Joan Anton Català

The total solar eclipse of August 12 has made the sky the protagonist this week, and has awakened interest in an exceptional phenomenon. Catalonia has several expert voices capable of explaining what happens beyond the eclipse, and among them is Joan Anton Català, a scientific popularizer specialized in astronomy. With a degree in Chemical Sciences from the University of Barcelona, specialized in Quantum, and a master's degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the International University of Valencia, Català has turned his knowledge of the cosmos into a tool to bring science closer to the general public, in a popularizing facet that, in his case, coexists with a long career in the business world.

This popularizing facet includes a dozen books, such as 100 cuestiones sobre el universo (100 Questions About the Universe), Hay alguien, ahí fuera (Is Someone Out There) and Una azarosa historia de la vida (A Haphazard History of Life). This year he has precisely published a book about the phenomenon that has been the protagonist of the week, L'eclipsi del segle (The Eclipse of the Century) (Cossetània). He also regularly collaborates with media, and is a coach and speaker. In the business field, he has held positions of responsibility in companies such as T-Systems and the Centre Informàtic de la Generalitat. Since 2008, he has directed Leading-On, his own consultancy, from which he has worked for clients ranging from the pharmaceutical sector to public administration. In addition, in 2015 he created A Space to Grow, a methodology that uses astronomy and space as a starting point to reflect on leadership, management, and innovation.