The rector opened the academic year affirming that “the UB will defend his autonomy and demand to administrations the necessary resources to be a leading university”

 

This year the person who was in charge of giving the opening speech was the professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology and director of the Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Carles Escera, who analysed the concept of mental representation in cognitive neuroscience. In the event also participated Salvador Alemany, president of the UB Board of Trustees, and Antoni Castellà, secretary for University and Research under the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

 

The rector remembered that this curs "is full of uncertainties: the crisis portents, the rector elections, the unknown conditions of the financial rescue, the threats to our welfare state"; however, it is necessary that "public universities answers with the stability of a scientific institution which, with rigour and dedication, offer critical analyses and present and future keys".

 

Salvador Alemany, during his first speech since he was appointed as president of the UB Board of Trustees, last April, held his belief in four main objectives that the UB has to pursue: be a key element for coming out of the crisis and strengthen the concept of enterprising university; improve the governance model and reach a great consensus on this aspect; collaborate with other universities and be provided with structures which promote cooperative actions; and internationalize more the University of Barcelona.

 

Antoni Castellà reminded that we are in an unparalleled economical situation which affects public institutions. He also thanked the university community for the efforts done in order to continue working despite adversity. He defended "the economic model based on knowledge —mainly generated in universities— and research in any field".

 

 

Esceraʼs speech titled «El concepte de representació cerebral en neurociència cognitiva» was divided into two parts. The first one was more reflective, historical; it dealt with the relation between mind and brain, and how the scientific research of these relations led to the appearance of cognitive neuroscience. The second part was more technical and oriented towards the illustration of the concept of mental representation taking as a departure point the analysis of how sensory experiences are correlated with some specific standards in brain behaviour in certain locations.

 

Carles Escera is the group leader of the UB Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group and he coordinates a scientific research that seeks to unravel the cerebral mechanisms of human cognitive functions, a project done in collaboration with more than ten countries. To achieve their goals, they use a multidisciplinary approach based mainly on functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques and the recording of the human electroencephalogram (EEG). They also research into the alterations of these cerebral mechanisms in neurological, psychiatric and cognitive development disorders; and into the way the auditory system extract the auditory environment regularity, so it allows the correct sound perception, for example music or language, and direct executive control.

 

During the event two musical performances by the Cor UB took place. Moreover, the 2011-2012 academic year report was presented by Jordi Garcia, general secretary of the University. In addition, special degree awards were given and medals were conferred to the University Teaching Staff and the Administrative and Service Staff retired during the 2011-2012 academic year.