Thursday 4 December 2014

MORRIÑA IS WRITTEN IN GALICIAN EVEN FOR A BRILLIANT PHYSICIST

By Maca
English Teacher - IES Catabois - Ferrol (SPAIN)

As some of the most relevant media have pointed out in the last two years, Diego Martínez Santos, was awarded the Starting Grant (an award granted every two years) in May 2013, by the European Research Council (ERC) and recognized as the  Best Young Experimental Physicist on the continent by the European Physical Society (EPS).
     In spite of the fact that he got this international status, which allows him to go on investigating in the field of Particle Physics at the CERN, in Switzerland, and that, on the same date, he was denied the Ramón y Cajal scholarship in order to come back to Spain and proceed with his investigation here, this young scientist has made the decision to retun to Santiago de Compostela anyway.

     Born in Foz, in the northern coast of Lugo, some 30 years ago, he got his Physics Degree from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2005. After graduating, he was contracted for three years by the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva. His work there  earned him the European accolade.
     Even though he’s been denied the Ramón y Cajal scholarship twice he’s glad with the way his career is developing. In his words, being awarded the Starting Grant is like winning the Champions League while getting the Ramón y Cajal is just as you if won the League. What he doesn’t understand up to now, is the way Spanish specialists assessed the candidates in both cases. They told him that he wasn’t adequate because of his lack of leadership (when he was the leader in the project which has been chosen by the ERC) but, in his opinion, they have simply granted the scholarship to older people so as to give them an opportunity.  But, should this be this way?.
     Not worried about the Spanish scholarship or the Spanish recognition any longer, he’s now planning to start working at Santiago de Compostela in May 2015 after arranging his contract with the prestigious Dutch Institute, Nikhef, where he’s working at the moment. Santos wants to invest the money from the grant, which can reach 1,5-2 million euro in 5 years, in contracting some other investigators to implement his investigations along these 5 years. This is the 5th Starting Grant at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), which also has an Advanced Grant.
     Why is this brilliant scientist interested in coming back home? Could it be ‘morriña? Strong sentimental longing for your place of birth, friends…very typical from Galicia where the word has been taken from and incorporated into Spanish. In spite of the reductions of investment on I+D+I in Spain and of his lack of recognition here, he insists in working here. He prefers a warmer weather and, in our opinion,  he wants to get the best for his region although, apparently, his country doesn’t want the best for him. If we aren’t able to keep our scientists how can our country grow and develop itself? Take into account that Santos has offers to work in the UK, France and Holland but nothing in Spain except what he’s got himself by means of his own personal work.

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