Founding of the Spanish Cryobiology Society, based at the Centre for Marine Research (CIM)  

The University of Vigo’s Centre for Marine Research, a member of the CIGUS Network, is now home to the Spanish Cryobiology Society (SECRIO). This organisation was created with the aim of bringing together all those professionals with interests in this area of science, which  studies the behaviour of materials and biological systems at low temperatures.

The decision to found this new institution stems from the desire to create synergies between researchers and students from various scientific, technological and industrial areas who use cryobiological techniques in their work. The aim is to drive collective knowledge and further this branch of science in Spain.

Researcher Estefanía Paredes, the Society’s founding chair, is the driving force behind its creation. An initiative that, following intense planning, has been made possible thanks to the  collaboration of researchers from the University of Vigo, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Valencia, Polytechnic University of Valencia, University of Seville, the Higher Council for Scientific Research, the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research and Overture Life.

The institution is based at the Toralla Marine Science Station (ECIMAT). As Estefanía Paredes explains,  the choice of base “will provide a major boost for the centre’s visibility, attracting new talent and providing access to new sources of funding”. She went on to add that the CIM will be “the central node for communication and interaction between members of society and this is always beneficial for the scientific community. I am convinced that it will be very positive”.