Federico Mayor Zaragoza is a Spanish scholar, politician, and diplomat, born on January 27, 1934, in Barcelona. He served as the Director-General of UNESCO from 1987 to 1999, where he emphasized education, cultural diversity, and scientific cooperation to promote peace and sustainable development. Before his tenure at UNESCO, he was Spain’s Minister of Education and Science and a Member of the European Parliament.

Mayor Zaragoza is a biochemist by training, having earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid and later becoming a professor and founder of the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center. After his time at UNESCO, he founded the Fundación Cultura de Paz to continue advocating for peace through education and cultural initiatives.

He has written extensively on peace, human rights, and international cooperation, receiving numerous awards and honorary doctorates for his contributions.