The Dryland Ecology and Global Change Lab is a healthy, collaborative and people-centered workplace where the health, wellbeing and professional development of its members is a priority and harassment and discrimination (of any form) is not tolerated. Albeit the rigid, no-sense bureaucracy and the lack of resources of the Spanish university/research system does not facilitate this, we also strive to become an international, multidisciplinary and multicultural lab.
As a PI, I like to listen, and I am always open to incorporate suggestions to further improve the way I manage my lab. The basic principles I follow are summarized in the articles “Seven steps towards health and happiness in the lab” and “Ten simple rules towards healthier research labs”. I also actively work and advocate for a healthier academia within and beyond my own institution. A compilation of seminars, interviews and opinion pieces on this important topic is presented below:
- Podcast with Fernando´s interview in Un alto en el camino, at Onda cero radio, talking about mental health in science (in Spanish) (14/08/2021)
- Interview to Fernando in the newspaper Información about the “Decálogo para promover la felicidad en los grupos de investigación” at the University of Alicante (in Spanish) (21/07/2021)
- New in the newspaper Información about the “Decálogo para promover la felicidad en los grupos de investigación” at the University of Alicante (in Spanish) (21/07/2021)
- New published at El español: “La felicidad como vacuna contra el infierno laboral, el pionero método de la Universidad de Alicante”, about the “Decálogo para promover la felicidad en los grupos de investigación”, promoved by the University of Alicante (in Spanish) (20/07/2021)
- Video with the presentation of the “Decálogo para promover la felicidad en los grupos de investigación” at the University of Alicante (in Spanish) (20/07/2021)
- Interview to Fernando in Hoy por Hoy Alicante, Radio Alicante, about the initiative of the University of Alicante to promove healthy research laboratories (in Spanish) (20/07/2021)
- Video with Fernando´s webminar “Estrés en la carrera investigadora y decálogo para desarrollar ambientes de trabajo más felices” in the meeting “Gestión de las emociones: el catalizador de la productividad”, organized by el Club de científicos Rafael del Pino (in Spanish) (10/06/2021)
- Video with Fernando´s webinar “How to create healthy labs in an hyper-competitive world” organized by AEET: Online conference for Early-Career Scientists (09/06/2021)
- Interview to Fernando in the magazine Mètode about his research program on drylands and the creation of healthy research laboratories (in Spanish) (08/03/2021)
- Webinar “Creating healthy environments in a hypercompetitive world”, on 5ºEncontros Serrapilheira (in english) (11/12/2020)
- One scientist’s six-point recovery plan to tackle COVID-19 anxiety, column published in Nature (03/08/2020)
- Como conseguir laboratorios de investigación saludables en un mundo hipercompetitivo (webminar, in Spanish, 30/04/2020)
- How to create healthier research labs in a hypercompetitive world, seminar given at I2SysBio, University of Valencia (03/03/2020)
- Interview within the report by Javier Guillenea “Presos del laboratorio” (in Spanish). El Correo (06/02/2020)
- Interview within the report by Jesús Méndez “Crisis de salud mental y laboral en la ciencia: las soluciones” (in Spanish). Agencia SINC (18/01/2020)
- Interview within the report by Jesús Méndez “Mental and occupational health crisis in science: the causes”. Agencia SINC (18/01/2020)
- No destruyamos a nuestros doctorandos, son el futuro de la ciencia, opinion piece (in Spanish). El País (03/12/2019)
- How can we reduce the pressure on our early career researchers? Start by creating healthier lab environments, opinion piece. Behavioural and Social Sciences at Nature Research (10/12/2019)
- Instrucciones para ser feliz en el laboratorio Interview by Victoria Rodríguez (in Spanish). Muy Interesante (14/05/2019).