Paulina Nunez, an Icon of Change in Spain

Icons of Change™

Icons of Change International Awards 2026  Paulina Núñez  Investigador Asociado, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights Coordinador de Educación, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria  Profesora de Humanidades, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria  Miembro del Consejo Editorial, Revista Misión General Member Board, Catholic.net General Member Board, ZENIT News Agency Profesora de Máster en Doctrina Social de la Iglesia, Universidad Finis Terrae  Director de proyecto, Laudato Si' UFV Formadora en el Colegio Mayor, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria Profesora, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria    SDG Focus: Goal 4: Quality Education  Changemaker for Integral Ecology, Sustainable Education and the Common Good (Spain)   ____________  Connecting Education, Integral Ecology and Social Responsibility  Paulina Núñez is recognised for her work advancing integral ecology, sustainability education and the role of universities in addressing interconnected social, environmental and ethical challenges. As a researcher, educator and communications professional based in Spain, she brings together academic inquiry, teaching, interdisciplinary dialogue and project development in pursuit of a more responsible and sustainable society.  Her professional approach is grounded in the understanding that environmental challenges cannot be addressed in isolation from human dignity, social responsibility, economic activity and the wellbeing of communities. Integral ecology provides an important framework for examining these relationships and encouraging responses that consider both people and the natural environment.  Through her work in higher education, research networks and civil society initiatives, Paulina promotes collaboration among academic institutions, businesses, public organisations and communities. Her contribution reflects a commitment to translating ideas and research into meaningful educational engagement and practical action.  ____________  Advancing Sustainability Through Higher Education  At Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV) in Madrid, Paulina serves as a Humanities professor and coordinates the university's Sustainability teaching team. In this role, she contributes to the development and coordination of educational approaches that help students examine sustainability through interdisciplinary and human-centred perspectives.  Her work recognises universities as important institutions in shaping the knowledge, values and capabilities needed to respond to contemporary challenges. Beyond technical understanding, sustainability education requires students to consider ethical responsibility, the relationship between human activity and the environment, and the long-term consequences of individual and collective decisions.  By coordinating teaching in sustainability and contributing to Humanities education, Paulina supports an approach that connects academic learning with reflection, responsible citizenship and the common good.

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00:00Thank you to the Icons of Change International Award 2026 for the recognition.

00:05I receive it with gratitude and a vote with humility.

00:10I accept this award not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of all the people, institutions,

00:16and communities with whom I have had the privilege to learn and to work.

00:22As a researcher, educator, and communicator, I have come to the belief that knowledge research

00:28is full of meaning when it's placed at the service of the others.

00:34My work has focused on integral ecology, a perspective that remind us that environmental,

00:41social, cultural, and human challenges are deeply interconnected.

00:45In this context, universities have a unique responsibility, not only to generate knowledge,

00:52but to contribute actively to the common good and to the sustainability transformation of society.

01:01I firmly believe that lasting change is never the result of individual efforts alone.

01:08It emerged from the collaboration, from dialogue, from the commitment of people,

01:13of the different institutions willing to work together in pursuit of a shared purpose.

01:19The challenges of our time required us to build bridges across disciplines, sectors, and cultures.

01:32This recognition is also an opportunity to acknowledge those who come before us.

01:38We move forward thanks to their vision, their courage, their generosity.

01:44In many ways, we see further because we stand on the shoulders of giants.

01:59At that moment, when the world urgently needs hope, responsibility, and cooperation,

02:04let us continue to place our talents, our knowledge, our leadership at the service of the people and the common

02:11home.

02:11May we never forget the most main change begins when the knowledge becomes service and when the service becomes shared

02:21commitment to the common good.

02:25Thank you very much for this recognition.

02:28Muchísimas gracias y vamos para adelante, que hay mucho trabajo.

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