Ignasi Ribas i Canudas
Biographical note: He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Barcelona and is currently a research professor at the Institute of Space Sciences of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Since 2017 he has been the director of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC). His research activity focuses on the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, particularly those that are similar to our own, in order to search for life in the future. He has high-level responsibilities in various space missions and astronomical instruments and coordinates the development of nanosatellite projects. He has published more than 400 research articles in high-impact international journals. He has been an advisor to the European Space Agency (2009-2012) and president of the Stellar Physics Division of the International Astronomical Union (2012-2015). He received the Ciutat de Barcelona Prize in Experimental Sciences and Technology in 2018. The asteroid 667531 Ignasiribas is named after him. He carries out numerous activities to disseminate science.