 Yeah, so today I'm here with Claudia Gordino, who is the winner of the FEM Science Communications Award and we're very excited to have her here in the Zoom room, so we can ask her some questions about own research in her career and also about the science communication work she did that has won her this auspicious award. So we're very glad to have you here, Claudia. Yeah, I just wanted to start off and ask a simple question, which is where are you currently based and what is it like being a scientist there? So currently I am a postdoc researcher at Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences that is placed in Institute Square Technical in University of Lisbon. And I am in Professor Isabel Sakuhaia's lab, which is who invited me to join International Microorganism Day in the first place. I do research in yeast physiology and response of yeast to environmental stresses that are important for biotechnological processes. So how is it to be a scientist here? It's quite great. So I've been here for almost 11 years now since my master. So for sure, I enjoy it. I think it's a great work environment. The topic is, of course, of relevance. I'm also allowed to do this science communication works as in parallel. So it's it's great. I'm not only allowed, but I'm I'm encouraged. So that is a plus for me. We also publish in good journals with impact in the field. So I'm truly happy, but I cannot say that everything is perfect. Right. So I I defended my PhD in 2018. And since then, I've been like living out of fellowships. So I do not have a contract. And that is, of course, a problem. It's not a problem of my institute. It's a general problem because Portugal has so many PhD holders that now we are fighting to get employment for them. So yeah, pros and cons. Yeah, OK, I mean, at least you have lots of fellow scientists. But then, as you said, that can be a bit of a problem when you're fighting for limited places. Yes, that's true. Yeah. OK, so I mean, you're here. We're talking because you won Science Communication Award from FEM. So I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about the projects that helped you to win this award. Sure. So I think the main project that got me the award was the International Microdomnesian Day. I'm a volunteer since 2018. I've I've done several different things at I am D. So as as you may know, I am D started in Portugal. And so I've followed it since the beginning. And I've my contribution has been mostly on improving the social media, creating some content, organizing commemorations of the day, not only technical, but most recently we did in 2020. We had to do the online marathon because of the covid pandemics. So I also contributed in the organization with a lot of FEM support and also from with Ben Lieberton. We also created a new website and I also had a role in there. We all do a little bit of everything at I am D. So it's great because you do a lot, but you also work. You you learn a lot. So yeah. So as you mentioned, you know, last year we were doing what was the 24 hour live stream to replace the in person events which you can go and see on the YouTube channel. But I wanted to ask you about the previous events when we could meet in person or there used to be lots of in person outreach events, right? Bringing kids into contact with microscopes and microbes because hopefully we can get back to that in the future. So what were those like? What were those events like? And how did you get involved with that? What was your role there? Yeah, so the first year it was commemorated. It was 2017. So it was kind of an individual initiative but then the Portuguese Society of Microbiology got involved because of course it's a it's a very interesting idea. And so in 2017 at Povlião Ciência Viva, which is like a science center here in Lisbon, they did I was not involved. They did a great day. We had the mascots, the back and sacca. And so it was for public in general that was passing by. To see some exhibitions and talk with scientists. And since then we got we got really interested in always commemorating it in place. So in 2018 I already joined the team and we organized a technical we tried to invite other schools from Portugal to come to technical and to celebrate. We got also FEM support for that. We created a great day. There was some plenary sessions. There was also exhibitions in the main hall and a bit in the garden, some beer tastings. It's byproducts. Yes, it's byproducts. So we had some we had beer tastings in the garden so everyone could experience the work of yeast. And in 2019 we had really kind of a party in the garden at Isiduz Friar Tecnico, which was great. You can check out some pictures in the International Micro-Organism Day website. Check with them. And yeah, we put the PhD students and master students to explain their research to the more general audience and to visiting schools. And so that's one thing I wanted to ask you is what was the reaction from the children from the schools? So how did they respond to all of this micro-organism material and practicals that you created for them? Yeah, I think our best audience is kids and teenagers. They they enjoyed a lot, especially when we make like hands-on experiments so that they can experience what we are telling them in the presentation. So we had the presentations, but then we had the next exhibitions based on every presentation. So the kids could go there and ask directly the scientists and see. We tried to put some materials for them to look. So the microscope, just a magnifier and some cell cultures that they can look under the microscope. It was great. They they enjoyed a lot, I think. Yeah, awesome. Or just a bit sad they could not taste the beer. But yeah, I can't taste the beer. I can't take the microscopes with them. And yeah, yeah, very amazing way to get people hands on and involved in into microbiology. And yeah, I mean, we really hope that eventually we can get back to doing these in-person sessions, but have them across the world. Is I guess your ultimate goal? Yes, actually, in 2019, we had several of these type of initiatives all around the globe, a lot of societies, microbiology, microbiology societies emailed us saying, we did this, we did that, shared pictures. For example, I remember clearly that Brazil even put it on national TV and there was an initiative in a university and there were a lot, a lot of kids there. Like we did it at technical, just experiencing the exhibitions and listening to some talks. And yeah, they also did a great job. Yeah, and I guess it is a great way to inspire young people to get into microbiology, which does bring me on to my next question. What inspired you to get into microbiology? Why are you here now today as a microbiologist and not anything else? Yeah, well, to be honest, I what I knew is that I wanted to pursue biology. And then I just let myself dive into microbiology. I just found out a bit later. So like around my masters, I found that, OK, no, no, I I really like microbiology. And I also wanted to know a bit more about bacteria and other microbes. I'm a bit hypochondriac, so it's a it's a motivation. Yeah, OK, so it's a way of feeling control over the things that might cause us disease, I guess. Sure. Yeah, it is. I mean, I discovered that, you know, my role at FEMS, just how fascinated I am with fungi. There's just so many different varieties of these microorganisms and they do such they do the craziest things, I think, of any of the microorganisms, especially to multicellular life. They are bizarre, like cordyceps bursting out of insect skulls is kind of the we're not supposed to be very unicellular. Yeah, nice and simple. I'm on the esteem. Yeah. So I mean, that's the other question I have is, yeah, your current research area is in yeasts. But what are you kind of working on, you know, today this week? What's the the most recent thing that you've been studying? Yeah, what we are doing a bit more specifically is because of this diverse east metabolism and is diversity in nature. We are trying to explore east as a way of applying a circular bioeconomy. So it's a lot of how to take something that is considered to be a residue. So just garbage and then use it as a source that east is can use it as a source to produce some added value compounds. That's what we are doing. So these residues are mostly provenient from agriculture and forestry, and then we can hopefully get some east strains that can be so tolerant and so efficient in producing added value compounds that we can then benefit. It's like the concept of circular economy, but using using yeast. Using yeast in there. I mean, that's one of the most amazing things I think I've learned about microorganisms here is that their usage in solving our problems, you know, whether it be waste disposal or climate change or food production. It's just, yeah, unparalleled, they are the most useful little organisms. So I guess I have, you know, a question for you actually as a researcher and about looking back at the past few years, what's the biggest challenge you've had to overcome in your career as a researcher and as a science communicator? What do you think is the toughest thing you've had to do? I think the toughest thing is really coming now because so I got my PhD, of course, it was tough. Of course, it's a challenge for everyone. It's no secret there. But then like the the the bridge from the PhD being complete to being a researcher, independent researcher is very tough. You have to on one side, you are young and you need opportunities. But on the other side, you need to have some CV, so curricula to to get the opportunities. You know, you are like in a in a in a gray area. You are not a very popular scientist with a lot with a great body of publications. But you still need to fight against them, you know, compete with them to for your fight for your financing. So that's I think for this right now is being the toughest challenge for me because I still have to establish myself with with a stable contract because I cannot live out of fellowships. But for that, I need to have projects and to be a PI on projects and have my own financing, but my own funding. But in fact, I'm competing with senior scientists, right? So that's that's a challenge. It's one of those problems where, yeah, you need to get the funding to get the opportunities and get the opportunity to get the funding. And like, yeah, yeah, square the circle at some point. Yeah, you have to find something that gets you to jump a bit out of the circle. OK, yes. Now I have this so I can I can say, no, I really need the funding now. I have this to prove my abilities. Well, yeah, I was going to ask you just a couple of questions about International Microorganism Day. So we're now in 2021. I wanted to just give you a chance to explain to our audience. Yeah, what's coming up for International Microorganism Day and what have you got planned for your next sort of steps in SICOM? So for this year, we are already planning. I think I can disclose that we are approaching now an online marathon that we will organize for that. We need speakers, we need hosts, we need volunteers. So also, I will take the chance to call for them now if you like the project. We'll put a link in the description of this podcast with a link to a sign up form. You can go there, input your ideas for being a speaker, being a host, being a volunteer, and we'll get back to you when we can. Exactly, if you like the project, join us because it's it's a really great project and really rewarding. So we are planning an online marathon. So 24 hours of micro micro biology again. Fantastic. Yeah, it will be it will be fantastic. About my work as a science communicator, I hope I can improve IMD visibility a bit further. So one thing we notice is that there are some gaps in which regions like world regions we are reaching. Although we are truly global at this time, there are some regions that are not getting our word as as much as others. So I think we one plan is to get a bit of topics that are of interest in these regions so that we can capture their attention. And do you know which regions they are? Sorry, do you know which regions? Yeah, for example, we are getting into some some Portuguese speaking countries in Africa. But there are a lot of African countries that we are not reaching as much as, for example, we already reach South America a lot, probably influenced by language as well. But we we aim to reach other regions for that. Maybe we can also get some some volunteers from that those regions that would be great if you are listening to this. And you have never heard of International Microorganism Day before. Please join us. We really need to increase our volunteer team. Another thing we notice is that so we are always talking about reaching society in general, but we are scientists, most of us, and everyone that knows International Microorganism Day is somehow a bit related to science. So I would like that we reach a truly general audience. And for that, I think that most likely targeting kids, teenagers is a good strategy. And one of the proposals that I did for the Science Communication Award was that we put up some online courses. So one thing I didn't tell you before on my science communication work is that I'm part of an organization which is called 332. It's a nonprofit organization that aims to provide kids and teenagers with science as an activity as a hobby. So it's not only music or or sports. You can choose science as an activity, right? And they can actually quickly one as well outside of school. Exactly. So what we do is we have some projects. One of them is just direct mentorship. So I was a mentor of a teenager for two years on molecular biology, and he was only 12. Wow. Yeah, but he was interested. He came up to us and said, oh, I love we'd love to learn about molecular biology. So I was his mentor for two years and he learned a lot. And the most recent project I mean is these online courses that we are providing. I was the coordinator of the genetics, but there is neuroscience, chemical biology, not biology, neuroscience, maths, everything you can imagine on on science and technology. So these for teenagers specifically, are they aimed at that kind of age group? Or yes, it's like from 12, the genetics course was from 12 to 15. But some courses go up to 17. So before they join the university. OK, cool. So I hope I can do something related to this on the micro-organism day. Actually, there was one way in which I think international micro-organism day appeals really directly to kids, and that's with the mascots. So I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about the current mascots and if there are going to be any future mascots? Yes, that's a good question. Yes, our mascots are really appealing to to children, I think, and to everyone. They are super cute. And so by now we have Saka, which is inspired in saccharomyces east. And we have Bach, which is a bacteria. They they are with us since the beginning, since 2017. They are the design of a Portuguese designer. And then in 2020, we asked that designer because we needed a new mascot to join the team. And then we got Gillis, which is based on Aspergillus, Filamenta Spanjai. And this year we are putting up a contest for our audience to create the fourth mascot of International Micro-organism Day. There is no micro suggested. So it's up to you. Which mascot would you like to design? Excellent, you know, in your in person events, you have these wonderful mascot suits, right? Yes, where the mascot suits. And I hope, you know, eventually this new mascot will one day be turned into a mascot suit and be living and breathing. OK, well, then I have one final question before we end this interview. And I was just going to ask, what are the next steps for you and your research? Oh, that's a good question. Well, I hope I can get some. I really enjoyed the topic. I think I will pursue this topic. I I I've always been interested in East and they are super multifunctional, as we talked about. So either these or some other topic of biotechnology relevance for me, it's super of interest. And so I hope I get my established position and can develop and and apply to projects and. Yeah, just continue your career in science. You're more exciting research. Yeah, so you'll be announced officially as the winner of the Femme Science Communication Award in the award ceremony at the World Micro Forum, which at the time of us recording this is happening next week by the time you're listening to this, that will be in the past. But but as a result, you'll have been officially announced the award winner. And yeah, I hope you enjoy the World Micro Forum. And yeah, I get a lot of networking opportunities out of it. Get to present some of your own activities and research. And I'll see you there again. See you there. Yeah, we'll be talking more about international microorganisms. Absolutely. So 17th of September, coming up this year. And every year. So yeah, like I say, we put the link in the description if you want to sign up to be a speaker or volunteer or a host. So let us know if you've got any interest and congratulations, Claudia, once again on your award, very well deserved. And we hope over the next few years, more and more people across the globe get to be involved in this initiative.