrial connections and is co-founder of the Luzitin spin-off company. She did a lot to help the UP Faculty of Sciences Institute of Chemistry to move forward. The most important indicators of her cooperation with the institute are the mutual exchange of researchers, students and doctoral students, as well as the many joint scientific publications" – highlighted Dr. László Kollár, professor at the Institute of Chemistry of the UP Faculty of Sciences, describing the professional work and public activities of professor Maria Miguéns Pereira. He also proudly added that one of their former joint doctoral students was also present at the ceremony, which is the only reason why she travelled to Pécs.
"Thank you for the honour" – emphasized Maria Miguéns Pereira, recalling the beginning of the relationship with the University of Pécs: "in 1999, at the end of my PhD studies, I heard professor Kollár give a lecture in Tarragona, and since then it has become a fruitful relationship.
I think the relationship between the two institutions is a good example of how the field of science is not necessarily synonymous with academic competition."
The new honorary doctor of the University of Pécs also mentioned Katalin Karikó's success this year, having met the recent Nobel Prize winner in Paris last year – congratulating the entire Hungarian scientific community on the recognition. She also pointed out that just as Pécs is among the first universities with its foundation in 1367, the University of Coimbra is also among the first universities in the world, as it was founded in 1290 – this is also a link between the two institutions.
"There have always been challenges, but for my part I am optimistic and confident that the university spirit will prevail," she said. Finally, she thanked her family and close friends and concluded her speech with a quote from Pasteur: "Science knows no borders, because knowledge belongs to humanity itself, it shines like a torch on the world."
