Licia Verde, ICREA researcher at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB), was given the National Research Prize 2018 in a ceremony yesterday, December 3, at the National Theatre of Catalonia. The ceremony was presided over by the President of the Catalan Government, Quim Torra, and counted on the attendance of the vice-rector for Research of the UB, Domènec Espriu. The National Research Prize, given by the Catalan Government and the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRi), distinguishes the researcher who has recently contributed –in a significant manner internationally- to the advance of a science discipline in any of its fields: human and social sciences, life and health sciences, engineering and technology, and experimental sciences.

Also, Jordi Díaz, expert from the Scientific and Technological Centers (CCiTUB), was given the National Scientific Communication Prize 2018 for the program NanoEduca, together with representatives from the other participating entities of the project.

The jury valued Verde’s task for her pioneering findings on the Universe and having contributed to the understanding of how matter and dark energy are distributed around the Universe. Licia Verde is an ICREA researcher at ICCUB since 2010 and leads the Research Group on Cosmology and Large Scale Structures. Among other awards, she received a European Research Council Starting Grant in 2009 and the Gruber Prize in Cosmology in 2012.