The Pontifical University of Comillas pays tribute to Camino Cañón Loyes

MADRID, Spain.
On November 27, the Pontifical University of Comillas paid tribute to Professor Camino Cañón Loyes with the launching of a book titled “A Human Science,” edited in recognition of her academic contribution made over forty years.

The event, organized by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Comillas, was attended by faculty from various departments and other universities, as well as by some of her former students and members of the Teresian Association, an international association of lay people to which she belongs.

Professor Camino Cañón has been Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Religion of the University for years until a few months ago. For five years she has been President of the Forum of the Laity of Spain.

At the event the speakers were: Father Julio L. Martínez, SJ, Rector of the University of Comillas; Belén Urosa Sanz, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Comillas; Professors Marcos Alfredo Martínez, Isabel Romero, Alicia Villar Ezcurra, and Antonio Sanchez Orantos.  The last two are the editors of the book.

Belén Urosa Sanz thanked Professor Cañón for having given her best years and talents to the University of Comillas for over more than forty years and said: “According to the minutes of the University, she has been for some time the only woman working with Jesuits."

"She has made contributions to mathematics and logical philosophy, to the problems of science and faith, and the management positions she has held; she has done everything with generosity, knowledge, academic strength, and great common sense.  She has demonstrated organizational skills and entrepreneurial attitude before the challenges presented to her,” said the Dean of the School of Social Sciences.

The speakers highlighted the human and academic traits of Professor Cañón. They summarized what may be her attitude with respect to mathematical science, "a geometric spirit with a spirit of finesse," in tune with Blaise Pascal.

Academic background

Professor Mª del Camino Cañón Loyes studied at the Complutense University of Madrid where she graduated in Mathematics; at UNED where she majored in Philosophy; and at the University of Bristol (UK) where she did her doctoral thesis.  She defended her PhD thesis at the Complutense University on June 13, 1978, receiving highest honors. She taught for three years as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics of the Complutense University and one year in the Mathematics Department of the Autonomous University of Madrid. She has taught Mathematical Logic at the Pontifical University of Comillas since 1972 and she became full Professor in 1991.  She also held the following positions: Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Letters from1985-1990; Vice Chancellor from 1990-1994, Director of Publications from 2005 to 2011, President of the Ethics Committee of the University from 2009-2014, and Professor and Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Religion from 2011-2014. She has taught courses at the level of Masters and PhD programs at several universities in Spain and Argentina. The courses she has taught include: Logic, Philosophy of Mathematics, Science and Religion; and Philosophy, Humanism and Transcendence. She has directed doctoral theses and has participated in numerous thesis committees at her own university and at other Spanish universities. She is a founding member of several scientific associations, member of the editorial board of scientific journals, and has chaired several cultural associations.

Her research topics were: Philosophy of Mathematics, Conceptual Change, and Science and Religion. She is the author of numerous books and philosophical articles.