Photo: UJA
Mural dedicated to Concha Azorit in her hometown
Editorial Staff
PUBLISHED AT 1:43 PM (April 30, 2026)
The University of Jaén has dedicated a mural to the former researcher of the Department of Zoology, Concha Azorit Casas, who passed away in December 2024. Painted on one of the walls of the Jesús del Llano School in Baños de la Encina, her hometown, the work will commemorate the life and work of the former UJA scientist through this initiative. It is part of the ‘Women of Science Murals’ activity, which aims to pay tribute to female researchers at the UJA who stand out for their relevant scientific work, advocate for the role of women in science and at the UJA, and provide female role models in this field of science to inspire new generations.
The Rector of the University of Jaén, Nicolás Ruiz, presided over the inauguration ceremony of this mural, created by the artist from Linares, Héctor Lara. Regarding the researcher, he noted that she “illuminated our institution, not only through her intelligence but also through her human quality.” “Concha was an approachable, extroverted woman with a natural empathy that made her unique. She taught us that the perfect is the enemy of the good. She didn’t seek millimeter-level perfection; she sought to live in the moment and treasure memories. She loved nature, travel, her studies on deer and, above all, her friends. She knew how to work hard when it was time, but she also knew when it was time to enjoy life. That is the lesson of balance she left us,” noted Nicolás Ruiz.
Likewise, the Rector addressed the school’s students, indicating that through this recognition, they have learned that “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” “But to achieve what we want, we must put in passion, effort, and sacrifice, just as our dear Concha Azorit did to become such a beloved professor and researcher at our university. Or as Héctor Lara has done, the artist who has captured her essence in this mural that is now part of your school. The only secret to moving forward is taking the first step. Success is not a magic formula; it is persistence, working every day, and, above all, enjoying what you do,” stated Nicolás Ruiz.
On the other hand, the Rector referred to the need for a more just and egalitarian world, referring to the need for girls to lose their fear of STEM subjects. “Boys and girls, do not be afraid to be what you truly want to be. You can be engineers, physicists, or mathematicians. Do not allow stereotypes to hold you back. Talent has no gender and, for that reason, we cannot allow female talent to be lost along the way,” he stated.
About Concha Azorit
The Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Jaén, Mª Victoria López-Ramón, was in charge of providing a profile of Concha Azorit. An Associate Professor at the University of Jaén since 2003, specializing in wildlife management, biodiversity, and conservation, she earned a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Córdoba in 1991 and a degree in Biology from the University of Granada in 1993. Later, in 1999, she obtained her PhD in Biology from the UJA. She had extensive experience in both the academic field and public administration, where she worked as a veterinarian and as a manager in environmental health. Her career at the UJA combined research, teaching, project management, and international collaboration, with active participation in scientific networks and organizations related to the environment and biodiversity. “Concha did not seek recognition; she sought scientific truth. Her work ethic was tireless. For her, excellence was not a distant goal but a daily standard; it was her everyday life. She had an enormous capacity to lead benchmark research with complex techniques, in which she always provided the most innovative and efficient solution. She leaves a scientific legacy that will continue to guide future generations. Her greatest recent milestone was her technical courage regarding the radio-tagging of cervids. In a field where global literature is scarce due to the difficulty the species entails, she applied her calculations and knowledge to achieve what few manage: the successful tracking of the fallow deer,” stated Mª Victoria López-Ramón, who also highlighted her “total involvement with the UJA.” “She didn’t know how to say no to a challenge that would improve our institution. She worked side-by-side with the best researchers in her field worldwide, always with rigor and by her own example. Those of us who shared the path with her will always remember her as a fair, responsible, and brave woman. A benchmark researcher, a first-class teacher; an irreplaceable colleague who has left an indelible mark,” noted the Vice-Rector for Research at the UJA.
The ceremony also included remarks from Concha Azorit’s father, Arturo Azorit, and the Mayor of Baños de la Encina, Antonio Lasheras, as well as the attendance of the Director of the Secretariat for Communication and Scientific Dissemination, Julio A. Olivares; the Director of the Secretariat for Corporate Projection, Manuela Ortega; family members of Concha Azorit, and teachers and students from the Jesús del Llano School.
Prior to the inauguration of the mural, the Rector of the University of Jaén presented a painting to the researcher from the UJA Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Raquel Caballero Águila—the scientist honored last year—featuring a reproduction of the mural image painted on the exterior wall of the Tucci School in Martos.
The ‘Murals: Women of Science’ project is promoted by the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+i), under the coordination of UJA Art History professor Laura Luque. It is part of the XVI Scientific and Innovation Dissemination Plan of the UJA, which is funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Universities.
Source: La UJA homenajea a su investigadora Concha Azorit con un mural en Baños