AUTHOR: Javier Méndez, ICMM-CSIC, Spain
WHEN: Monday 9 February 2026, 12.00 PM
WHERE: ICMAB - Sala d'Actes Carles Miravitlles and ONLINE (Register here)
Abstract
Can you imagine doing research in Antarctica? The white continent, almost entirely covered in snow all year round, where you live alongside penguins and huge elephant seals; where, to get there, you must cross the fearsome Mar de Hoces by ship for days; where winds average over 40 km/h and can easily reach 100 km/h. In this talk, I will explain what we went to Antarctica to investigate, show photos of the bacteria and viruses we found in the pristine Antarctic air, share curiosities about daily life in the camp, and show videos of the ever‑curious penguins.
Short bio
Javier Méndez is a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the field of Materials Science. He specializes in New Microscopy Techniques and has carried out research in a wide range of areas, from the study of surfaces at the atomic scale, graphene, organic molecules for devices, and quantum conduction in metallic nanowires. He has recently begun collaborating with biologists and is now investigating viruses and bacteria from Antarctica. This work has led him to make two trips to the frozen continent to collect samples of the pristine Antarctic air in search of the microorganisms that reach such a remote place.
Hosted by Esther Barrena, from the SURFACES research group at ICMAB
