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Discovering the world of agricultural genomics: Javier Barbuzano’s journey at CRAG
Descobrint el món de la genòmica agrícola: El viatge de Javier Barbuzano en el CRAG
Descubriendo el mundo de la genómica agrícola: El viaje de Javier Barbuzano en el CRAG


Spain
January 14, 2025

Descobrint el món de la genòmica agrícola: El viatge de Javier Barbuzano en el CRAG
Descubriendo el mundo de la genómica agrícola: El viaje de Javier Barbuzano en el CRAG

 

In this interview, Javier explores the insights of his residency at our centre, the challenges of science journalism, and the importance of connecting researchers with journalists.

 


Javier Pérez Barbuzano, a freelance science journalist, has recently completed his residency at CRAG as part of the FRONTIERS program, a European Research Council-funded initiative that promotes immersive experiences for journalists within research institutions. Throughout his stay, Javier has engaged with CRAG’s research community with more than 20 interviews, explored the complexities of agricultural genomics diving into our laboratories and facilities, and shared his expertise in science journalism with our researchers. As his residency concludes, we reflect on his experiences, insights, and the broader implications of initiatives that bridge the gap between science and journalism.

Reflecting on your 3-month residency at CRAG, what would you consider the most significant insights or discoveries you've made regarding frontier research in agricultural genomics?

I think that one of the most shocking realizations is seeing how complex living things are at the most fundamental, genomic level. It's mind-blowing to consider the intricate networks of genes, their interactions, and their influence on every aspect of a plant's or life — from germination, to flowering, to its response to environmental stresses.
What really impressed me is how many scientists already understand. The level of detail and precision of how plants and animal work and are regulated by genes is astounding. And still, even with all this knowledge accumulated over decades of work, researchers have only scratched the surface of fully understanding these intricate mechanisms. 
This complexity has also practical implications, since most discoveries made in the field are small contributions that advance it slightly forward. Big breakthroughs are rare, and as a science journalist, this is something very hard to translate to the public. It’s hard to write stories about small steps that partially explain an obscure process regulating certain mechanisms in a plant species that likely nobody has heard about before. Readers and editors are usually drawn to research that offers clear answers, or that advances our understanding towards solving major challenges. Small steps are a harder sell.

Were there any particular interactions or discussions with researchers at CRAG that significantly shifted your perspectives for your work?

Every conversation I had with a researcher at CRAG offered new knowledge and broadened my understanding of the field. The diversity of research underway at the centre is hard to grasp. Even at the end of the residency, I continued to discover new projects that piqued my interest and found myself interviewing scientists about them. I think I will need at least one year of residency to fully grasp the breadth of research being conducted here. 
It's difficult to single out specific conversations, as I learned from every interaction. Just to highlight a few, discussions with David Caparrós extended beyond his research to encompass the broader implications of agricultural policies, from geopolitical factors to food prices. With Josep Casacuberta, we explored the European legal framework regulating gene-editing technologies and their future prospects. Iban Eduardo provided valuable insights into the challenges of fieldwork and shared his creative outreach efforts. I was captivated by the work of Salome Prat and Maroof Shaikh on potato fertilizer needs and how these plants adapt to light cycles, and by Ignacio Rubio's research on the evolution of plant immune systems and their interactions with soil fungi. Julia Qüesta's work on how plants respond and adapt to cold temperatures was particularly fascinating. I also gained valuable insights from Pedro García on single-cell genomic studies, and from Maria José Aranzana and her PhD student, Nicole Pradas, on the Apple Ref-Pop experiment and marker-assisted breeding. This list barely scratches the surface of the fascinating knowledge I acquired during these months. I am really grateful to all the CRAG researchers for their time and for generously sharing their work.

How has your understanding of the challenges in communicating agricultural genomics findings evolved during your residency?

My understanding of this specific area has grown significantly, from near zero to a point where I could successfully pitch and publish a story on it.
The most crucial lesson I've learned is to identify research topics and questions that are both engaging to researchers and potentially interesting to the public.
It requires some time working on a “beat” or field to get to that level, and I think I got there pretty quickly. 
You can always learn about the specifics of a particular research paper or technique, but grasping the big picture of what makes an interesting story requires time and sustained effort.

In what ways has the FRONTIERS Residency Program facilitated a mutually beneficial relationship between yourself and the scientists at CRAG, and how do you think these fields (science and journalism) can better collaborate to promote public understanding of science?

I think it is important that scientists feel that they can trust journalists and talk to them about their work. 
One significant issue is the lack of specialized science journalists at many media outlets. Scientists fear their work might be misrepresented or, worse, manipulated to support specific agendas. 
I hope that my residency has shown researchers that there are journalists out there who are passionate about science journalism, take their work seriously, that strive for scientific accuracy, and who want to tell their stories with the proper context for the benefit of society.

Given the fast-paced nature of news cycles, how does the concept of 'slow journalism' intersect with the sometimes-slower pace of scientific research? During your residency, did you find a need to adapt the timing of your journalistic approach?

During my residency, I didn't prioritize developing specific long-form stories. Instead, I focused on identifying story types that were both impactful and viable within the current media landscape. For me, that means prioritizing news, and medium length features.
Slow journalism offers the opportunity of going really deep when covering stories, and also to explore a multitude of different angles and implications, but it also requires significant resources and a massive time investment, and sometimes it might not pay off.
This doesn't mean one shouldn't adapt to the pace of research. Sometimes you find stories that won’t be ripe for writing about them in months. Sometimes, you encounter stories that won't be ready for publication for months. Perhaps the researchers are still conducting experiments or analysing data. These situations offer the opportunity to tell the full story and be well-prepared when the news finally breaks.

You've mentioned the importance of independent science journalism, what do you see as the most pressing challenges and opportunities in science journalism today?

I’m not an expert in the topic, but we have mentioned a few already. Lack of trust from both sources and the public is one issue. This erosion of trust is partly justified, as traditional journalistic practices are declining due to budget cuts and other pressures.
Concurrently, the rise of disinformation and pseudoscience is evident. This aligns with the previous point, as new platforms for disseminating knowledge may not adhere to the same standards of accuracy, impartiality, and journalistic integrity as traditional media outlets.
While the rise of new platforms presents an opportunity, as public demand for quality content seems to exist, it's challenging for independent creators like YouTubers and podcasters to succeed without financial support.

 



More news from: CRAG - Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics


Website: http://www.cragenomica.es

Published: January 14, 2025



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