Both obtained scholarships from the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation, and met at Columbia University, New York, where they specialised in public health and continue their research today.

Arce Domingo is a mathematician with a PhD in biostatistics. She's currently applying her knowledge to improve research in medicine and says that "one of my projects focuses on developing statistical methods to assess the effect of exposure to metals on cognitive abilities". 

Arce Domingo, "la Caixa" Foundation fellow and researcher at Columbia University, New York.

Irene Martínez is a physician specialising in the effect of environmental factors on human health, such as exposure to pollutants, lifestyle habits and even socioeconomic factors. "My goal is to develop innovative approaches to prevent diseases" she explains. 

Irene Martínez, "la Caixa" Foundation fellow and researcher at Columbia University, New York.

The two met when Irene arrived at Columbia to begin her master's degree. "We had the same supervisor and, since then, we've always worked together" notes Arce. "The fact that we come from different backgrounds really helped us to start collaborating. What's more, apart from our passion for science we also have a great friendship".

Their professional paths have continued to cross and, four months ago, they launched Telodiceunacientífica, a weekly newsletter that aims to popularise science.

"As scientists, we want to do our bit and help to publicise science news that's high quality but written in a way that's accessible for all audiences" explains Irene. 

Nowadays, there are many examples of newsletters with scientific content but Telodiceunacientífica stands out for its particular approach: articles that can be read in 5-10 minutes, tackling topics such as the use of satellites to combat climate change, treating depression with ketamine and the reason for airplane turbulence.

"We know that people are interested in science but they don't have the time to read or the possibility to digest the information in scientific articles. Our goal is for everyone to be able to find out about the most relevant scientific discoveries without having to spend a lot of time and resources" says Arce. "It's necessary to bring science down to earth, to society's level; we can't change or improve the world from the lab alone". 

Arce Domingo and Irene Martínez.

As for their future projects, Arce and Irene are determined to continue working together, both in their respective research and in new joint initiatives. "We have a lot of plans for collaboration and we're setting up new working groups in the United States and Spain. Thanks to our complementary backgrounds, we can be very creative and carry out multidisciplinary and innovative projects" Arce explains.

In addition to their research, ensuring the continuity and expansion of Telodiceunacientífica is also one of their priorities. "In fact, we're thinking of launching a new format, like a podcast or short video".

Arce and Irene's project represents a necessary change of direction for science to reach society in an effective way. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to the next newsletter!