BritishSpanish Society Scholarship Awards 2024
Six exceptional post-graduates receive a unique award

The BritishSpanish Society celebrated the 17^th edition of its scholarship programme at the Spanish Ambassador’s residence in London on the evening of 12 November.

The awards were hosted by Spanish ambassador and honorary president of the charity José Pascual Marco Martínez.

The occasion also served as a fitting handover from outgoing chairman Jimmy Burns Marañón OBE to the newly appointed Sir Anthony Cooke-Yarborough, both of whom highlighted the uniqueness and importance of the awards in supporting young post-graduate researchers from Britain and Spain.

Co-chairing the awards ceremony were BSS trustee and head of the scholarship programme Dr Marina Pérez de Arcos, and BSS trustee Roger Golland OBE. Dr Marina Pérez de Arcos introduced each of the exceptional winning scholars, detailing their academic careers and the projects for which they had won the award.   After receiving their award, the scholars participated in a lively Q&A with trustee Roger Golland, sharing their plans for their research and the impact they hope it will make.

Representatives from the charity’s Principal Supporters presented the scholars with their awards in the presence of academic and business leaders, the charity’s trustees and patrons, and the scholars’ tutors, friends and families. Juan Dols, Vice President in the UK of Cañada Blanch Fundación, took a moment to offer condolences and support on behalf of all gathered to Valencia.  

The evening ended with a delightful performance from winning scholar Lidia Moscoso Bernal and her quintet, and was followed by a drinks reception and canapés courtesy of our hosts, and sponsors Mahou and Codorníu.

Here is a list of the 2025 winners and their projects:

Luke Lanskey whose project, ‘a comparative study of the role of demographic change on the public finances of the UK and Spain’, is supported by BBVA.

Lidia Moscoso Bernal whose project, ‘accessing Classical Music from a Young Age’, is supported by Fundación Cañada Blanch.

Álvaro Doblado Onieva whose project, ‘environmental water detection and/or decontamination of pharmaceuticals, pesticides and heavy metals, Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)’ is supported by Plastic Energy.

Elliot Jordan whose project, ‘Martial Culture and Military Service in Spanish and English Armies, c.1511-1604’, is supported by Santander UK.

Cristina Rodríguez-Osorio Puigdueta whose project, ‘understanding the developmental programming of stress-regulating neurons’, is supported by Santander UK.

Carmen Villa whose project, Public policy and youth development’, is supported by the members and friends of The BritishSpanish Society.

The scholarships are funded by the charity’s own fundraising, individual and corporate donations, and support from its Principal Supporters; Santander Universities, BBVA, Cañada Blanch Fundación, and Plastic Energy.