IPTC Proudly Celebrates Recognition of Its Members by URSI-Spain
On April 7, 2026, the Board of URSI-Spain announced the appointment of its first group of Honorary Members, recognizing outstanding professional careers and key contributions to the development of radio science in Spain. This distinction highlights decades of dedication, particularly the work carried out since the 1980s within the framework of the National URSI Symposium.
Among those honored are distinguished professionals who have played a fundamental role in strengthening the radio science community, enhancing its national and international impact. Their recognition not only celebrates individual achievements but also underscores the importance of a generation that helped shape the growth and prestige of this scientific field.
Among those distinguished as Honorary Members are two senior members of the IPTC: Félix Pérez Martínez and Manuel Sierra Castañer.
Félix Pérez Martínez is a Professor Emeritus and a key institutional figure at UPM, where he notably served as the Director of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación (ETSIT) between 2013 and 2021. An Engineer and PhD holder from the university itself, he has dedicated decades to academic management, previously directing the Department of Signals, Systems, and Radiocommunications (SSR) and spearheading the connection between academia and the professional sector.
In the technical arena, he is an international benchmark in radar and radiofrequency technologies, directing strategic chairs with companies such as Indra and the Ministry of Defence. His career has been honored with distinctions such as the Crosses of Naval and Military Merit; furthermore, he was named Engineer of the Year in 2020 by the COIT, consolidating his legacy as one of the pillars of telecommunications engineering in Spain.
Manuel Sierra Castañer is a prominent Professor and Telecommunications Engineer (1994, PhD 2000) from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), with a career spanning over 25 years at the institution. He is currently the Director of the ETSIT-UPM (since 2021) and head of the Radiation Group, standing out for his management in internationalization, development cooperation (2010–2020), and his research leadership in antennas.
Having earned both his Engineering degree and PhD from the same university, he serves as a Full Professor in the Department of Signals, Systems, and Radiocommunications (SSR), where he has accumulated nearly three decades of teaching experience. Beyond his work at the School, he held a significant role within the Rectorate as the Director of Development Cooperation and Relations with Latin America for a decade.
In the research field, he leads the Radiation Group and is an international authority in antenna design and measurement. In recognition of this work, he received the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from the AMTA in the United States in 2024. His profile is characterized by a balance of high-level academic management and consistent scientific output, having supervised numerous doctoral theses and contributed to over 250 technical publications.
Both honorees are also members of the Information Processing and Telecommunications Center (IPTC), R&D Centre of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) which has expressed great pride in their achievements, emphasizing their commitment to excellence, innovation, and the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Through this initiative, URSI-Spain reaffirms its commitment to recognizing excellence and preserving the legacy of those who have significantly contributed to the field, inspiring future generations of scientists.
More information: https://ursi.es/ursi-spain/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iptc-upm/
For more information: www.iptc.upm.es
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