The Institute of Turolense Studies (IET), part of the Provincial Council of Teruel, is set to host a series of events in November that will delve into various cultural topics, beginning with a session on research ethics on 4 November.
The event titled "Researching with people: an ethical perspective on the entire research process" will take place at 5 PM in the auditorium of the Vice-Rectorate of the Teruel Campus. Coordinated by Rafael Gómez Navarro, deputy director of the Obispo Polanco University Hospital and scientific advisor to the IET, the session aims to engage the public with key ethical considerations that accompany any study involving human participants. This will be achieved through four lectures delivered by professionals from the Ethics Committee for Research in the Community of Aragon (CEICA).
The lectures will provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of how research is regulated, the most relevant ethical aspects, the role of ethics committees, the importance of informed consent, and the challenges associated with the responsible use of personal data in contemporary research. The first speaker will be Ignacio Giménez López, president of CEICA, who will present on the topic "Why is research regulated? Ethical principles and fundamental documents of research ethics." He will analyse key milestones, the values underpinning participant protection, and the international documents that ensure responsible scientific research that respects individual rights.
Following him, María González Hinjos, secretary of CEICA, will discuss "What is CEICA, what are its functions, and how to submit a study for evaluation." She will explain the role of ethics committees in safeguarding the rights, safety, and well-being of participants, as well as the review process that researchers must follow to obtain ethical approval for their projects.
In the third lecture, titled "Keys to informed consent: much more than a signature," Enric Soley Pérez, a representative of patient interests at CEICA, will focus on the fundamentals of consent, common errors identified by the committee during evaluations, and how to ensure the autonomy of patients with disabilities. Finally, Paula Tobajas Vinuesa, a member of CEICA, will address the topic "Data and research: ethical and responsible use," discussing the compatibility of scientific advancement with privacy protection, the legal and ethical obligations of researchers and institutions, and the necessary measures to safeguard sensitive information in biomedical research.
On 14 November, an exhibition titled "The fortified heritage of Teruel from the 10th to the 19th century" will open at the town hall of El Castellar at 7:30 PM, following its tour through various localities including Alba del Campo, Huesa del Común, Cutanda, and Calanda during the spring and summer of 2026. Visitors will be able to view the exhibition until 11 December, with specific visiting hours on 21 and 22 November from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM. For other times, interested parties must call 687 863 249 to arrange a visit.
Prior to the exhibition's opening, Rubén Sáez Abad, director of the Arcatur Studies Centre affiliated with IET, will give a talk on "The fortified heritage of Teruel," highlighting the growing cultural and tourist interest in Teruel's fortified architecture. These military and defensive structures are integral to the identity of Teruel's towns, and there is an increasing desire among local residents to protect, restore, and maintain them. These monuments not only provide visibility to the localities but also attract visitors, foster cultural activities, and indirectly benefit local businesses.
Javier Ibáñez González will also speak on "The castle of El Castellar: the mistaken fortress," clarifying that the structure often identified as the castle is, in fact, the old parish church.
On 17 November at 8 PM, the volume 13 of the informative collection "Cartillas Turolenses," titled "Modernist architecture in the city of Teruel and province," will be presented in Teruel at the noble hall of the Casino of Teruel. This work was previously introduced on 17 July in Manzanera, but will now be presented in conjunction with cultural activities for the Modernist Week of Teruel 2026, with author Antonio Pérez Sánchez recalling the quality of Teruel's modernism, which is included in the European Route of Modernism. Notable buildings in Teruel's historic centre include Casa Escriche, Casa Gómez, Casa Bayo, Casa Ferrán, Casa del Torico, and La Madrileña, while the Gúdar-Javalambre region boasts the highest concentration of modernist structures, such as Villa Amor in Manzanera and the building in Plaza del Carmen in Rubielos de Mora.
Other activities scheduled for November include:
- Exhibition "Turolense rural women. Creators of our history" from 2 to 20 November at the Víctor Romero Cultural Centre in Calanda.
- Conference on "Turolense Musical Heritage" by Carlos Paterson as part of the II Cycle of Polyphony in the Crown of Aragon on 6 November at 7 PM in the San Julián Sociocultural Centre.
- Inauguration of the exhibition "Alabaster Skies. A look at the territory that is not forgotten" in Alcañiz on 20 November at 7:30 PM in the municipal exhibition hall, running until 4 December.
