18/07/2025

Román Pérez, director of the Bioengineering Institute of Technology and sponsor of the Bachelor’s Degree in Bioengineering

The Director of the Bioengineering Institute of Technology and Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Transfer focused his speech on the ethical dimension of bioengineering and encouraged students to be passionate and curious in their future careers.

On 26 June, the University’s Aula Magna hosted the graduation ceremony of the fifth cohort of the Bachelor’s Degree in Bioengineering and was presided over by the director of the Department of Bioengineering, Dr Begoña Bosch.

Following a few words from the deputy director and coordinator of the Bioengineering teaching staff, Dr Miguel Ángel Mateos, Dr Begoña Bosch gave the floor to this year’s sponsor – the director of the Bioengineering Institute of Technology and vice-rector for Research, Innovation and Transfer, Dr Román Pérez. “Thank you, Begoña, for your trust and friendship. We all learn from the smile and happiness you bring,” he remarked, in reference to the Director of the department.

Much of Dr Román Pérez’s speech focused on the ethical implications of current advances in bioengineering. “Bioengineering is by people, for people,” he explained. “Organs are already being made using 3D printing; some NBA players are buying cartilage for €200,000. Will only those who can afford it have access to this technology?” he asked the graduates, staff and families present.

In closing, Dr Román Pérez stressed that his ‘compass’ must always be ‘ethics’, and encouraged the graduates to be disciplined, passionate, curious and adaptable.

This was followed by the presentation of diplomas to the graduates. The ceremony continued with heartfelt words from the class representatives, who thanked all the teaching staff for their dedication and support throughout the degree, and their families and classmates for the encouragement they had received.

The director of the department, Dr Begoña Bosch, closed the ceremony with a metaphor about the companions who supported the students throughout their university journey: “Every ascent needs a strong handhold – yours were the people who steadied you when you felt like letting go, when your experiments didn’t work,” she said. Finally, Begoña Bosch returned to the theme of ethics in bioengineering, echoing the reflections of her colleague, Román Pérez.

With this event, the Department of Bioengineering proudly bids farewell to a new cohort of bioengineers and welcomes them into the UIC Barcelona Alumni community.