Honorary doctorates

Professor Antonio Torralba

Antonio Torralba

Engineer Antonio Torralba is a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and head of the Artificial Intelligence and Decision-Making (AI+D) Faculty at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Invested on 11 March 2022 in the auditorium of  Vèrtex building in Barcelona, at proposal of the Barcelona School of Telecommunications

Acceptence speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Ferran Marqués.


With this award, over its history, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. BarcelonaTech (UPC) has awarded 40 honorary doctoral degrees

  • Margaret H. Hamilton
    She was invested on 18 october 2018 in the assembly hall of the Vèrtex building, at the proposal of Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB).
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Núria Castell.
  • Donald R. Korb
    He was invested on 30 May 2018 in the Lecture Hall of the Vèrtex building, at the proposal of Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT).
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Jaume Pujol.
  • Kip S. Thorne
    He was invested on 25 May 2017 in the Auditorium of the Vèrtex building, at the proposal of Department of Physics.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Enrique Garcia-Berro.
  • Amal Hadweh
    She was invested on 10 november 2016 in the assembly hall of the Vèrtex building, at the proposal of Rector's Bureau.
    Lourdes Reig, the UPC's vicer-rector for International relations has given the oration.
    Acceptance speech and oration for the Dr Amal Hadweh by the sponsor, Dr. Lourdes Reig.
  • Barbara Jane Liskov. Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
    She was invested on 28 September 2012 in the auditorium of the Vèrtex building upon the proposal of the Barcelona School of Informatics.
    Professor Núria Castell, dean of the Barcelona School of Informatics, delivered the oration, Fernando Orejas, assitant director of the Department of Software, was the sponsor.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Núria Castell.
  • David. R. J. Owen. Professor at Swansea University and a world authority on computational mechanics.
    He was invested on 9 May 2012 in the auditorium of the Vèrtex building upon the proposal of the Department of Stength of Materials ans Structural Engineering.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Eugenio Oñate.
  • Carlos F. Daganzo. Professor of Transport Science and Robert Horonjeff Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
    He received this distinction on 28 March 2012 in the auditorium of the Vèrtex building at the proposal of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering and the Centre for Innovation in Transport.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Francesc Robusté.
  • Juli Esteban. Architect and urban planner.
    He received this distinction on 25 November 2011 in the auditorium of the Vèrtex building at the proposal of the UPC's Department of Urbanism and Regional Planning.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Antoni Font.
  • Manuel Ramón Llamas. Emeritus professor at the Department of Geodynamics of the Complutense University of Madrid.
    He received this distinction on 3 November 2010 in the auditorium of the Vèrtex building at the proposal of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Emilio Custodio.
  • Jose Antonio Martín Pereda. Degrees in Telecommunications and Physical Science. Awarded an honorary doctorate on 4 November 2009 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Lluís Castañer.
  • Sir Michael Atiyah. Doctoral degree in Pure Mathematics, University of Cambridge.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 25 April 2008 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the School of Mathematics and Statistics, with the backing of the departments of Applied Mathematics I, II, III and IV, and the Department of Statistics and Operations Research.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Sebastià Xambó.
  • Juan Ignacio Cirac. Doctoral degree in Theoretical Physics, Complutense University of Madrid.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 18 January 2007 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the Departments of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Applied Physics, Signal Theory and Communications, and Optics and Optometry, and by the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO).
    Sponsored by Professors Lluis Torner and Ramon Vilaseca.
  • Sergio Verdú. Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 11 October 2005 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB).
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Juan Antonio Fernández Rubio.
  • Amable Liñán Martínez. Doctoral degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Madrid School of Aeronautical Engineering (ETSIAM).
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 5 October 2004 in a ceremony held in the Assembly Hall of the Terrassa School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIT); nominated by the ETSEIT.
    Sponsored by Professor Lluís Virto Albert.
  • Gregorio López Raimundo, Maria Salvo y Agustí de Semir. In homage to the anti-Franco struggle.
    Awarded honorary doctorates on 23 February 2004 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the rector.
    Acceptance speech and oration by the sponsor, professor Guillermo Lusa Monforte.
  • Jay M. Enoch. Doctoral degree in Physiological Optics.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 18 October 2002 in a ceremony held in the Assembly Hall of the EUETIT; nominated by the Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (EUOOT) and the Department of Optics and Optometry.
    Sponsored by Professor Josep Pladellorens.
  • John L. Hennessy. Doctoral degree in Computer Science.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 15 May 2002 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the Barcelona School of Informatics (FIB).
    Sponsored by Professor Josep Casanovas Garcia.
  • Federico Mayor Zaragoza. Doctoral degree in Pharmacy.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 9 June 2000 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the rector.
    Sponsored by Professor Eugenio Oñate Ibáñez de Navarra.
  • Juan Soto Serrano. Degree in Telecommunications Engineering.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 24 February 2000 in a ceremony held at the Vèrtex auditorium; nominated by the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB).
    Sponsored by Professor Lluis Jofre Roca.
  • José A. Jiménez Salas. Degree in Civil Engineering, Technical University of Madrid. Introduced the science of soil mechanics in Spain. Honorary professor, National University of Peru, professor emeritus and member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 12 May 1999 in a ceremony held in the Senate Room; nominated by the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB).
    Sponsored by Professor Eduardo Alonso Pérez de Agreda.
  • Romano Prodi. Degrees in Law and Economics. For his contribution to the development of the industrial and energy sectors in Europe, and for his engagement with politics and the European project, in solidarity with the rest of humanity.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 3 December 1998 in a ceremony held in the Senate Room; nominated by the rector.
    Sponsored by Professor Francesc Solé Parellada.
  • Victoriano Muñoz Oms. Degree in Civil Engineering.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 24 February 1993 in a ceremony held at the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB); nominated by the ETSECCPB.
    Sponsored by Professor Albert Serratosa Palet.
  • Jan Willem de Leeuw. Head of the Organic Geochemistry Unit of Delft University of Technology.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 4 December 1992 in a ceremony held at the Manresa College of Engineering (EUPM); nominated by the Department of Mining Engineering.
    Sponsored by Professor Xavier de las Heras.
  • Peter F. Drucker. Researcher in management.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 22 May 1990 in a ceremony held in the Graduation Hall of the Gaudí Building; nominated by the Department of Management.
    Sponsored by Professor Josep Ma. Fons Boronat.
  • Josep Noguera i Farreras. Inventor and international textile promoter.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 6 June 1989 in a ceremony held at the Terrassa School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIT); nominated by the ETSEIT.
    Sponsored by Professor Pere Pagès Figueras.
  • Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow. Director-General of UNESCO.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 10 February 1987 in a ceremony held in the UPC's Great Hall in Torre Girona; nominated by the Office of the Rector.
    Sponsored by Professor Manuel Casteleiro Maldonado.
  • Nicolas Fedoroff. Researcher with the Department of Soils at the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 27 May 1986 in a ceremony held at the Institut d'Estudis Il•lerdencs (Lleida); nominated by the Lleida School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSEAL).
    Sponsored by Professor Jaume Porta Casanellas.
  • Norman E. Borlaug. American agronomist with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre in Mexico.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 27 May 1986 in a ceremony held at the Institut d'Estudis Il·lerdencs (Lleida); nominated by the Lleida School of Agricultural Engineering.
    Sponsored by Professor Juan A. Martin Sanchez.
  • José Antonio Torroja Cavanillas. Degree in Civil Engineering, first director of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB).
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 1 March 1984 in a ceremony held in the Graduation Hall of the Gaudí Building; nominated by the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB).
    Sponsored by Professor Eugenio Oñate Ibáñez de Navarra.
  • Josep Lluís Sert. Degree in Architecture.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 27 February 1981 in a ceremony held in the Graduation Hall of the Gaudí Building; nominated by the Vallès School of Architecture (ETSAV).
    Sponsored by Professor Carlos Fochs Alvarez.
  • Jean Marie Ducrot. Head of the Documentation Service of the Institut Textile de France.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 26 October 1979 in a ceremony held at the Terrassa School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIT); nominated by the ETSEIT.
    Sponsored by Professor Josep Mumbrú Laporta.
  • Franz Monfort. Director of the Centre Textile de la Belgique.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 26 October 1979 in a ceremony held at the Terrassa School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIT); nominated by the ETSEIT.
    Sponsored by Professor Federico López-Amo Marín.
  • Helmut Zahn. Head of the Department of Textile Chemistry of the Deutsche Wollforschunginstitut.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 26 October 1979 in a ceremony held at the Terrassa School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIT); nominated by the ETSEIT.
    Sponsored by Professor José Cegarra Sanchez.
  • Lluís A. Santaló Sors. Mathematician.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 14 July 1977 in a ceremony held in the Graduation Hall of the Gaudí Building; nominated by the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB) and the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB).
    Sponsored by Professors Enric Trillas and Enric Ras Oliva.
  • George R. Collins. Professor of Art and Archaeology at Columbia University (New York). President of the US branch of the Friends of Gaudí Association.
    Awarded an honorary doctorate on 18 February 1977 in a ceremony held in the Graduation Hall of the Gaudí Building; nominated by the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB).
    Sponsored by Professor Joan Bassegoda Nonell.