Half a century training health and food professionals, pushing forward knowledge and academic excellence. The Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the Universitat de València celebrates its 50 years of history with a glance to the past and a projection towards the future, commemorating five decades dedicated to training, innovation and commitment to society.
The Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences began celebrating its 50th anniversary with two acts that brought together the university community, the entrepreneurial world, institutions and former members of the centre in an environment of recognition, memories and reencounter.
On Thursday, 13 June, at the Darwin Hall, the first of the commemorative acts was held: an homage to all the people, companies and entities that have accompanied the Faculty throughout these five decades. The recognition, full of emotion and gratitude, showed the value of the support and implication of a wide network of collaborators that have contributed to the development of the centre since its creation.
A week later, on Thursday, 20 June, the Faculty opened its doors to memory and art with the exhibition Belleza olvidada, a show that invites to contemplate the scientific and educational heritage from an aesthetic and evocative perspective. Next, at 5pm, the Institutional Act took place, an intergenerational meeting open to former students, teachers and the administrative and services staff. A space of recognition and belonging for anyone who has formed part of this shared history.
The act began with an Institutional Welcome Panel in which the Principal of the Universitat de València, the Dean of the Faculty, Hortensia Rico Vidal; the Vice-Dean for Pharmacy Students, Mª Luisa Ferrándiz Manglano; the Vice-Dean for Food Science Studies, Mónica Fernández Franzón, and the Vice-Dean for Innovation, Communication and Culture, Javier Pereda Cervera, participated. Their interventions highlighted the trajectory of the centre, the teaching quality and the implication of all the university community throughout these fifty years,
Next, a colloquium was held from the stand by Dr Carla Soler Quiles. In this space for dialogue and memories intervened Dr Teresa Barber Sanchis and Dr Juan Carlos Moltó Cortés, both of them former Deans of the centre; Dr Mª Adela Valero Aleixandre, former Vice-Principal of the Universitat de València; and Eduardo López Briz, representative of the first class and Adjunct Professor in Health Sciences in the Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe. Their interventions allowed to reminiscence key moments of the Faculty history and place value on its academic, scientific and human evolution.
At the same time, a photographic exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary was presented, composed of almost 500 images distributed in 13 thematic panels. These offered a visual journey through the history of the centre: from the departments, the old and new building, and even the staff and other meaningful elements that have contributed to the construction of the identity of the Faculty throughout time.
The act concluded with the screening of an audiovisual presentation In memoriam, in memory of the people that have been part of the Faculty and that are no longer with us. An emotional moment that brought to an end a day marked by memory, recognition and collective affection.
The celebrations will continue on September. On Tuesday 24, the Faculty will offer an act dedicated specially to the students, with fun activities that will show their key role in the life and spirit of the centre. A festive ending thought to look towards the future with energy and collective commitment.
