The Science Museum celebrates the centenary of Severo Ochoa with the photographic exhibition ¿Severo Ochoa. A life devoted to science¿

Sep 23, 2005

From today the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum in the Calle Mayor is holding a photographic exhibition entitled “Severo Ochoa. A life devoted to science”, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the Spanish Nobel prize winner on the 24th of September. The exhibition brings together a collection of large-scale photographs that give visitors an insight into the life of this famous researcher and the different stages in his career.
The Science Museum celebrates the centenary of Severo Ochoa with the photographic exhibition ¿Severo Ochoa. A life devoted to science¿

With a total of 21 pictures, "Severo Ochoa. A life devoted to science" gives the public an insight into his scientific career, depicting among other things, his stay in the United States, his contribution to the development of science in Spain with the foundation of the Centre for Molecular Biology, as well as his link to and support for the Jaime I Awards given by the Regional Government of Valencia.

The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum in this way joins in the celebrations of the Severo Ochoa centenary to be held tomorrow, Saturday the 24th of September. This year, it is one hundred years since the birth of Severo Ochoa, whose research into the synthesis of ribonucleic acid opened the way for deciphering the genetic code. These groundbreaking discoveries gave him the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1959. He was the second Spanish scientist, after Santiago Ramón y Cajal, to be awarded this prestigious prize.

Born in Luarca (Asturias) on the 24th September 1905, Severo Ochoa made a major contribution to the development of science in Spain as well as to the birth of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in this country, by being the driver behind the setting-up of the Spanish Biochemistry Society and the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre, which was created thanks to his support and enthusiasm.

He also has a direct influence on the many Spanish disciples that he took in and trained in his laboratory in the US, such as Santiago Grisolía, Margarita Salas, Eladio Viñuela, Antonio Sillero, César Nombela and César Haro, although he also indirectly influence many other Spanish scientists.

The legacy of Severo Ochoa

The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum is displaying on the second floor the legacy of Severo Ochoa. There are a total of 106 medals, including the Nobel medal, the US National Medal for Science and 154 diplomas. The collection also includes personal objects and documents such as gifts, letters, scientific notebooks, a library, an honorary doctorate gown, etc.

There are also photographs of Severo Ochoa with other scientists, disciples and collaborators and photographs of him receiving the Nobel Prize. Paintings from the scientists he trained with, a film on the work of Severo Ochoa introduced by his disciple Santiago Grisolía and a few words on his major discoveries round off the exhibition dedicated to this Spanish genius.