Filla d’una pintora i d’un neurocirurgiĂ , Mara Dierssen sempre ha tingut clara la seva vocaciĂł. Aquesta investigadora de 46 anys dirigeix un grup de recerca puntera en neurobiologia al CRG, dĂłna classes a tres universitats, organitza innumerables actes de divulgaciĂł cientĂfica, canta en un grup de rock i tĂ© quatre fills.
Quan et vas interessar per la ciència?
Jo crec que els cientĂfics som ja des de petits els pesats que volem saber-ho tot... El sistema nerviĂłs sempre m’ha interessat, sobretot les grans preguntes: cĂłm guardem els records, perquè sentim emocions... DesprĂ©s d’estudiar Medicina vaig fer la tesi a la Universitat de CantĂ bria en neurociències des d’un punt de vista farmacolĂłgic i conductual.
Després d’una estada postdoctoral a la UAB vaig tornar a Cantà bria per muntar el meu primer laboratori. Vaig començar del no res, però aviat vaig aconseguir muntar un grup de treball en retard mental. Va ser una època molt productiva.
I després, de tornada cap a Catalunya...
Vaig venir a l’Institut de Recerca OncolĂłgica amb en Xavier Estivill, que tenia un grup molt potent de recerca en sĂndrome de Down (SD) a nivell genètic. Aquests anys van anar molt bĂ© i vaig aprendre moltĂssim.
De l’IRO vas venir al CRG. Quines lĂnies principals de recerca tens actualment?
Estudiem bĂ sicament el retard mental, sobretot SD, i les malalties neuropsiquiĂ triques.
Tens molt contacte amb persones que tenen les discapacitats que estudies – como ho valores?
Els cientĂfics no podem estar aliens a la realitat que estudiem. Per a mi Ă©s important saber que darrera la recerca que faig hi ha persones. I conèixer·les t’ajuda a entendre millor la malaltia. A mĂ©s, crec que hem d’aprendre molt de les persones amb discapacitats, de la seva actitud i força de voluntat.
Sembla impossible que tinguis temps per a tot – com Ă©s el teu dia tĂpic?
Cansat! Em llevo cap a les 4’45h i vinc a treballar: articles, reunions, experiments, classes, paperassa. Dino alguna cosa rà pida davant de l’ordinador i intento marxar cap a les 17’30 o 18h. Quan arribo a casa faig els deures amb els meus fills, sopem, fem tertúlia i vaig a dormir cap a les 23’30h.
Creus que el mĂłn de la recerca Ă©s igualitari?
Crec que ho estem aconseguint però encara no ho és. Les grans decisions segueixen a mans del homes, els quals ocupen la majoria de posicions de lideratge. Quan vaig començar encara era pitjor, abans de contractar·te et demanaven si pensaves tenir fills i aquest era un factor decisiu!
Què opines de la divulgaciĂł cientĂfica?
Si volem que la ciència es valori i si volem rebre finançament de fons pĂşblics no podem ignorar al pĂşblic. I si s’explica bĂ©, a la gent li encanta la ciència! A mĂ©s afavoreix les vocacions cientĂfiques. Hi ha persones que han vingut a fer prĂ ctiques al meu laboratori desprĂ©s d’haver anat a un acte de divulgaciĂł.
El problema Ă©s que a Espanya no es valora gens la divulgaciĂł des del punt de vista curricular, es considera una pèrdua de temps. A mĂ©s requereix molt de temps i d’esforç, i en un ambient de molta pressiĂł es fa difĂcil. I no hi ha cap recolzament econòmic. Una autèntica misèria comparat amb el que es dedica a altres tipus d’actes socials o culturals.
Què es el millor de la ciència?
El repte intel•lectual! La satisfacció d’entendre un procés, l’haver de revisar els meus propis plantejaments cada cinc minuts perquè hi ha alguna cosa que no encaixa i intentar trobar una nova solució.
I el pitjor?
La inseguretat laboral, que impedeix de poder iniciar projectes ambiciosos. Jo he hagut de començar de nou el meu laboratori cinc vegades, i no vaig tenir un contracte fins als 40 anys: vivia de beques. És clar que la mobilitat és positiva, però cal un equilibri.
Què series si no fossis cientĂfica?
No seria res! Ser cientĂfic no Ă©s una professiĂł, Ă©s una forma de ser.
“Being a scientit is a way of life”
The daughter of a painter and a neurosurgeon, Mara Dierssen has always known what she wanted to be. This 46-year old researcher is the head of a leading research group in neurobiology at the CRG, teaches at three universities, organises many outreach activities, sings in a rock and roll band and has four sons.
When did you become interested in science?
You can tell a scientist from early on, we are the ones who always want to know everything... I was always fascinated by the nervous system, specially the big questions such as how do we keep memories, or why we feel emotions. After studying Medicine I did my PhD at the University of CantĂ bria in neuroscience.
After a postdoc at the UAB I went back to CantĂ bria to start my own lab. I started from scratch, but soon people arrived to work with me in mental retardation. It was a very productive period.
And then you came back to Catalonia...
Yes, to the Institut de Recerca OncolĂłgica with Xavier Estivill, who had a very potent group in the genetics of Down syndrome (DS). These years were very good and I learned a lot.
From there you came to the CRG. What are your main research lines?
We basically study mental retardation, specially DS, and also neuropsychiatric diseases.
You are very much in contact with the people who have the disabilities you study – how do you value this?
We scientists cannot be detached form the reality we are studying. For me it is important to know that there are real people behind my research. And getting to know them helps one to understand better the disease. Also, I think we have a lot to learn from people with disabilities, from their attitude and willpower.
It seems impossible that you have time to do everything – how is your typical day?
Tiring! I wake up at 4’45 am and I come to work: articles, meetings, experiments, classes, paperwork. I eat something quick in front of my computer and I try to leave at about 17’30 or 18h. When I get home I help my sons with their homework, we have dinner, chat a bit and I go bed at about 11’30 pm.
Do you think that research is an egalitarian world?
I think we are getting there, but it isn’t yet. The big decisions are still in hands of men, who occupy the majority of top positions. When I started it was even worse: before getting a contract they asked you whether you were thinking of having children, and that was a decisive factor!
What do you think about science communication to the public?
If we want science to be valued and to receive funding from public sources, we cannot ignore the public. And, if it is properly explained, people love science! It also favours scientific vocations. A few people have come to do some experiments in my lab after having attended a science outreach event.
The problem is that this is not valued in Spain, it is rather considered a waste of time. Also, it requires a lot of time and effort and, in an environment with so much pressure, this is difficult. And there is zero economic support. It is a real misery compared with what is dedicated to other social or cultural events.
What is the best about science?
The intellectual challenge! The satisfaction of understanding a process, having to revise my own thinking every five minutes because there is something that doesn’t fit.
And the worst?
The job insecurity, which doesn’t allow us to start ambitious projects. I had to start my lab five times, and I didn’t actually have a contract until I was 40: I had only fellowships. Of course mobility is a positive thing, but a balance is necessary.
What would you be if you were not a scientist?
I would just not be! Being a scientist is not a profession, it is a way of life.
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