Ernesto Pereda, professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of La Laguna, appears mentioned in the so-called Epstein papers for an offer he received to participate in research in 2018, which he rejected upon learning that the magnate was financing it, a decision he has expressed pride in.
"They offered me to do research on electroencephalogram in humans, my field of work, with some colleagues in London who had the contact, but upon seeing where the money came from, we decided to resign," he explained on his X account after his name appeared mentioned among the disclosed documents"So there was no payment and no study was done, a decision that I am glad about every day," he added
He explained that the study was pioneering and was led by an international team of prestigious researchers, but he resigned from participating when he learned who was financing it.
"Although at the time we lost the money and the collaboration, resigning was a simple decision, and we gained a much more important intangible: peace of mind," says the professor, who confesses that he had forgotten that episode and never imagined that this story would gain notoriety years later.
According to Pereda, "it is not usual to be news for what you don't do, but in this case much better so".
"Now, seeing it all in perspective, I think about the luck one has to be able to choose how and with whom one works," comments the professor before quoting Antonio Machado: "after all, I owe you nothing".The professor congratulates himself on having placed himself "on the right side of history" and expresses pride in not having participated in the research thanks to his good judgment and principles, so that neither he nor the University have found themselves "facing the opprobrium of having to explain the acceptance of these funds, regardless of the interest of the work or the collaboration".
"The study was finally taken on by an Italian team after we resigned, as fortunately is evidenced in the published documentation. Sometimes, the strength of values is greater than the value of strength or, in this case, money," he concludes.