Grab your popcorn!
This blog post comes a bit later than usual—wrapping up the year has me crossing off a long to-do list. November, in particular, was a month of milestones, and I’m excited to share some highlights with you.
The premiere of Echoes of the Rainforest was undoubtedly the biggest event of the month. Hosted at the Delegación del CSIC en Cataluña, it was a labor of love that consumed much of my time and attention—but it was well worth it. I’m thrilled to report that the premiere was a resounding success! We had a fantastic turnout (nearly sold out!) and received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
The documentary, which weaves together fieldwork footage, interviews, and storytelling about palaeoecology’s role in Amazonian conservation, seemed to strike a chord with the audience and our invited speakers. After the screening, we hosted an insightful roundtable discussion with experts Guillermo Peguero Gutiérrez (Universidad de Barcelona), Juan Valdez (Universidad de Barcelona), and Clara Ortega Díaz-Aguado (FIIAPP). The session was moderated by Verónica Couto Antelo (CREAF). Topics ranged from the challenges of communicating science about Amazonia to the effects of climate change on biodiversity and the integration of indigenous knowledge into research. The exchange of ideas was truly inspiring.
Click below to watch the whole documentary!! Safe to say I am very proud of this accomplishment, which required lots of patience, collaboration with many people I have never collaborated with (cinematographers, musicians, science communicators, indigenous leaders, activists), and many hours spent editing and trying to weave a story out of the several interviews we conducted. I sincerely hope what we created can resonate with you too!
On the outreach front, I’m excited to announce that our team has been selected to participate in the European Commission’s Science is Wonderful! event in Brussels this March. This event offers an incredible opportunity to connect with a broad audience, including young students, to inspire future scientists. Preparations are already in full swing, and I’m looking forward to showcasing our work and sharing our passion for science and sustainability.
In the lab, the grind continues. We’re focused on refining the protocol for extracting pollen from river traps we deployed in July—a task that’s proving to be as challenging as it is rewarding. As I approach the halfway mark of my fellowship, I’m keenly aware of the need to gather solid data, so this will remain a key priority in the months ahead.
Looking toward 2025, I’m gearing up for more exciting opportunities to advance the project and engage with both the scientific community and the public. Our agenda includes expanding the Amazonian Lowland Pollen Database with more contributor data and attending the European Conference of Tropical Ecology in Amsterdam next February. There, I’ll present on the making of Echoes of the Rainforest and discuss the value of outreach in palaeoecological research.
For now, this wraps up 2024! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year. Stay tuned for more PALOMA updates in 2025!
-Dael-
