The Cátedra
Introduction
The Cátedra Demetrio Ribes is a research centre that promotes and disseminates research into the history of transport and its infrastructures, public works and engineering in the Valencian Community. It was founded in 2003 through an agreement signed between the Universitat de València-Estudi General (UVEG) and what is now the Valencian Ministry of Enviroment, Infrastructures and Territory.
The centre was named after Demetrio Ribes, the architect who designed the Estación del Norte in Valencia and a host of other important buildings in the Valencian Community, Barcelona and Madrid.
Dr. Luis Arciniega is the director since 2017. Dr. Inmaculada Aguilar was the director of the centre from 2003 to 2017, at which time she became honorary director. From the beginning, the centre has been supported by various staff: currently three researchers and two PhD researchers.
Activities
The main aim of the Cátedra Demetrio Ribes research centre is to promote and disseminate research into the history of transport and its infrastructures, public works and engineering in the Valencian Community.
It carries out various activities to investigate and spread awareness of the Valencian Community’s rich heritage relating to transport and communications, public works and engineering. Its main areas of activity include:
- Carrying out R&D projects and cataloguing materials
- Planning and coordinating publications, exhibitions, lecture series and other cultural activities
- Maintaining its academic activity, with university courses, conferences, seminars and participation in postgraduate courses
- Advising and writing technical reports. It also participates on scientific and advisory committees
- Awarding the annual Demetrio Ribes Prize for Research
The Cátedra Demetrio Ribes’s main research areas include:
- The history of public works: transport networks (paths, roads, bridges…), maritime networks (ports, lighthouses…), railway networks (stations, bridges…), telecommunication networks (semaphore telegraphs…), defence networks (walls, watchtowers, batteries, shelters…), water networks (aqueducts, reservoirs, dams…), etc.
- The history of engineering
- The history of territorial planning
Institutional information
Chancellor of the University of Valencia (UV)
Rectora Mgfca. María Vicenta Mestre Escrivá
Valencian Minister of Environment, Water, Infrastructures and Territory
Hble. Salomé Pradas Ten
Joint Committee
Vicente Dómine Redondo, regional secretary at the Valencian government; Rosa M. Donat Beneito, pro-vice-chancellor and head of Innovation and Transfer at UV; Luis Arciniega García, director of Cátedra Demetrio Ribes
Director of the Cátedra Demetrio Ribes
Luis Arciniega García
Honorary director
Inmaculada Aguilar Civera
Cátedra Demetrio Ribes team
Óscar Calvé Mascarell, Manuel Carreres Rodríguez, Susana Climent Viguer, Ester Medán Sifre, Rubén Pacheco Díaz
Partnerships
The Cátedra Demetrio Ribes has promoted partnerships with other institutions and research centres to develop new projects or activities. Some of its main partners include:
Fundación Miguel Aguiló
Creation of Guía de puentes de la Comunitat Valenciana and collaboration on various publications and activities.
Institut Cartogràfic Valencià
Cartographic exchange and collaboration.
School of Engineers of Roads, Canals and Ports, UPV
Cooperation on School activities and travelling exhibitions
College of Engineers of Roads, Canals and Ports, CV
Organisation of courses and lectures.
CEHOPU
Editorial and documentary collaboration and organisation of cultural activities
Fundación Juanelo Turriano
Other cultural activities.
Autoridad Portuaria de València
Documentary resources.