The University of Valencia (UV) held the third edition of its Doctoral Thesis Communication Day on Wednesday 15 July, organised by the University's Doctoral School and its Science Culture and Innovation Unit. The event aims to recognise the efforts of trainee researchers while promoting the accessible communication of knowledge. The winning thesis was Catch Me if You CO₂, by María Lucía Tamayo Fraile, a doctoral candidate in Molecular Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
"This event helps to raise the profile of the research carried out at the University of Valencia and is an excellent opportunity for those of you taking part to share your work, hear different perspectives and continue progressing in your research careers", said the Rector of the University of Valencia, Juan Luis Gandía, addressing the doctoral candidates. He also highlighted the role of the University's Doctoral School, which currently offers 60 doctoral programmes, and acknowledged the participation of the FORTHEM European University Alliance, whose involvement further strengthens the international dimension of the University's research.
The winning thesis presents a system for capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂), an issue of growing global concern. Using laboratory-developed materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the system not only captures CO₂ but also gives it a second life by converting it into useful products for society. The thesis is supervised by Dr Víctor Rubio Giménez and Dr Sergio Tatay Aguilar.
"I am delighted that competitions like this are being organised in this format because they create valuable opportunities", said María Lucía Tamayo, a member of the Functional Inorganic Materials (FUNIMAT) research group, part of the University's Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol). "At the moment, the way we communicate is still very academic, and I believe we can shift that approach to reach a much wider audience. Seeing whether I can make people engage with my research is a personal challenge".
For her part, María Amparo Tórtola Baixauli, director of the Doctoral School and lecturer in the University's Department of Theoretical Physics, said: "We believe it is extremely important to recognise and raise the visibility of the research carried out at the University of Valencia, and doctoral theses represent a significant part of that work. Events such as this are a way of acknowledging the efforts of our researchers".
Participants presented their research in plain language during talks lasting no more than four minutes. Cash prizes of €300, €250 and €200 were awarded to the top three presentations. In addition, one of the three winners will represent the University in the final of the FORTHEM doctoral thesis communication competition, which brings together early-stage pre-doctoral researchers from all FORTHEM partner universities.
The second prize went to Marta Arnal Forné for Descifrando el lenguaje de nuestras células (Decoding the language of our cells), while the third prize was awarded to Maragda Puigcerver Pérez for Quant aguantes la respiració? (How long can you hold your breath?).
The FORTHEM Researchers Grand Prix 2026 will take place on 21 October 2026 at the University of Opole (Poland). Through its Office of the Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, Cooperation and Multilingualism, the University of Valencia will provide presentation training for the selected participant, who will be required to present their thesis in English in four minutes, and will also cover the costs of travel to Poland for the final.
The jury for this third edition comprised María Amparo Tórtola Baixauli, director of the Doctoral School (Department of Theoretical Physics); Gianni Gallello (Department of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History); Carolina Moreno Castro (Department of Language Theory and Communication Sciences); Carlos Romá Mateo (Department of Physiology); and Julia Suso López (Department of Financial Economics and Accounting). Prior to the event, the Doctoral School appointed a preliminary panel of three members, which selected the 16 finalists who presented their research in person.
The third Doctoral Thesis Communication Day was officially opened at 9.30 a.m. by the Rector, Juan Luis Gandía. The selected thesis presentations were delivered in two sessions, followed by a lecture entitled “L’ambre, una finestra al passat” (Amber: a window into the past), delivered by Alba Sánchez García (UV Department of Botany and Geology). At around 1.00 p.m., the jury announced its decision, the three winners were declared, and the event came to a close.
The eight participants in the first presentation session were Héctor González Pons, Laura Reyes Pradas, Ximena Rodríguez Pallarés, Cristina Santaemilia del Hoyo, María Lucía Tamayo Fraile, Maria de les Neus Torres Hernández, Louxin Wang and Marta Arnal Forné.
The eight participants in the second presentation session were Lucía Bravo Baranda, Paula Hernández Calderón, Rosa Llobell Fernández, María Luz Martínez Musoles, Nahum Méndez Chazarra, Magda Ginnette Muñoz Rocha, Baibhab Pattnaik and Maragda Puigcerver Pérez.
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