Once again, the Higher Polytechnic School of Engineering (EPSE) in Lugo hosted the ceremony for the 8th Edition of the Rafael Crecente Awards, which recognize innovative proposals in territorial management and rural development in Galicia.
In this edition, the awards honored two academic initiatives that highlight the active role of citizens and youth in building a more sustainable future. The winners were SMARTERRAE: Scientific Training Applied to Territory and Environment from Early Stages (by Lorena Salgado and Rubén Forján), and The Transformative Role of Energy Communities in the Ecological Transition. Situation Analysis in Spain and Galicia (by Laura Prieto), both of which emphasize the importance of local engagement as a driving force in the fight against climate change.
The SMARTERRAE project proposes an innovative educational model that connects young people with the environment through applied science and digital communication. Developed in the Iberian Northwest, the study shows how youth participation in real environmental conservation projects enhances interest in science, understanding of the research process, and willingness to engage in scientific activities.
The second awarded proposal analyzes how energy communities are emerging as a collective and sustainable response to the challenges of the energy system. These initiatives promote distributed renewable generation, reduce energy dependence, and foster social inclusion. Galicia stands out as one of the regions with the highest number of active projects, especially in rural areas, where opposition to large centralized developments is growing. Examples such as Arousa en Transición and Buchabade demonstrate the potential of this participatory energy model as a more democratic, fair, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional energy systems.
It is worth noting that this edition was especially competitive, with nearly forty proposals submitted. Due to the high quality of the entries, the awards committee decided to grant three additional honorable mentions to the following proposals:
The event featured a keynote lecture by Harvey M. Jacobs, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA). His presentation, titled “Private Property and Sustainable Environmental Management: A 21st Century Challenge,” addressed contemporary challenges in environmental management from the perspective of private property. Jacobs began by asking how private property can be reconciled with the imperatives of sustainable environmental management. Historically, property has been understood as static, but today we know it evolves—just like the rights associated with it. For example, rights related to wildlife, landscapes, and forests have changed dramatically over the past 100 years and continue to evolve. The key questions posed by environmental management are: Will property change fast enough to meet current environmental demands? and How much social conflict will this change generate, and how can it be managed?
The round of presentations concluded with guest speaker Pacôme Elouna Eyenga, leader of the EIP-AGRI Support Facility of the EU CAP Network, who spoke about innovation within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the key role of the EIP-AGRI European network in accelerating innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas.
Both speakers, along with academic and institutional representatives, paid special tribute to Rafael Crecente, whose legacy remains very present as this year marks the tenth anniversary of his passing.
The event closed with the announcement of the upcoming 9th Edition of the Rafael Crecente Awards, which will soon open its call for submissions
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