MY STORY
In the near future, human populations will face increased pressure from arthropods, mainly as damage to food crops and as disease vectors. Changing climate and expanding human settlements require that we increase our understanding of these organisms and the ways in which we interact with them. I see an important part of my work as a researcher and science communicator to improve what me know and how we talk about insects.
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In the beginning...
I did not set out to do research on insects. In fact, I am not formally trained as an entomologist or a more general biologist. However, my research took me in that direction step by step, and after discovering all the surprises insects hold and how much we have yet to find out, I became hooked and have been in awe ever since. Growing up in a near-tropical climate in a megadiverse country has the side effect of exposing you to many different species, a lot of which - particularly the more annoying ones - are insects and spiders. For the most part insects, like the mosquitoes that find me incredibly delicious, were a nuisance. Even before starting my undergraduate degree, my scientific interests laid more in immunology and human health. I worked on this in my first lab research experiences with mammalian T-cells. I also got experience in virology through doing research with rotavirus. These projects sparked an interest in gut pathogens and cell surface interactions. This would be key aspects that would help... |
...the switch
Near the end of my undergraduate studies I attended a couple of lectures by Dr. Alejandra Bravo and Dr. Mario Soberón. They work on a class of insecticidal proteins that bind and then puncture insect gut cells by performing many complex molecular feats. The topic touched a lot of aspects I had worked on (gut pathogens, cell receptors, membrane interactions), and it added a level of biotechnological application that sparked my interest. The talks were decisive, and I soon got in touch to try to join their labs. They were incredibly receptive, and, as they say, the rest is history. I would end up doing my masters and doctoral thesis with them, and it was the start of a fruitful scientific relationship that is active to this day. Of course, to try to kill insects effectively, one needs to know them. In my academic career, dealing with applications of molecular biology to develop novel biotechnological methods to control insect populations inevitably led to learning a lot of insect biology. I have been fortunate to be able to participate in different projects that require me to mix my wet-lab experiments with my bioinformatic training. This has allowed me to explore different approaches to tackle a common questions and principles in various insects such as mosquitoes, moths, and stink bugs (work which you can read about in the research section). The more one learns of insects, the more awestruck one is with their evolution and aspects that made them so successful in the history of our planet. |
The side job
Science that is not communicated is knowledge that will lose potential to improve our society. This principle has been a driving force in my career, and it is the reason I've participated in many different initiatives of science communication and outreach throughout the years. A survey released in Mexico in 2011 showed a conflicting perception of scientists as both respectable and dangerous, among other less than flattering results. This cemented the importance of scientists stepping out of their labs and engaging with the general public. Performing these activities has not only made me an advocate for science in society, but also improved my qualities on transmitting knowledge to other scientists. Chiefly among my achievements in science communication is being a co-founder and an active member of Más Ciencia por México, a Mexico-based NGO that strives to show the importance and wonder of scientific research to general public of all ages. I will continue to make outreach and communication a pillar of my professional goals. I see this not only as a fulfilling activity, but also as a moral imperative and a way to repay society for the opportunities I have received. I hope my actions will ignite some curiosity in my colleagues, and convince them that scientific outreach is not only enjoyable, but a crucial task of our role as generators of knowledge and innovation. |
The future Currently, I am also interested in promoting entomophagy, the use of arthropods as an alternative source of animal protein to conventional cattle. It is a point of convergence in my experience with insects, and an effort in communication to overcome initial hesitance and show the science and knowledge that support this practice. |