Alejandro Requena Menéndez, researcher at the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), a joint center of the University of Valencia and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) will represent Spain in the international final of the first Solo de Ciencia scientific monologue contest by winning first place in the national final that took place this Friday, June 23 at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid.

Through his monologue “In search of the definitive hard drive”, he has shared the latest advances in biological hard drives, which allow the introduction of encoded information, such as an image, in the DNA of a cell with the aim of storing data for posterity. Angela Varela Neila, research support technician at the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit of the University of Burgos, winner of the public prize and second of the jury prize, will also participate in the final.

Alejandro Requena works on several biotechnology and synthetic biology projects at I²SysBio. He trained in Biotechnology at the University of Valencia and his Final Degree Project was on the construction of artificial genetic regulation systems. He also obtained the Master's Degree in Biotechnology and studied the ability of ligninolytic fungi to degrade daily macroplastics and additives such as bisphenol A. Alejandro Requena began dissemination in 2022, with second prize in the II Interuniversity Scientific Dissemination Contest (EventEX).

monologue titled “The tribe's right eye,” and Stephanie Aparicio, who has performed “Drowned in nutrients.” Ángela Varela has also won the popular vote award.

The Solo de Ciencia contest is a FECYT initiative that was born with the aim of involving and training researchers in scientific dissemination from the early stages of their professional career. Furthermore, it represents an exceptional opportunity to value the use of Spanish as a language of scientific communication through an innovative, entertaining and friendly format for the general public. They were selected in the semifinal held in Barcelona on April 21. Alejandro Requena will participate next fall in the international final of Solo de Ciencia, which will bring together representatives from other Ibero-American countries where, thanks to the collaboration of UNESCO, this scientific dissemination initiative is being promoted.

More information at https://www.fecyt.es/es/tematica/solo-de-ciencia