Presentation of the Scientific Senatus

The Senatus in ancient times was established by a council of Elders as they were considered to represent wisdom. They were, therefore, a Council of the Wise, rather than one of Elders.

The Scientific Senatus emerged, in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Zaragoza, as a recognition of the "experience of knowledge" of retired teaching staff and researchers from the centre.

In the society in which we live, and with improvements in the quality of life, citizens who, day by day, have helped to build and improve our world reach that time called retirement. It is a well deserved rest after long years of work.

In most jobs, retirement means that it would be impossible to continue with ones previous daily work and marks the beginning of a new period without such responsibilities.

Amongst our retired staff, some continue to attend the Faculty - their routine relaxed a little as they drink some coffee and exchange opinions with their colleagues in the department...

Others leave the Faculty, but visit frequently to check out the changes that have taken place in their old home...

A minority, however, leave Zaragoza and give up their links with the University.

But, even though they are retired...'Wisdom is always active' ...and the questions they pose can be quite relevant. How can all this knowledge and experience be used and the risk that it will be lost avoided?

Why shouldn't our retired teaching staff become, by what might be termed their "scientific right", a part of the Senatus in the Faculty of Sciences, of our "Scientific Senatus".

There are so many experiences that our retired staff can bring to the Faculty! - Their knowledge, their academic and research experience, their contribution to our society... T hey were pioneers in their time and they opened the way to later generations.

There are so many questions which members of our Scientific Senatus could help find answers to!

With this thought, in October 2006, the University of Zaragoza created the 'Scientific Senatus', in recognition of our retired teaching staff, for their good work, their effort, their vocation, their hope - hope that is still alive today because, as said previously, 'Wisdom is always active' or 'Scientia nunquam quiescit' (and with it an enthusiasm for sharing knowledge). There is no retirement for the calling of a teacher...

We are privileged in the Faculty of Sciences to have the opportunity to be enriched with the wealth of experience and wisdom of those that, not so long ago, were our teachers and today constitute our 'Scientific Senatus'.

Ana Elduque Palomo

Dean of the Faculty of Sciences

Zaragoza, 15th November 2007