This Wednesday, 10 December, coinciding with the anniversary of the Nobel Prize ceremony, the Arnao Mine Museum hosts a unique event that will address the figure of the sage from a historical, scientific, and humanistic perspective.
Following Don Santiago’s vision that science is the essential engine of culture, the Castrillón Town Council has organised a day of tribute and outreach that promises to be memorable. Under the title “Cajal and Castrillón: Science and Legacy” (“Cajal y Castrillón: Ciencia y Legado”), the event seeks to delve into the immense footprint of the father of modern neuroscience, with special attention to his connection with the town of Salinas, where he spent his summer holidays on several occasions.
The initiative, coordinated by the University of Oviedo Foundation and the Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), will also give voice to lesser-known aspects, such as the crucial role of women scientists in his school.
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
Date: Wednesday, 10 December 2025. Time: 11:00 a.m. Venue: Arnao Mine Museum (Castrillón).
Institutional Opening
- By Dr. Ana Coto Montes, Professor of Cell Biology at the University of Oviedo and Director of INEUROPA.
Lecture Series
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“Cajal and Castrillón: an endearing discussion” (“Cajal y Castrillón: una discusión entrañable”) Speaker: Dr. Juan José Jambrina, Head of Mental Health in Avilés and promoter of the “Avilés Model” (ETAC). A leading figure in social psychiatry who, like Cajal, champions the recovery of professional “dignitas” and values-based education as pillars of public health. In his talk, he will explore the Nobel laureate’s ties with the municipality from this humanistic and critical perspective.
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“Cajal’s Women Scientists” (“Las científicas de Cajal”) Speaker: Dr. Cristina Nombela Otero, neuroscientist and tenured professor at the UAM. A necessary vindication of the role of the female disciples who worked alongside Cajal.
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“Santiago Ramón y Cajal, scientist and humanist” (“Santiago Ramón y Cajal, científico y humanista”) Speaker: Dr. José Antonio Vega, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of Anatomy at the University of Oviedo. An integral vision of the man behind the microscope.
Closing and acknowledgements
- By INEUROPA and the Castrillón Town Council.
From the Depth of the Earth to the Depth of the Mind
There is a certain poetry in the fact that this tribute takes place at the Arnao Mine Museum. If the miners of Castrillón descended into the bowels of the earth to extract the coal that drove industry, Cajal descended into the unexplored depths of the human brain to extract the light of reason. Two forms of exploration, arduous and dark at first, that ended up illuminating our future.
From santiagoramonycajal.org we applaud this initiative that keeps the flame of knowledge alive and encourage you to participate in this meeting of science and history.
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