5th Malaspina Award Ceremony


The 5th Malaspina Award Ceremony took place at the Shine Dome of the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra on Friday 18 November 2022 at 5:30pm.

The event counted with the participation of:

  • Prof Luis Salvador-Carulla, University of Canberra and SRAP Honorary President (Master of Ceremony)
  • Ms Anna-Maria Arabia, Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science
  • HE Ms Alicia Moral Revilla, Ambassador of Spain in Australia
  • Dr Ángel R. López Sánchez, SRAP President – Macquarie University
  • Mr Nishant Shandilya, Regional Coordinator, EURAXESS – Australia & New Zealand (European Union)

The Award was collected by Prof Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor of RMIT.

From left to right: Prof. Luis Salvador Carulla (University of Canberra and SRAP Honorary President, Secretary of the Malaspina Award), Mr. Israel Lozano Barragán (CEO Navantia Australia), H.E. Mr Gabriele Visentin (Ambassador of the European Union in Australia), H.E. Ms Alicia Moral-Revilla (Ambassador of Spain in Australia), Prof Alec Cameron (Vice-Chancellor of RMIT), Ms. Anna-Maria Arabia (CEO Australian Academy of Science), Dr Ángel López-Sánchez (Macquarie University & SRAP President), Mr. Nishant Shandilya (Regional Coordinator, EURAXESS – Australia & New Zealand). 

The 2022 Malaspina Award has been conferred to RMIT Europe. Located in Barcelona (Spain), RMIT Europe is an innovative hub focused on sustainable cities and digital technologies. Since 2013, RMIT Europe has been the beacon to Australia-European academic and research cooperation. It has participated in 31 research projects, 27 of which involving Spanish organisations such as Autonomous University of Barcelona, IS Global, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IIIA-CSIC) and University of Barcelona.

RMIT Europe has connected industry partners in Europe with Australia to solve critical problems impacting the community and the environment. In Spain, RMIT has produced an outstanding educational offering and participated in projects with industry partners such as Arup, Inditex and other companies. In 2020 RMIT received the European Commission ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award for its environment of excellence driving the adoption of European best practice in both its Spanish and Australian operations.

From left to right: Mr. Nishant Shandilya (Regional Coordinator, EURAXESS – Australia & New Zealand), Mr. Israel Lozano Barragán (CEO Navantia Australia), Dr Ángel López-Sánchez (Macquarie University & SRAP President), H.E. Ms Alicia Moral-Revilla (Ambassador of Spain in Australia), H.E. Mr Gabriele Visentin (Ambassador of the European Union in Australia),Prof Alec Cameron (Vice-Chancellor of RMIT), Ms. Anna-Maria Arabia (CEO Australian Academy of Science), Assoc.Prof. Sergio León-Saval (University of Sydney and SRAP Honorary President) and Prof. Luis Salvador Carulla (University of Canberra and SRAP Honorary President, Secretary of the Malaspina Award).

Four ambassadors and deputy heads of missions (Spain, Europe, Costa Rica, Argentina) and diplomats from over 6 other embassies attended the event (Germany, Italy, France, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico). The DVCR from University of Canberra and the University of La Trobe attended the event as representatives of their universities, as well as several Deans and directors of research centres from University of Canberra, ANU, University of Sydney, and Macquarie University. The presentations provided by the CEO of the National Academy of Science, the Spanish Ambassador, the president of SRAP, and the director of EURAXESS provided comprehensive account of the achievements made by RMIT Europe that was completed by Prof Alec Cameron in  his acceptation speech

The Malaspina Award is an honour bestowed by the Spanish Embassy in Canberra and the Association of Spanish Researchers in Australia-Pacific (SRAP). It is awarded to individuals or organisations who have made a significant contribution to the scientific and/or cultural relationships between Spain and Australia. The Alejandro Malaspina Spanish World Scientific Expedition, was the first foreign mission to visit Sydney in 1793, just five years after the arrival of the First Fleet.

The 5th Malaspina Award has been sponsored by Navantia Australia. The award is embodied by the statuette “Heart” designed by the internationally renowned Spanish artist Óscar Martín de Burgos.