Dr. Ávila Rodriguez gives speech on the European Space Agency to Junior High School and High School students
Mar 7, 2025
On Monday, February 24, 2025, Athens College - Psychico College Junior High Schools and High Schools welcomed Dr. José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez to the Psychico campus. As part of his visit, he delivered a speech titled "Dreaming of Satellites" to students of Athens College - Psychico College Junior High School 3 and Athens College - Psychico College High School.
During his presentations, our students not only learned more about the European Space Agency and its initiatives but also gained insight into the importance of various academic disciplines - including Law, Psychology, Physics and Mathematics - in space exploration. In his speech, Dr. Rodriguez shared examples of important scientists who pursued their ideas with patience and perseverance, often challenging the dominant beliefs of their time, to achieve major scientific breakthroughs. Thus, he highlighted the importance of genuine curiosity, undimmed passion for learning and continuous effort for 21st century citizens.
Dr. José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez was a principal researcher on the Galileo Satellite Navigation project, and is considered to be one of the establishers of the Galileo signals that mobile phones in Europe receive, in order for the European Global Positioning System to operate. For his work, he received the European Inventor Award in 2017 by the European Patent Office. In 2019, he was awarded with the Cross of Aeronautical Merit by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, and he has also received numerous satellite navigation awards by the North American Navigation Institute in recent years. Since 2010, he has worked for the ESA and, until recently, served as Head of Galileo 2nd Generation System Security Services.
During his presentations, our students not only learned more about the European Space Agency and its initiatives but also gained insight into the importance of various academic disciplines - including Law, Psychology, Physics and Mathematics - in space exploration. In his speech, Dr. Rodriguez shared examples of important scientists who pursued their ideas with patience and perseverance, often challenging the dominant beliefs of their time, to achieve major scientific breakthroughs. Thus, he highlighted the importance of genuine curiosity, undimmed passion for learning and continuous effort for 21st century citizens.
Dr. José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez was a principal researcher on the Galileo Satellite Navigation project, and is considered to be one of the establishers of the Galileo signals that mobile phones in Europe receive, in order for the European Global Positioning System to operate. For his work, he received the European Inventor Award in 2017 by the European Patent Office. In 2019, he was awarded with the Cross of Aeronautical Merit by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, and he has also received numerous satellite navigation awards by the North American Navigation Institute in recent years. Since 2010, he has worked for the ESA and, until recently, served as Head of Galileo 2nd Generation System Security Services.
