The UAB's religious research group, ISOR, receives the Memorial Àlex Seglers Award for their commitment to religious diversity

Group director Mar Griera was there to receive the award. In her acceptance speech she recalled the figureof Àlex Seglers, who was an outstanding member of the ISOR group. She also mentioned that her appreciation was threefold. First, to the numerous researchers who have worked with ISOR in the past 50 years, beginning with sociologist Joan Estruch, founder of the group. Second, to the UAB and the Fundació Autònoma Solidaria, for their support in "the study of religions from a secular viewpoint". And finally, to the Government of Catalonia for "helping to make a country that is more open to religious diversity". Griera ended her speech affirming that ISOR will continue to "add its grain of salt to making a more dialoguing and open country".

UAB Secretary General Esther Zapater also spoke at the event to congratulate the group in receiving the award, which this year reaches its 13th edition, as a "pioneering group" and also as the first research group to receive the Memorial Àlex Seglers Award. Zapater particularly praised the international projection of ISOR and its work in "transferring to knowledge to both the public administration and entities of the social fabric". The secretary general also thanked the FAS for its role in proposing ISOR for the award.

Sabadell's First Deputy Mayor Eloi Cortés recalled in his closing speech the years he spent at the UAB, as a student of sociology, when he was a student of some of the members of ISOR. Cortés talked about the global situation, marked by the rise of far-right politial parties and the genocide in Palestine, to declare that "more than ever, we must reaffirm the values Àlex Seglers represented".

Fifty years of history

Founded in 1974, ISOR became the first university research group n Catalonia dedicated specifically to the study of religions from a scientific point of view. Its main goal is the study of religion in a broad sense of the term, and from a sociological, critical and rigorous standpoint. In the past years, religious diversity has been at the centre of many research projects. Among the many projects it has carried out, ISOR was the one to create the Religious Map of Catalonia, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of minority religions found in Catalonia.

The Memorial Àlex Seglers Awards are given in recognition of the career of people or organisations committed to defending diversity and fostering peaceful co-existence. The award is named after Àlex Seglers (1970-2010), lecturer at the UAB and a world renowned expert in ecclesiastical law. This initiative is organised by the Sabadell City Council, the UAB, the Government of Catalonia, the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Catala Federation of Municipalities, the Catalan Association of Municipalities, and the Bosch i Cardellach Foundation. In this year's edition, educator Lidia Muniesa, founder of the project "Música al Barri", also received the award.