Federico Mayor Zaragoza was born in Barcelona in 1934. Doctor of Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid (1958). In 1963 Professor of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Granada, of which he was Rector (1968-1972). Professor of Biochemistry at the Autonomous University of Madrid (1973-2004), co-founder of the ‘Severo Ochoa’ Centre for Molecular Biology. Minister of Education and Science in the Spanish Government (1981-1982). Member of the European Parliament in 1987. Director-General of UNESCO from 1987-1999.

Chairman of the European Research Council Expert Group (2002-2005). Co-Chair of the High Level Group for the Alliance of Civilisations (2005-2006). President of “Initiative forScience in Europe” (2007-2010). Chairman of the Board of Directors of the IPS News Agency (2008-2012). President of the International Commission against the Death Penalty (2010-2017). President of the Participation Council of the Sierra Nevada Natural Area (2011-2017). In 1999 he created the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, of which he is President. In February 2016, Co-President of the University Institute for Human Rights, Democracy and Culture of Peace and Non-Violence (DEMOSPAZ).