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La universidad y el NSF: problema de todos

Este escrito mio fue publicado el 12 de febrero del 2013 en la sección de ciencias de El Nuevo Día.

Le cambiaron el título y le hicieron algunos cambios menores. Aquí lo incluyo en su versión original

http://www.elnuevodia.com/enriesgolacienciaenpr-1446278.html

La universidad y el NSF: problema de todos
Por Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, Ph.D.

Con la alta criminalidad, el desempleo y el menú de controversias políticas del día, ¿a quién le podría importar un asuntito de científicos? 

De primera instancia, quizás el lector piense que los problemas de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) con la Fundación Nacional de Ciencias (National Science Foundation, NSF) no le conciernen. Pero el problema con la NSF no es un asunto que solo afecta a un puñado de académicos. 

NSF es la principal agencia federal para la investigación científica básica. Los economistas, los químicos, los físicos, los matemáticos y los ecólogos, entre muchos otros profesionales de distintas disciplinas, miran hacia la NSF para apoyar sus proyectos y para darles estabilidad y reconocimiento a sus carreras académicas. 

Además de financiar investigaciones de calibre mundial, la NSF invierte muchísimo en entrenamiento de estudiantes graduados y subgraduados, en edificios e instalaciones de investigación, en salarios para atraer y retener a investigadores, en programas para fomentar la comercialización de tecnologías y en educación científica escolar y para el público general. En fin, los fondos de la NSF apoyan una gran variedad de aspectos y sectores que van mucho más allá de las paredes de los laboratorios. 

En el año fiscal 2010, dos años antes del congelamiento de fondos, la UPR alcanzó un récord en la cantidad de fondos provenientes de la NSF. Sobre $21.8 millones fueron al sistema universitario, de los cuales $19.4 millones fueron otorgados a la Administración Central, el Recinto de Río Piedras y el Recinto de Mayagüez.

Los fondos de la NSF son altamente competitivos –menos del 20% de las propuestas son premiadas después de un riguroso proceso de evaluación–. El recibir fondos de la NSF señala la calidad de los centros académicos y les indica a compañías privadas que en una región hay suficiente talento técnico para abrir fábricas de producción, centros de investigación y desarrollo, y para comercializar propiedad intelectual. Las cantidades de fondos alcanzadas en el 2010 por la UPR comparan favorablemente con las de otras universidades en Estados Unidos y demuestran la calidad y el talento de los investigadores y educadores de este sistema.

Hoy, la UPR está bajo probatoria con la NSF por deficiencias en la contabilidad de tiempo y esfuerzo, una medida que le asegura a la agencia federal que esta pagando exactamente por el trabajo acordado. La suspensión de fondos de la NSF podría tener un impacto abrumador, afectando la economía, el futuro talento laboral y el prestigio, no solo de la UPR, sino de todo Puerto Rico. 

En el ámbito de la economía, el recorte de fondos significaría despidos de personal, quizás el cierre de laboratorios enteros, y la pérdida de dineros “indirectos”, los cuales cubren costos generales de la Universidad, como la luz y el teléfono, que benefician a todos los programas académicos. Como la UPR tomó prestados fondos del Banco Gubernamental de Fomento durante el periodo de probatoria, sin tener confirmación de que la NSF los reembolsaría, los problemas económicos se han amplificado. 

A largo plazo, la suspensión de tantos proyectos de investigación representa una gran pérdida de propiedad intelectual en potencia: tecnologías y descubrimientos que de otra manera podrían servir un día para impulsar la economía de conocimiento de Puerto Rico. 

Aun más preocupante: los fondos de la NSF apoyan la educación de cientos de estudiantes puertorriqueños. El entrenamiento que estos estudiantes reciben tiene gran demanda tanto en el ámbito académico como en empresas privadas. Sin fondos de la NSF, muchísimos científicos boricuas no hubieran podido hacer descubrimientos seminales ni convertirse en profesionales reconocidos. ¿Qué futuro puede tener Puerto Rico si se pierden estas oportunidades de entrenamiento?

Finalmente, la pérdida de fondos de la NSF representaría un gran golpe al prestigio de la UPR en el ámbito de la investigación. El difícil trabajo de atraer y retener talento en las aulas y laboratorios académicos se haría aún más difícil. Ante la amenaza de que la NSF también estará revisando las prácticas de contabilidad de otros programas federales, también existe el riesgo de que este meollo repercuta en recortes de otras agencias federales, fondos que sumaron más de $128 millones en el 2009 para Puerto Rico. 

El problema de la NSF con la UPR es, por tanto, una emergencia a nivel nacional, a la par con la degradación del crédito bancario, excepto que en este caso sería la reputación académica del país la que bajaría de estatus. 

Y lo más trágico es que esto se pudo haber evitado. Los investigadores y estudiantes demostraron su talento y competitividad. Es solo a raíz de la incompetencia administrativa que surge este problema. La administración de la UPR debe considerar seriamente cómo legitimar su relación con la NSF, no solo para beneficio de sus estudiantes e investigadores, sino también para beneficio del pueblo de Puerto Rico que, de seguro, se verá perjudicado. 

La autora tiene un Ph.D. en Neurobiología de la Universidad de Berkeley y trabajó en los National Institutes of Health. Actualmente, es directora de CienciaPR.org.

La Invención de los Sueños

Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around and Pomegranate,  Salvador Dalí (1944)

Un artículo reciente publicado en Nature Neuroscience sugiere la posibilidad de manipular los sueños por medio de estímulos ambientales. Los esfuerzos son aún demasiado recientes para pensar en tramas de ciencia a ficción a lo "Inception", "Eternal Sunshine" o "Abre los ojos" pero aún así son impresionantes.

Ratas entrenadas a asociar claves auditivas con diferentes caminos en un laberinto fueron observadas repitiendo en su sueño el patrón de señales neuronales que desplegaron durante la búsqueda.

Hasta aquí, ninguna sorpresa; desde hace años se sabe que el cerebro repite en su sueño las experiencias del pasado día, un proceso que está asociado a la consolidación de memorias. Lo sorprendente fue que al presentarle a las ratas soñadoras el sonido que les había indicado ir hacia la derecha en vez de a la izquierda, los patrones neuronales también se observaron cambiar hacia aquellos que habían determinado la experiencia del lado correspondiente del laberinto. En otras palabras, con tan sólo un sonido asociado al día previo, los científicos pudieron manipular los dulces sueños de las ratas.

La noticia de inmediato me hizo pensar en la famosa pintura de Dalí, donde una plácida Gala dormida convierte el inocente sonido de un abejorro en vuelo a un mundo fantástico de monstruos, tigres, y disparos. No necesariamente una ilustración análoga de los resultados científicos, pero si una demostración de cómo la imaginación, las experiencias, y los sentidos conspiran en nuestros sueños como el mejor director cinematográfico de Hollywood.

My live notes on President Obama's first address to Congress

Christopher Dodd's eyebrows are out of control

Michelle mouthing I love you to Obama: how cute are they!

Great start on his address! We will rebuild, we will recover. (Hope Wall Street is listening)

"Nobody messes with Joe" That Joe Biden sure has a Colgate smile

"We have lived through an era where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election." "It’s not about helping banks – it’s about helping people." Obama is such a clear and magnificent orator--what a change from last year

McCain still looks smug

Energy! Health Care! Education! We're back to the priorities that really matter.

Basic research funding priorities!! $15B a year for new clean-energy technologies

"We can't afford to put health care reform on hold"

Electronic health records! Cure for cancer! I'm sure NCI is going crazy right now...

Nice! Every American will need to get a high school diploma, dropping out of high school "is not quitting on yourself it's quitting on your country" He's right though, failure to get a high school diploma closes many doors and is an almost guaranteed sentence to poverty, poor health, younger death...

"By 2020 the USA will have highest proportion of college graduates in the world"--let's do it!

I love Obama's message of volunteerism and national service. I also liked his tribute to Ted Kennedy "an american who has never stopped asking what he could do for his country"

It would be funny if Pelosi and Biden started playing chicken with Congress. Standing up? Oh no we're not, fooled ya

Seems like a few senators and representatives are on their BlackBerrys. What gives people? It's the POTUS speaking!

His budget will cut 2 trillion dollars over the next decade?! Savings: education programs that don't work (No Child??), no-bid conracts in Iraq (yes! in your face Cheney!), big agro businesses that don't need money, weapon systems we don't use, medicare fraud and abuse, ending tax breaks for corporations that shift jobs overseas. He will end tax breaks for wealthiest 2% of Americans (would be great if we could also do a better job identifying tax fraud in this bracket--seems like the only way for these people to get audited is to be nominated for a cabinet position!)

"We're suffering a deficit of trust"... Will report full costs of Iraq and Afghanistan! Yes!

So nice to hear someone who can fully enunciate the word terrrorist and doesn't say "nucular"

Yes! Expanded health care and benefits for veterans! Hopefully that includes mental health services

"Living our values doesn't make us weaker it makes us safer and stronger"

"The USA does not torture!" (cue to McCain)

Ty'Sheoma got me misty eyed. Would she have typed up that letter if anyone other than Obama had been elected President?

Thank YOU, Mr President!!

PS. Gov. Bobby Jindal talks like he's on Sesame Street... Actually it's more like Kenneth from 30 Rock... It is! It's exactly like Kenneth on 30 Rock!

PPS. Thought it was cute how the staffers and pages were going crazy trying to get a handshake

PPPS. Confirmed! Several members of Congress were using their BBerrys! However, they weren't playing tetris or checking email, they were twittering to their constituents on their impressions on the speech http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Members_of_Congress_who_Twitter

My mom would so appreciate this post...

The Washington Post publishes a contest for readers in which they are asked to supply alternate meanings for various words.

Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon.

Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent

Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightie.

Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

Gargoyle (n.), an olive-flavored mouthwash.

Flatulence (n.) the emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.

Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified demeanor assumed by a proctologist immediately before he examines you.

Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddish expressions.

Circumvent (n.), the opening in the front of boxer shorts.

Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck there.

Pokemon (n), A Jamaican proctologist.

Bustard (n.), a rude bus driver.

Semantics (n.), pranks conducted by young men studying for the priesthood.

Spatula: n. A fight among vampires.

Excruciate: n., the ligament that attaches your ex-wife to your paycheck.

Perplexed: adj., lost in a movie theater.

Population: n., that nice sensation you get when drinking soda.

Racket: n., a small pair of breasts.

Nincompoop: n., the military command responsible for battlefield sanitation.

Ineffable: adj., describes someone you absolutely cannot swear in front of.

Pontificate: n., a document given to each graduating pope.

Pimple: n., pimp's apprentice.

Discussion: n., a Frisbee-related head injury.

Ozone: n., area in which the G-spot is located.

Flattery: n., a place that manufactures A and B cup brassieres only.

Cabbage Patch: A patch for those trying to stop eating cabbage.

Sudafed: A software program on how to file a civil action against the government.

Pop Secret: Paternity suit settled without publicity.

Oral-B: Monica's grade on her last intern evaluation.

The Washington Posts Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting or changing one letter, and supply a new definition:

Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the reader who doesn't get it.

Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of obtaining sex.

Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously.

Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease.

Karmageddon: End of the world due to a build up of bad-vibes.

Glibido: All talk and no action.

Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

Intaxication: Euphoria at receiving a tax refund, which lasts until you realise it was your money to start with.

Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

Tumfoolery: When a middle-aged man sucks in his stomach while being introduced to an attractive woman

Fadavers: Last year's hot fads.

Main Geeze: How an elderly, unmarried couple refer to each other.

Polarvoid: The state of having no baby pictures, a condition that usually befalls the second-born child.

Dozie: The lie a person tells when a telephone caller wakes him up and he denies that he was sleeping.

Hooternanny: The au pair you thought was especially promising, but your wife sent back to the agency.

Alexpandria: A town known for its buffet restaurants.

Apocalypstic: The little smudge I came home with on my collar that makes my wife act like it's the end of the world.

Defenestraction: A ruse to divert the cop's attention while you throw the evidence out the window.

Accimental: Caused by a Freudian slip.

Algaebra: What the Little Mermaid wears over her chest.

Aliass: A body double for a nude scene.

Arbyss: The deepest part of the stomach, reserved for two Giant Roast Beefs, large Curly Fries and a chocolate shake.

Avant-harde: Before the Cialis kicks in.

Doltergeist: a spirit that decides to haunt someplace stupid, such as your septic tank.

Guillozine: a magazine for executioners.

How Doctors Think-Book Review

Aside from knowing the cellular changes that occur when certain genes are altered, it's amazing that I went through six years of molecular biology grad school and post doc without giving much thought to health and disease... I mean actual health and disease. i.e. what happens in humans, which is not always what happens in fruit flies. I also never gave much thought to my academic cousins, the MDs, who left me to gather dust in academia after their pre-med college requisites had been completed.

While it is relatively easy to find a link between a fruit fly's "symptoms" (or phenotype) and the genetic alteration that you yourself just induced (I do kind-of miss the weird God-like high that comes with that), it is much harder to do the same in humans. For one, human troubles are less likely to come from experimentation ;-). For another, we don't really have access as of yet to good molecular signposts for what is truly wrong biologically--doctors' tools for diagnosis (X-rays, blood work-ups, cultures, MRIs) are still pretty coarse.

Fortunately (and in contrast with flies), humans do have the gift of speech and of describing what ails them. When diagnosing a patient, doctors thus rely heavily on communication with the patient or his family members. They depend on this information to interpret the rough biological measures of what is happening at the organ/tissue level. But then there's communication and communication, and not all doctors have the skills, inclination, time, or mindset to appropriately seek information from the patient and integrate it with biological data. Even when doctors do have all the information they need, they can still make cognitive errors in determining a diagnosis or the best treatment option. Errors might come from lack of experience or from too much experience (biases for common ailments over rare ones), they might come from biases towards the patient or his/her statistical demographics, or they might even come from preferences for procedures that are financially advantageous for the doctor.

These pitfalls of medical practice and others are discussed in Jerome Groopman's book "How Doctor's Think", which is intended as a sort of patient's guide to a doctor's mind. The idea is that by recognizing the areas where doctors might fail, patients might be able to steer their physician into working at their best capacity.

I'm not sure if Dr. Groopman's book has been helpful in patient's lives but, for me, his book explained in detail the pressures on a doctor's mind. It also made me realize the difficulties associated with medical care--few of which have to do with science and technology and most of which have to do with the health care system as well as doctor's personal differences in associating with others. With such complex problems in the "real world", Groopman's book definitely made me appreciate the relative preciseness of science at "the fruit fly level" and the miles we have to go before human medicine is as precise as that.

Los Origenes de Sefiní

Sefiní

basta por esta noche cierro

la puerta me pongo

el saco guardo

los papelitos donde

no hago sino hablar de ti

mentir sobre tu paradero

cuerpo que me has de temblar

-Juan Gelman-

Si mis emociones y pensamientos mas profundos pudiesen habitar un rincón de esta tierra, ¿quién diría que no sería un mugroso y olvidado bar en Montevideo donde poetas, marineros, y prostitutas se reúnen a bailar tango?

Ya van 15 años que esta película y los poetas que le dan el pulso son mis favoritos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL5xSqolcqc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzrBbWyVqlY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRMcM--p7wk
http://abretucielo.blogspot.com/2007/05/fragmentos-poticos-de-el-lado-oscuro.html

Microbios Gigantes!

As a follow up to the previous post... If you have been left so fascinated by microbes that you wish you could just hug them, here's your chance: http://www.giantmicrobes.com/


A while ago I gave Salmonella and Lyme Disease to my friend Michelle, and Girardia and an Ulcer to my friend Mo. :-)

And you thought you were alone...

Did you know that we have 10X more bacteria in our gut than cells in our body? That makes me wonder if we are who we think we are. It may be time to rethink the species concept...

Advances in technology usually open doors for the exploration of new and exciting questions and this is certainly the case with advances in genome exploration technology. Thanks to shot-gun sequencing and microarray techniques it is now possible to study the symbiotic interaction between us "higher organisms" and our more numerous cohabitants, the tiny microbes.

Metagenomics, a new and exciting field of research (with an equally catchy name), attempts to study communities of microbes directly in their natural environments (e.g. your gut, your mouth, a patch of dirt, the ocean, etc.). By using modern genome sequencing techniques, metagenomics bypasses the need for lab cultivation of individual species. This is a huge step forward because it is estimated that we have only been able to isolate and culture just 1% of all microorganisms in nature. Metagenomics, thus, offers the chance to identify a wider array of microorganisms than previously possible. This new technology also allows the study of the little buggers in their natural setting (e.g. the complex crevices of your nose) as opposed to the artificial conditions of a petri dish.

This field of study offers so much promise that the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the leading biomedical research funding agency in the U.S., has recently announced a new initiative to probe the human microbiome. This ambitious enterprise, which is part of the NIH's Roadmap for Medical Research, will focus on characterizing the populations that our bodies play host to and their role in health and disease.

But microbial populations are not just important for health. Microbe communities are also responsible for maintaining atmospheric balances of CO2, for supporting the health of crops (and in some cases causing their disease), and many types microorganisms produce potential alternative energy sources such as hydrogen, butanol, and methane. Clearly, (and whether we like it or not) these guys make life on this planet what it is and we have only yet begun to understand how it is they do it.

Interested in learning more? The National Academies has recently published a beautiful educational brochure on metagenomics and the importance of studying microbial communities. This brochure is freely downloadable here, where you can also request hardcopies for educational purposes.

Here are also some recent metagenomics publications:

• Metagenomics of the deep mediterranean, a warm bathypelagic habitat. PLoS ONE
• The Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling expedition: expanding the universe of protein families. PLoS Biology
• Metabolomics of a superorganism. J Nutrition
• An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest. Nature
• Metagenomic analysis of the human distal gut microbiome. Science