The recently constituted provincial branch of the Cuban Academy of Sciences (ACC) in Artemisa aims to articulate and strengthen the scientific-research activity in the territory, through the Artemisa institutions whose corporate purpose establishes it. For this reason, among the first actions that the board of directors carries out is the granting of the distinction of “Associated Scientist” to three researchers with a notable career.
Coinciding with the March tribute to women, the first award was given to a female: the MSc. Mercedes Ortega Pérez, Director of Quality Management at the CIGB-Mariel SA Industrial Biotechnology, located in the Special Development Zone.
In Ortega Pérez’s curriculum, her Certificate and medal as Founder of Biotechnology in Cuba (1996); the authorship or co-authorship of six ACC awards; the Carlos J. Finlay Order as a member of the group of scientists of the HEBERBIOVAC-HB vaccine (2002); the Prize for the Best Result of Greater Importance and Originality for the work: Development of the first human vaccine with a synthetic antigen, awarded by the University of Havana (2004); the category of first level Technologist in 2004 and first level Biotechnology in 2006, 2009, 2014, and in the process of ratification in 2022.
During the reception, Ortega Pérez thanked the courtesy, in which he underscored his gratitude to the Revolution for the privilege of his professional training, and of labor and scientific ties in the Cuban biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry for 38 years.
Likewise, during the exchange, the Vice Director General of CIGB-Mariel, MSc. Manuel E. Montané Enriquez, expressed the honor and responsibility that it means for the center to integrate the ACC in Artemisa, in which he underlined the opportunity that, being a production center, more and more of its workers -mostly young- also investigate, publish in scientific journals and acquire technological categories.
In addition, at the request of CITMA in Artemisa, represented by two of its officials at the meeting, the possibility was raised that CIGB-Mariel also participate in territorial programs, and be the protagonist of vocational guidance actions with the Vocational Pre-University Institute of Exact Sciences “Humboldt Martyrs”.
“The academic community of Artemisa is made up of 181 doctors, 1,506 master’s degrees, 4,522 postgraduate specialists, 1,883 with teaching categories, 203 with scientific category, and 74 scientific reserves, which provides a space to develop science, technology, and innovation projects and thereby contribute to the development of the country”, stated Drs.C. René P. Capote López, coordinator of the provincial branch of the ACC, founded on December 29, 2022.
Capote López also pointed out that, in addition to CIGB-Mariel, the other institutions identified by the Artemisa Technical Advisory Council to integrate the subsidiary are the University of Artemisa, the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve, the Antonio Maceo InterArmas School, the Ariguanabo Foundation , the Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara Pre-University Institute, the Artemisa Medical Sciences Faculty, the Alquízar Base Scientific and Technological Unit, the Tropical Fruit Growing Research Institute and the Tobacco Research Institute.
The provincial ACC also recognizes with the Distinction of Associate Scientist Dr. Fidel Hernández Figueroa, director of the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve, and Dr. Miguel Enrique Charbonet Martell, Associate Professor at the University of Artemisa, to whom it plans to delivery soon.