The Maria del Tura de Bolòs Memorial, scheduled for 21 November, will pay tribute to the influential geographer from Olot, marking the centenary of her birth. This event is open to the public and is part of the Year of Maria del Tura de Bolòs, an official commemoration initiated by the Generalitat de Catalunya for 2026.
The memorial will take place at the Sala Magma in l'Espai Cràter, organised by l'Espai Cràter and the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of Garrotxa. It aims to honour one of the most prominent figures in 20th-century Catalan geography and to highlight her scientific, academic, and human legacy through the participation of family members, researchers, universities, and local organisations.
Maria del Tura de Bolòs (Olot, 1926 – Barcelona, 2024) was a key figure in the development of contemporary Catalan geography. Specialising in biogeography and landscape science, she dedicated part of her career to studying the vegetation of Garrotxa and other regions, contributing to the understanding of landscape transformation and identifying areas of high natural value that needed preservation. She taught and conducted research at the University of Barcelona, playing a significant role in establishing geography studies and training generations of geographers. Her academic career culminated in 1981 when she became the first female professor of Physical Geography at a Spanish university.
The day's events will commence at 10 am with a musical welcome by Agnès Algueró. Following this, Dr. Jordi Bolòs Masclans, the honouree's nephew, will speak on “The most human and familial side of Maria del Tura de Bolòs.” The programme will continue with a session dedicated to her professional and academic legacy, featuring contributions from Dr. Josep Vila Subirós (University of Girona) and Dr. Montserrat Salvà Catarineu (University of Barcelona), who will review her main contributions to Catalan geography. Sònia Ruiz Conesa from the Catalan Geography Society will discuss the role played by the honouree within the organisation.
The final segment of the memorial will focus on initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting the figure of Maria del Tura de Bolòs. In this context, Anna Espadalé Gelis will present the book Investigadoras, pioneras y activistas por el medio ambiente en Cataluña. Mujeres extraordinarias que han cambiado el mundo. Volumen 1, published by the Gender Team of the Department of Territory, which features Maria del Tura de Bolòs among twelve remarkable women. Marc Portella from the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation will outline activities planned for the Science Week.
Throughout the day, attendees will have access to a mobile library showcasing publications related to Maria del Tura de Bolòs, geography, and landscape. Commemorative books and bookmarks will also be distributed to participants. This memorial continues the efforts by l'Espai Cràter and the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of Garrotxa to disseminate scientific knowledge and celebrate figures connected to the region, following the Oriol de Bolòs Memorial held in 2024.
The event is supported by the Bolòs family, the University of Girona, the University of Barcelona, the Catalan Geography Society, the Department of Territory, the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation, the Landscape Observatory, and various libraries and documentation centres with archival materials related to the honouree.
