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We live surrounded by news, videos, opinions, and messages that circulate at an unprecedented speed. However, being permanently connected doesn't always mean understanding the reality we live in better. In times of overinformation, learning to pause, analyze, and think critically has become a fundamental necessity to understand what is happening, make more conscious decisions, and build a more responsible citizenship.

 

 

Never before in history have we had access to as much information as we do today. News, images, videos, opinions, and analyses circulate constantly through mobile phones, social networks, and digital platforms. In a matter of seconds, we can learn about events happening anywhere in the world. However, this abundance of information does not necessarily translate into greater understanding.

We live in an era marked by speed. Information arrives continuously and at an accelerated pace, permanently competing for our attention. Brief headlines, content designed to go viral, and increasingly immediate messages shape the way we interpret reality. In many cases, we consume information without stopping to reflect on it.

The problem isn't the amount of information available, but rather how we process it. Digital dynamics favor speed and immediate reaction, but don't always lead to deep understanding. We read headlines without reviewing full content, share posts without verifying sources, and react emotionally before analyzing the facts.

This has generated a paradox characteristic of the times we live in: we are constantly informed, but we do not necessarily understand what is happening around us. We often confuse access to data with real knowledge. Knowing something superficially is not equivalent to understanding its causes, consequences, or implications.

Social media has profoundly transformed the way people interact with information. Today, news often circulates accompanied by intense emotions, polarized discourse, and immediate reactions. Digital logic prioritizes speed, visibility, and emotional impact. In this context, slow, deliberate thinking loses ground to the constant need to react.

Information overload can also lead to mental fatigue. An excess of stimuli causes saturation, hinders concentration, and fragments attention. We quickly jump from one piece of content to another while trying to stay updated on multiple topics simultaneously. This dynamic can reduce our analytical capacity and limit deep reflection on social, political, economic, or cultural phenomena.

Added to this is the problem of misinformation. Fake news, manipulated images, and out-of-context content spread with enormous ease in digital environments. But even when the information is true, a lack of context can lead to misinterpretations. An isolated figure, a video clip, or a sentence taken out of context can completely alter the perception of reality.

Faced with this scenario, critical thinking becomes an essential skill. Critical thinking doesn't mean distrusting everything, but rather developing the ability to analyze, contrast, and reflect before accepting information as true. It means asking yourself who is communicating, from what context, with what intention, and based on what evidence.

It also involves recognizing that our own beliefs influence how we interpret information. We often tend to more easily accept what confirms our prior ideas and reject what contradicts them. Digital platforms also tend to reinforce this phenomenon through algorithms that display content similar to what we already consume, creating information bubbles that limit the diversity of perspectives.

Thinking in times of overinformation requires recovering something that seems increasingly scarce: time to reflect.

Understanding requires stopping, reading beyond the headline, listening to other perspectives, and accepting that many realities are complex and cannot be explained in messages of a few seconds.

Therefore, educating for critical reading has become an urgent necessity. Not only in schools and universities, but also in daily life. Learning to verify sources, distinguish facts from opinions, and recognize manipulated content are fundamental skills for navigating responsibly in today's digital environment.

Information holds immense power. It can educate, connect, and positively transform societies. But it can also generate fear, confusion, and polarization when consumed without reflection or critical analysis. In this context, the real contemporary challenge is not just having access to information, but developing the ability to think about it.

In an era where everything seems to accelerate, pausing to think can become one of the most necessary and valuable acts of our time.

 

Asesórate Management Team

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In a world like the one we live in, where artificial intelligence, technology, and job changes are advancing at a rapid pace, learning is no longer a stage of life; it's a permanent necessity. Today, staying up-to-date doesn't depend on age, but on the willingness to adapt, relearn, and transform experience into a tool for continued personal and professional growth.

 

For a long time, society taught us that learning had defined stages. First, we studied, then we worked, and then came a stage of stability where the acquired knowledge seemed sufficient for a lifetime. However, today's world has profoundly changed that logic.

Today, we live in a reality marked by technological, economic, and social transformations that are evolving at an unprecedented speed. Artificial intelligence, automation, new work models, and digitalization are changing professions, routines, and ways of relating to each other. In this context, learning has ceased to be an activity limited to youth and has become a lifelong necessity.

The idea of “I've already studied, I've already trained” is starting to lose meaning. Every day new tools, new work dynamics, and new forms of communication emerge that demand constant updating.

However, this phenomenon should not be understood as pressure or a threat. It is an opportunity to reinvent oneself, discover new skills, and remain intellectually and socially active.

One of the biggest current challenges is the fear of being left behind. Many people feel insecure about technological changes because they perceive that the world is moving too fast. This feeling particularly affects those who believe that learning new digital tools or adapting to new work dynamics belongs exclusively to younger generations. However, accumulated experience still holds enormous value.

Continuous learning doesn't mean constantly starting from scratch, but rather integrating new knowledge with previous experience. Human skills such as analytical ability, empathy, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving remain fundamental and are difficult to replace. What changes is the need to complement them with new competencies that allow one to navigate different scenarios.

Furthermore, learning not only has work implications. It also strengthens autonomy, self-esteem, and social participation. Various studies have shown that people who maintain active learning processes develop greater emotional adaptability, improve their confidence, and preserve their cognitive abilities more robustly.

This cultural shift also forces us to rethink how we understand age. For years, it was assumed that certain stages of life were associated with productivity and others with retirement or passivity. Today, we observe a different reality. People in their 50s, 60s, and older continue to pursue education, start businesses, participate in projects, and learn new technological tools. Contemporary longevity is transforming the relationship between age, knowledge, and social participation.

However, it must be considered that not everyone has the same opportunities to access update and training processes. Economic, educational, and technological gaps can lead to exclusion. Therefore, one of the major current social challenges is to democratize access to knowledge and promote accessible, flexible, and inclusive learning spaces.

It's also important to understand that learning doesn't always mean accumulating degrees or certifications. It often involves developing new ways of thinking, broadening perspectives, questioning habits, or incorporating practical life skills. Learning can be listening, observing, conversing, researching, and maintaining intellectual curiosity about the world.

In times when information changes rapidly, adaptability has become one of the most valuable tools for facing uncertainty. Societies that encourage lifelong learning will be better prepared to respond to the technological, economic, and human challenges that characterize this era.

Perhaps the biggest change isn't technological, but cultural. Lifelong learning implies accepting that we never stop transforming. It means understanding that experience and updating are not opposites, but complementary. And, above all, recognizing that remaining open to learning is a way to continue actively participating in the present.

In a constantly changing world, the real advantage won't always be knowing more than others, but being willing to keep learning.

 

Asesórate Management Team

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We've never had so many ways to communicate, and yet millions of people experience feelings of loneliness and emotional disconnection. In a hyper-connected society, digital presence doesn't always guarantee real bonds. Understanding today how human relationships are built is key to reflecting on emotional well-being, community, and a sense of belonging.

 

 

 

We live in an era where communication seems to have no limits. Instant messages, video calls, social media, and digital platforms allow us to interact with people anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds. However, behind this hyperconnectivity, an increasingly visible reality emerges: many people feel profoundly lonely.

Contemporary loneliness doesn't always mean the physical absence of people. It often appears even when surrounded by messages, contacts, and constant digital activity. It's a deeper feeling related to the lack of meaningful connections, genuine listening, and spaces for real emotional connection.

The paradox is evident. The more technologically connected we are, the more difficulties seem to arise in building deep and sustainable relationships. Part of this phenomenon is related to the accelerated pace of current life. Long workdays, daily stress, work pressure, and constant hyperconnectivity leave less and less space for unhurried conversations and meaningful encounters.

Social media also influences this dynamic. While they allow for staying in touch and sharing experiences, they often promote quick, superficial, and image-focused relationships. Constant comparison with others' seemingly perfect lives can increase feelings of isolation, inadequacy, or emotional disconnection.

Furthermore, digital life has transformed the way we express emotions. In many cases, we substitute deep conversations for brief interactions, immediate reactions, or quick messages. Little by little, face-to-face dialogue loses ground to fragmented communication.

Loneliness affects all ages, although it manifests in different ways. Hyper-connected young people can feel emotionally isolated despite having hundreds of digital contacts. Adults face difficulties balancing work, family, and social life. Migrant individuals experience the added challenge of rebuilding connections far from their original networks. And many older adults experience processes of isolation related to family changes, retirement, or loss of social participation opportunities.

In recent years, various international organizations have begun to warn about the impact of loneliness on physical and emotional health. Prolonged isolation can affect psychological well-being, increase levels of anxiety and stress, and even influence cardiovascular and cognitive health. Loneliness is not solely an individual emotional experience; it also constitutes a social and community challenge.

Therefore, it is important to differentiate between being alone and feeling alone. There are people who enjoy chosen moments of solitude as a form of rest, creativity, or personal reflection. The problem arises when emotional disconnection becomes persistent, generating a sense of emptiness, misunderstanding, or lack of belonging.

Faced with this reality, rebuilding meaningful human connections becomes a fundamental necessity. Listening attentively, reclaiming spaces for meeting, strengthening communities, and generating authentic conversations are actions that acquire enormous value in an accelerated and digitized society.

It is also necessary to rethink how we build community. For a long time, social bonds developed primarily in face-to-face spaces: neighborhoods, public squares, schools, associations, or frequent family gatherings. Today, many of those dynamics have changed, and that forces us to create new, more conscious and human forms of social connection.

Technology isn't the problem in itself. In fact, it can bring people closer, maintain long-distance relationships, and generate valuable support networks. The challenge lies in preventing digital connection from completely replacing the depth of real human bonds.

Perhaps one of the greatest contemporary challenges is precisely learning to coexist amid so much speed without losing the ability to listen, accompany, and build authentic relationships. Because in the end, beyond technology and screens, people still need to feel seen, understood, and part of something bigger than ourselves.

In times of hyperconnectivity, taking care of human connections can become one of the most important forms of collective well-being.

Asesórate Management Team

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Research should not end only in an article or a report. In complex social contexts, knowledge becomes meaningful when it is transferred, applied and generates impact. In this Let's talk about “When research is not just publishing: knowledge that translates into action” we reflect on research as an ethical responsibility and as a bridge between academic analysis, social action and decision making.

 

 

 

For a long time, research has been associated mainly with the production of articles, reports and academic publications. Publishing has been, and continues to be, the legitimate way to validate knowledge and share it with the scientific community. However, in increasingly complex and changing social contexts, this logic becomes insufficient. Research today requires going beyond publication to ask about the real impact of the knowledge generated.

Today's societies face profound challenges: persistent inequalities, prolonged economic crises, demographic transformations, social tensions and a growing distrust of institutions. In this scenario, research cannot limit itself to describing problems; it is called upon to contribute to their situated understanding and the search for viable solutions. When knowledge does not dialogue with social reality, it runs the risk of becoming isolated and losing relevance.

One of the main challenges is the gap that still exists between the academic world and the contexts where the problems manifest themselves. Often, research results do not reach decision makers, policy makers or program implementers. This disconnection not only reduces the social impact of knowledge, but also weakens confidence in research as a tool for transformation.

Meaningful research implies assuming that knowledge has an ethical responsibility. It is not only a matter of complying with methodological standards or scientific quality criteria, but also of asking why and for whom research is being done. This view demands research processes that are more open, participatory and connected to the social actors involved, recognizing their knowledge, experiences and needs.

 

Within this framework, applied and situated research becomes relevant, that which starts from the contextual diagnosis, dialogues with the territories and is built in interaction with the subjects of study. This approach does not renounce scientific rigor; on the contrary, it strengthens it by incorporating the complexity of reality and contrasting theoretical frameworks with concrete experience.

Another key aspect is the transfer of knowledge. Research does not end when the results are published, but when they are translated into understandable and useful inputs for different audiences. Executive reports, policy recommendations, practical tools, training spaces and accompaniment processes are ways of taking knowledge beyond the academic sphere. Transfer does not simplify the content, it makes it accessible without losing depth.

Likewise, action-oriented research favors collective learning. By linking research and practice, feedback processes are generated that allow for adjusting hypotheses, enriching analysis and improving interventions. Knowledge ceases to be a closed product and becomes a dynamic process in permanent construction.

It is important to note that this form of research requires time, commitment and a redefinition of traditional roles. Researchers assume a role closer to that of knowledge facilitators and organizations and communities become active actors in the process. This more horizontal relationship contributes to produce more relevant and sustainable results, so that, finally, we can say that research is not only about publishing, it means recognizing that knowledge acquires value when it is shared, discussed and applied. In contexts of high social complexity such as those we live in today, research has the potential to guide decisions, improve policies and strengthen institutional practices. To this end, it must continue to be rigorous, but also open, ethical and committed to social transformation.

When research is translated into action, knowledge becomes meaningful and becomes a powerful tool to face contemporary challenges.

Asesórate Management Team

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Managing in turbulent times is no longer an exception, it has become the norm. Permanent uncertainty, social pressure and scarcity of resources force us to rethink how we decide, lead and plan. In this Let's talk about... we reflect on management in complex contexts, where we continue to believe that ethics, environmental reading and strategic flexibility are key to sustaining sound strategic decisions.

 

For some years now, we have been noticing that management is no longer exercised in stable or predictable scenarios. What we used to call crisis has become part of the daily life of organizations, projects and institutions. Accelerated changes, social tensions, resource restrictions and growing demands are now part of the usual context in which decisions are made.

In this new scenario, managing is no longer just about planning ahead or applying predefined models. Decision-making implies making decisions with incomplete information, under pressure and assuming that the environment can change at any time. For this reason, we are increasingly reflecting on the need for a management capable of reading the context, interpreting signals and acting judiciously in the midst of complexity.

Managing in turbulent times means accepting that uncertainty is not a transitory stage, but a permanent condition. Decision-making takes place in the midst of rapid changes, limited resources and high social expectations, and where the human impact of each action is increasingly visible. In this framework, leading ceases to be a purely technical exercise and becomes a deeply ethical and situated practice.

One of the main challenges in these contexts is the temptation to paralysis or immediate reaction. Faced with uncertainty, some organizations choose not to decide (wait), hoping that the scenario will become clearer. Others respond impulsively, copying external solutions or applying decontextualized measures. Both responses tend to generate more fragility: the first immobilizes, the second deepens errors and weakens confidence.

 

 

Turbulent periods are also characterized by constant pressure on decision-makers. Expectations are high, margins for error are reduced and the consequences of each action are amplified. This occurs both in public management and in social, academic and business organizations. Decision-making is no longer just a question of efficiency or results, but of responsibility towards people, communities and territories.

In this scenario, management needs to rethink itself from new perspectives. One of them is the reading of context. Understanding the social, political and economic environment, as well as the internal dynamics of the teams and communities with which we work, becomes as important as financial or regulatory analysis. Without a contextual diagnosis, decisions are unlikely to be sustainable over time.

Another fundamental key is strategic flexibility. Managing in turbulent times does not mean improvising, but designing strategies capable of adapting, revising and adjusting continuously. Rigid plans tend to fail when reality changes faster than their implementation. Flexible approaches, on the other hand, allow learning from the process, correcting course and maintaining coherence without losing meaning.

Active listening also plays a central role. In complex contexts, decisions cannot be made from a vertical and isolated logic. Incorporating the voices of teams, social actors and territories not only improves the quality of decisions, but also strengthens their legitimacy and sustainability. Listening does not weaken leadership; it humanizes it and makes it more effective.

Likewise, ethics and consistency take on special weight. When resources are scarce and tensions increase, decisions clearly reveal the values that guide an organization. Managing in crisis implies prioritizing with clear criteria, assuming responsibilities and maintaining coherence between discourse and action, even when the cost is high or the solutions are not immediate.

Finally, it is important to recognize that leading in turbulent times does not mean having all the answers. It implies accepting uncertainty as part of the process, communicating honestly, generating trust and building collective meaning in the face of uncertain scenarios. Management ceases to be an exercise of absolute control and becomes a process of guidance, accompaniment and continuous learning.

In short, managing when uncertainty is the norm requires a more comprehensive, human and contextualized approach. It is not only a matter of resisting the crisis, but also of developing the ability to act with judgment, responsibility and flexibility in the midst of complexity. Because, in turbulent times, making decisions continues to be inevitable, and doing so through conscious management can make the difference between fragility and the possibility of transformation.

Asesórate Management Team

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Polarization and the loss of spaces for listening are weakening the collective. When dialogue breaks down, coexistence is fragmented and public and organizational decisions are impoverished. In this Let's talk about, we reflect on the urgency of rebuilding spaces of encounter, recognition and mediation, taking human diversity as the basis for strengthening social cohesion in increasingly complex contexts.

 

 

 

In recent years, social dialogue has become increasingly fragile. Positions are hardening, differences are becoming more radical and spaces for listening are shrinking. Polarization not only permeates politics, but also social relations, organizations, communities and decision-making processes. In this context, sustaining the collective becomes one of the greatest challenges of our time.

When dialogue breaks down, the first thing that suffers is trust. Mistrust of others who think differently or of those who come from a different experience or context weakens bonds and fragments coexistence. In polarized societies, disagreement ceases to be an opportunity for construction and becomes perceived as a threat. The result is an impoverishment of public debate and an increasing difficulty in reaching minimum consensus.

This breakdown in dialogue has profound consequences. In the field of public policy, it results in decisions that are disconnected from social realities or in measures imposed without legitimacy. In organizations, it generates tense work climates, blocks collaboration and hinders conflict management. In communities, it erodes the sense of belonging and reinforces dynamics of exclusion and isolation.

One of the most frequent mistakes in the face of polarization is to try to avoid conflict. However, conflict is not the problem in itself. Diverse and complex societies are, by definition, scenarios of different interests, visions and needs. The real problem arises when there is a lack of tools to manage these differences constructively. Where there is no dialogue, conflict becomes chronic or is expressed violently, symbolically or silently.

 

Sustaining the collective in polarized contexts requires, in the first place, recognizing diversity as a constitutive fact of social life. It is not a matter of seeking artificial unanimity, but of generating conditions in which differences can be expressed, heard and dealt with. Dialogue does not eliminate tensions, but it makes it possible to transform them into possible learning and agreements.

In this sense, meeting spaces play a central role. They do not arise spontaneously nor are they maintained by inertia; they require design, care and political and institutional will. Dialogue roundtables, participatory processes, mediation and community dynamics are key tools for rebuilding trust and strengthening the collective. Their value lies not only in the concrete results they generate, but in the very process of listening and mutual recognition.

Another fundamental element is active listening. Listening implies much more than hearing; it implies being willing to understand the other's point of view, even when it is not shared. In polarized societies, listening becomes a profoundly political and ethical act. It allows us to humanize the other, to break stereotypes and to open cracks in closed discourses.

Likewise, sustaining the collective requires leadership capable of facilitating dialogue, not exacerbating confrontation. Leading in these contexts implies moderating, mediating and building bridges, even when this does not always generate immediate consensus or quick results. It is a leadership that is committed to long-term processes and to building trust as the basis for coexistence.

Finally, it is important to say that the collective is not a given state, but a permanent construction. It is strengthened when there are clear rules, channels of participation and an ethic of recognition. It is weakened when imposition, exclusion or silence prevail. In times of polarization, caring for the collective is not a naïve gesture, but an essential strategy for social sustainability.

Recovering the word, listening and encounter is a necessary condition to face contemporary challenges and to build more cohesive and just societies, capable of living together in diversity.

 

Asesórate Management Team

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2025 was a year in which Asesórate Consultores Asociados reaffirmed its reason for being: to produce useful knowledge, generate social impact and strengthen capabilities to transform realities. A year to consolidate learning, to weave new alliances and to assume with conviction the commitment to continue building a fairer and more inclusive society.

Asesórate has earned a place as an entity that thinks, researches, designs, trains and accompanies. Our approach has always been clear: to unite scientific rigor with social commitment. From Spain and with academic and social allies in different countries, we have promoted research-action projects, social innovation and specialized training that respond to the real challenges of our communities.

This year we moved forward with a renewed and strengthened team. Our President and CEO, together with a Board of Directors with complementary expertise -management, research, data, pedagogy, communication- led the institutional consolidation and strategic projection for the coming years. The incorporation of external specialists, according to the needs of each project, allowed us to enrich our work with a diversity of professional perspectives.

Our mission and vision also guided us with clarity: research to transform, train to empower and design social technologies that improve people's lives and enhance their well-being. On this basis, we strengthened six strategic lines of research: post-pandemic emotional well-being, human rights, migration and interculturality, education and digital transformation, social technology and participatory methodologies, and updating in emerging areas of knowledge.

It was also a year of large-scale projects. “Voces en Común”, focused on migration, intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and community intervention in Barcelona, allowed us to further deepen a fundamental issue of our time. On the other hand, “VIVIRED”, focused on the emotional health of the elderly, is moving towards its first version of a mobile application to strengthen bonds and counteract unwanted loneliness. And “Mente en Juego - Conecta y Desconecta”, benefited by the Mapfre Ignacio Larramendi Grant, represents an innovative bet for the emotional and digital wellbeing of early childhood. Finally, we are working on the proposal “Barcelona: blurring borders”, which promotes mutual recognition in diverse and changing contexts. All these projects share a common principle: putting people and their communities at the center.

Training was another of our strengths. We participated in highly specialized programs with academic institutions such as the National Academy of Medicine of Venezuela, UCAM and UCAB, addressing frontier issues: artificial intelligence in research and scientific ethics, human rights of vulnerable groups, migration and new forms of citizenship. We also developed webinars open to the public on scientific arbitration, migration policies, impact-based planning and -very specially- a webinar to break down prejudices and revalue the social role of people from 60 to 80 years old: “Beyond ageism”.

Our line of mentoring continued to grow, accompanying researchers and professionals in different phases of their projects, reinforcing personalized learning and the improvement of research practice.

In the editorial area, we strengthened our intellectual production with the series “Let's talk about...”, a space that brings expert knowledge closer to citizens in a friendly and thoughtful language. The topics addressed -migrations, social memories, childhood, renewable energies, feminism, digital intelligence and more- reflect the diversity of voices and perspectives that make Asesórate a vibrant and plural community.

 

2025 also marked a qualitative leap in institutional communication. We renewed our website, updated visual and informative materials and strengthened our presence in networks, now managed internally with a new vision, aesthetics and strategy. Asesórate's identity grew towards a modern, coherent image, with messages aligned with our values: rigor, ethics, excellence and humanity.

From the administrative management, we comply with the legal and fiscal obligations of our association, and we apply our projects to European and Spanish calls for proposals, paving the way for the next cycles of research and funding.

The achievements of 2025 can be summarized in one key phrase: knowledge that turns into action. Actions that connect, that accompany, that teach, that question and that create opportunities for those who need them most. And, above all, actions that are built collectively.

We look forward to 2026 with enthusiasm and clear objectives: to execute the projects we have developed with such care, expand our network of partnerships, position ourselves even more in the field of social innovation and inclusive technologies, and expand our training and mentoring offerings to reach further and more people.

We close this year with deep gratitude. To our team for their constant dedication, to the institutions and organizations that trust us, and to all the people who inspire us every day to continue. Your support makes it possible for our ideas to come to life and for our work to make sense.

 

This year we did it together.

Next time, we will continue to transform together.

Josefa Orfila - Adelaida Struck - Rita Amelii - Mony Vidal - Francisco J Fernandez

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Christmas is a season that arouses emotion, it means different things to each one of us, and that is precisely where its richness lies. Recognizing the plurality of meanings that each person gives it from their own history. In our traditions are linked memories that accompany us all our lives: the smells of the kitchen, the melodies that each year sound in the background, the embrace of those who are no longer with us but who return in the form of shared stories and anecdotes. Remembering is also celebrating, thanking and recognizing that the bonds we have woven are still alive in our emotional memory. In times of accelerated changes and social and economic challenges, Christmas goes beyond a repeated ritual, it invites us to look inward and ask ourselves what sustains us, what values move us, what relationships strengthen us and what dreams we want to make come true.

For some people it is family, celebration, reunions and laughter around a table. For others, it is nostalgia, memory and silence. For many, it is a time of faith and gratitude and for many others, a period in which loneliness and absences weigh a little more than usual.

Christmas is not only a personal time, it is also a social space. Getting together does not necessarily mean big parties; it can be the simple gesture of a call to someone who is far away, a pending conversation, a shared cup of coffee. These are gestures that say: “I am here”. In a society that currently pushes us towards individualism, this time reminds us that we do not walk alone, that we are a community, a network of support and mutual care. This time invites us to look beyond our affective boundaries, to recognize the neighbor, the migrant, the grandparent who lives in loneliness, the one who is going through an illness or an economic hardship. No celebration is complete if we forget the empathy that is the bridge that allows us to see the humanity of the other.

This is also the time to imagine new beginnings. Calendars are renewed and with them the possibility of dreaming differently. Hope is not naivety; it is the ability to see the light even in complex moments. It is the belief that there is a kinder, fairer and more humane tomorrow. Every smile we give, every act of solidarity, every word that reconciles is a seed and Christmas offers us the fertile time to sow it. Hope has many forms: it can be the desire for greater family peace, the illusion of a personal project that is opening up, the conviction that wounds also heal and that relationships can be reunited.

For those who live Christmas in faith, this time brings with it the message of love that is present and life that is renewed. But even beyond religious beliefs, there is a lay spirituality that this time awakens: the search for meaning, the need for hope, the desire for peace in our lives and in our societies.

Christmas is also about asking ourselves how we can be a mirror of goodness for those around us and how we can bring light within our possibilities, from a simple gesture to a decision that transforms. It is a reminder that making the commitment to build a better future begins with small steps that are within our reach.

Today, when distances feel shorter thanks to technology, but emotional disconnections seem to be deeper, perhaps it is more necessary than ever to ask ourselves what is essential to us, what deserves our time and attention.

May this December not be measured only in purchases or commitments, but in authentic encounters. May we give less things and more company, less haste and more listening, less perfection and more genuine affection. Christmas can be an opportunity to slow down, to reconnect with what is important and to understand that happiness is nourished by real bonds and gestures that come from the heart.

Finally, we can say that for us, Christmas is a profound act of humanity and gratitude. Acknowledging others, opening spaces of affection, reaching out and sharing life. It is there, in these small daily actions, where Christmas reveals its transforming power. Let us remember that hope is still alive, that love is still our greatest driving force, that every life deserves dignity and that solidarity makes us a community. In a world that is sometimes filled with uncertainty, Christmas reminds us that there is always an opportunity to unite, to heal and to build together a more just, more empathetic and brighter future.

Josefa Orfila - Adelaida Struck - Rita Amelii - Mony Vidal - Francisco J Fernandez

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This act of homage to the one who deserves it, to the one who is still with us, to the one who really forged a generation of physical anthropologists guided by a deep knowledge of the subject, scientific rigor and standards of duty, behavior and punctuality, consistent with a research professional, was undoubtedly worthwhile.

Why? Because it allowed us to celebrate with a sincere motive, admiration and respect, because it united in a single day, students, colleagues from different parts of the world, her family, always with a common memory, Prof. Betty.

Because it contributed to every member of Asesórate, adding a good idea, so that the event was a success, so that no one or nothing was missing, so that our Honoree felt at home. One more example that teamwork is what works. Thank you!

Because, in addition, it is evident that time passes, but people and their deeds remain. This is very important. It allows to discern with clarity and certainty that you did not make a mistake in your path, that you found great people in it and that walking together, forming teams, is what enhances the value of science.

For my part, I feel happy, satisfied. I can say, a tribute that was conceived from the sincere affection, admiration and gratitude to a great teacher.

I think the best way to write this Let's talk about the event, is by several hands. I now pass the pen to Josefa, who has been the architect in the consolidation of this event and who, having listened to the words of our honoree, expresses: “...The summary we have heard is a beautiful memory of her life. And precisely, I would like to take advantage of this space to share a brief academic reflection on the subject: The usefulness of memories in research. Memory is not just a nostalgic recollection. In science, memory, understood as the sum of trajectory, experience and documented legacy, is an essential tool. The legacy of Dr. Méndez that we celebrate today is irrefutable proof of this. In research, especially in Physical or Biological Anthropology, memory operates at two crucial levels and Dr. Méndez has been a constant reference for her academic demand, ethics, discipline and order in research. This is methodological memory in action. She has taught us that the way research is conducted is as vital as the result. The memory of her rigor is what prevents us from making past mistakes and what ensures the quality of the data today. It is his example of how to get a measurement right, how to interpret data, and how to maintain scientific integrity. His commitment to order made it clear to us that rigorous methodology must be an institutional memory that is passed on from generation to generation, ensuring that knowledge is cumulative and reliable.

The second level is the documentary memory, which is embodied in his valuable scientific production. His recent article: “Academic journey: from curiosity to specialty.” published in the journal Anales de Nutrición (2025, https://doi.org/10.54624/2025.38.1.005 ) exhibits what is a memory in itself. He not only presents data, but contextualizes his journey, offering the map of an intellectual journey of great magnitude, in which each of us has played our part. His work becomes, once again, a bibliographic reference of the first order. His constancy and dedication reflect that memory is not static, it is a dynamic memory that is continually updated.

Professor Betty's Anthropology is not a museum discipline, it is an applied science that has strengthened fields such as health, nutrition and sports. This is where the usefulness of this memoir becomes tangible.

Today, as we celebrate her academic and human legacy, we are celebrating the usefulness of memory personified. Profe Betty has left us more than articles; she has left us a didactic memory in the classroom, an ethical memory in research and an affective memory in every sustained encounter. She taught us that the best way to honor the scientific past is not only to remember it, but to use it to move forward. She is the integral colleague and the constant referent of a journey of excellence, curiosity and commitment...”

 

Dear Profe Betty - Dr. Betty Méndez de Pérez: the mark you have left on us is not just a memory. It is the living memory that drives us. Thank you, we have learned a lot. Thank you for your immense legacy!

Josefa Orfila - Adelaida Struck - Rita Amelii - Mony Vidal - Francisco J Fernandez

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most profound technological transformations of our time. Its ability to process data, generate answers and support decision-making in multiple fields, such as medicine, education, business management or scientific research, opens up possibilities never seen before.
However, the question we must ask ourselves as a society is clear: how to ensure that this powerful tool is developed and used with social awareness?

Technological progress has never been neutral. Each innovation reflects the priorities, values and structures of the society that produces it. In the case of AI, the risk of reproducing inequalities, reinforcing stereotypes or amplifying exclusions remains present, unless criteria of responsibility and social justice are incorporated into its design and application.
Instead of just asking ourselves what artificial intelligence can do, it becomes imperative to think about what it should do and for whom? The visible benefits in the field of health, such as earlier diagnoses, analysis of medical images and management of personalized treatments, are a fact. In education, it allows the design of resources adapted to the needs of each student, promoting the inclusion of those who require differentiated support. In knowledge management, it speeds up research processes, facilitates the organization of large volumes of information and opens doors to collaborative networking. These achievements are undeniable and constitute a positive potential for improving the quality of life of millions of people. However, behind the benefits also lie ethical and social dilemmas that we cannot ignore.
Among the latent risks is the generation of bias. If algorithms are trained with incomplete data or loaded with historical bias, the results may perpetuate discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, age or socioeconomic status.
Another challenge is the digital divide. While some countries and social sectors have access to the most advanced technological resources, others are left behind, widening the gap between those who participate in innovation and those who only receive it passively. This inequality directly affects vulnerable groups and raises the need for public policies that promote equitable access to technology.
Privacy is another central issue. The massive use of personal data to power AI systems requires clear regulatory frameworks that protect fundamental rights. In democratic societies, transparency and informed consent must be at the heart of any technological development.

In the face of all these risks, the concept of «socially conscious AI» becomes relevant. It is not a matter of attributing conscience to the machine, but of ensuring that its design, implementation and use are guided by ethical values and principles of justice. This implies:
1. Inclusive designs: integrate diversity in the teams that create algorithms, to avoid partial views that reproduce bias.
Transparency: ensuring that citizens understand how and why the AI makes certain decisions.
3. Shared responsibility: governments, companies, educational institutions and civil society must work together in the construction of regulatory frameworks and best practices.
4. Critical digital education: preparing new generations to interact with AI not only as users, but also as citizens capable of questioning, understanding and deciding on its social impact.

The irruption of artificial intelligence brings with it a historic opportunity to rethink the future, confronting us with the choice of allowing technological development to become an end in itself or transforming it into a means to build fairer, more inclusive and sustainable societies.
We must direct AI advances toward collective goals that strengthen human dignity, equity and solidarity.

As researchers and consultants, we believe that the key is to promote an interdisciplinary approach that combines scientific rigor with social sensitivity. AI should not only be a technical issue, but a field of dialogue between sciences, humanities and citizenship. By doing so, we will be able to direct its use towards improving everyday life, preventing it from becoming an instrument of control or exclusion.

In conclusion, we can affirm that artificial intelligence is, by itself, neither good nor bad. It is a reflection of human decisions and of the values that guide us in its construction. Betting on artificial intelligence with a social conscience means recognizing that technological progress must be at the service of collective welfare and not the other way around. The future is in our hands: we can allow AI to amplify inequalities or we can use it to weave a more inclusive and just society. The choice, as always, rests with us.

 

Asesórate Consultores Asociados Academic Team

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