Del-Bem Lab · Public & academic engagement
Media, outreach & scientific engagement
A chronological record of media coverage, public essays, science outreach, educational impact, invited talks and selected scientific events connected to the Del-Bem Lab.
Public communication
Media, essays & public engagement
Press coverage, public essays, interviews, science-policy commentary and outreach activities connected to our research and academic work.
31 items
2026
Novas peças no quebra-cabeça dos vírus gigantes: “Ainda não vimos tudo que podem oferecer”
Coverage of our work on the extended Asfarviridae clade and the evolutionary diversity of giant viruses. English version: USP News.
Vozes AB3C (T03E02) — Desafio Acadêmico: A Vida Além da Lousa
Long-form conversation on academic careers, university teaching, research and the professional life of scientists beyond classroom activities.
2025
Mensagens no ar e no solo: a incrível rede de comunicação das plantas
Essay on plant communication, root exudates, mycorrhizae, volatile compounds, and the “Wood Wide Web”.
Por um modelo de seleção docente mais justo e estratégico
Opinion article on academic hiring, faculty recruitment, and modernization of selection processes in Brazilian universities.
2024
Como as plantas pegaram emprestados genes de fungos e bactérias
Essay on horizontal gene transfer and the evolution of plant glycosyl hydrolases. English version: Instituto Serrapilheira.
Ancestral das plantas recebeu genes de fungos e bactérias
Coverage of our work on horizontal gene transfer in plant evolution.
Fungos e bactérias podem ter doado genes importantes para plantas durante processo evolutivo
Press coverage of our study on horizontal gene transfer in plant glycosyl hydrolases.
Programa de R$ 1 bilhão para repatriar cientistas é criticado por pesquisadores
Commentary on science funding, repatriation policies, and structural conditions for researchers in Brazil.
FAPESP reajusta bolsas de pesquisa em até 45% a partir de agosto
Commentary on research funding, postdoctoral fellowships, and academic careers in Brazil.
Ciência Fundamental: os textos favoritos de 2024
The essay on horizontal gene transfer in plants was included among the selected texts of the year.
Desafios e perspectivas da ciência brasileira no século XXI
Live discussion held on July 16, 2024, addressing research funding, academic careers, scientific sovereignty and the structural challenges faced by Brazilian science.
2023
Quando a evolução encontra soluções semelhantes por caminhos distintos
Essay on convergent evolution and independent evolutionary solutions.
Plantas e algas têm diferentes mecanismos de absorção do ferro, revela estudo
Coverage of our New Phytologist study showing that ferrous iron uptake via IRT1/ZIP evolved independently at least twice in green plants.
New study on iron uptake adds another piece to the puzzle of land plant evolution
Coverage of our work on the evolution of IRT1/ZIP-mediated iron uptake in green plants.
Aula antes das 9h prejudica sono e piora desempenho acadêmico, diz estudo
Interview on university schedules, sleep, and academic performance. A related video interview is also available.
2022
Diferenças genéticas afetam como o coronavírus se liga às nossas células
Essay on human ACE2 variation and SARS-CoV-2 binding.
Mutação em proteína humana pode mudar a afinidade de variantes do coronavírus
Coverage of our work on ACE2 variation and variant-dependent SARS-CoV-2 binding.
2021
Surto de dengue em Tatuí
Participation in a public online debate about dengue, public health, and prevention measures.
2020
Origem do coronavírus explicada: novas evidências?
Live interview broadcast on September 22, 2020, discussing evidence on the origin and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and how viral genomic data are interpreted.
Pesquisadores da UFMG participam dos Clubes de Ciência
Outreach activity in the online edition of Clubes de Ciência, including the workshop “Entendendo a vida através da genômica: Sars-CoV-2”. Additional coverage: Minas Faz Ciência.
Grupo de alunos da UFBA faz “viagem genética de 2 bilhões de anos” e publica artigo na revista Genomics
Coverage of the study on the evolution of the ADAM gene family in eukaryotes.
2019
Férias no clube de ciências
Feature on Clubes de Ciência Brasil, science education, and youth participation in research. English version: Science clubs.
Laboratório do ICB abre vagas de pós-graduação para grupos sub-representados
Coverage of an initiative to broaden access to graduate training in science.
Dois professores do ICB recebem financiamento do Instituto Serrapilheira
Coverage of Serrapilheira-funded research in genetics and evolutionary biology.
Teoria da microfloresta: ecossistemas surgiram de microalgas terrestres
Feature on the microforest theory, the role of terrestrial microalgae in the early formation of soils and the evolutionary origins of land ecosystems.
2018
The first footholds for land plants may have been much smaller than imagined
Coverage of the New Phytologist article on xyloglucan evolution and plant terrestrialization. Portuguese version: Botany One PT.
Ancestrais das plantas terrestres são mais antigos e mais simples do que se pensava
Coverage of research on early plant evolution and terrestrialization.
Luiz Eduardo Del-Bem
Profile of Serrapilheira grantee Luiz-Eduardo Del-Bem and the project on the origins of life on land.
2017
Estudo esclarece o processo de evolução do genoma da cana-de-açúcar
Coverage of research on sugarcane genome evolution. English version: Agência FAPESP.
2014
Em simpósio nos Estados Unidos, pesquisadores destacam avanços na área de energia
Coverage of advances in sugarcane genomics and bioenergy, including the BMC Genomics article “Building the sugarcane genome for biotechnology and identifying evolutionary trends”.
2011
Uma nova tese sobre o xiloglucano
Feature on the evolution of xyloglucan-related genes in green plants and the broader significance of plant cell wall evolution.
Educational impact
Research in educational materials
Examples of Del-Bem Lab research incorporated into examinations and educational resources beyond the original scientific publication.
1 item
2018
Concurso de Admissão 2018 ao CFO/QC — Magistério de Biologia
The biology exam used an adapted text about the New Phytologist article on xyloglucan evolution and plant terrestrialization as the basis for questions 31 and 32.
Academic engagement
Scientific talks & events
Invited lectures, selected presentations, scientific meetings, workshops and recognitions documented through institutional or event pages.
20 items
2026
Convidados — 37° Congresso Brasileiro de Virologia
Participation as invited speaker.
XXIII Workshop de Genética
Invited lecture at the Institute of Biosciences, UNESP Botucatu.
A Origem de um Planeta Verde: Como Microalgas Colonizaram o Ambiente Terrestre e Deram Origem às Plantas (Embryophyta)
Invited online seminar for BIB5788 — Seminars in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants, streamed live on May 26, 2026.
2025
Programação — IX SBGMP
Lecture “On the Origins of a Green Planet: How Land Plants Came to Be” and participation as co-chair in the symposium “Diversidade genética e evolução de plantas”.
Negacionismo Científico e a Disseminação da Desinformação
Roundtable with Peter Alexander Schulz on scientific denialism, misinformation and how biotechnology professionals can help counter fake news. Held on June 28, 2025.
2024
SBBE24 — Sociedade Brasileira de Biologia Evolutiva
Participation in the first national congress organized by the Sociedade Brasileira de Biologia Evolutiva, held in Curitiba, PR.
2023
Palestrantes — VIII SBGMP
Participation as speaker in the Brazilian Symposium on Plant Molecular Genetics.
2022
Prof. Dr. Luiz Eduardo Del Bem
Participation as invited speaker.
2021
Programação — 71° CNBot
Invited lecture: “Como a Terra ficou verde: a origem das plantas e ecossistemas terrestres”.
Seminário NAPG — Prof. Luiz Eduardo Vieira Del Bem
Seminar on the evolution of tRNA copy number, repertoire and anticodon use across cellular life, streamed on December 16, 2021.
2020
Programação — IV Simpósio de Fisiologia Vegetal
Invited lecture: “Evolução e terrestrialização das plantas (Embryophyta)”.
XX Workshop de Genética
Invited lecture: “Teoria da Microfloresta: as origens dos ecossistemas terrestres”.
2019
Life at the Edge — Early Career Investigator Program
Selected speaker with the lecture “On the origins of a green planet: how land plants came to be”.
Anais — 70° Congresso Nacional de Botânica
Invited lecture: “Desvendando a origem e evolução das plantas terrestres através da genômica comparativa”, in the symposium “Evolução das plantas terrestres: abordagens morfológicas e genômicas”.
Teoria que defende que florestas surgiram de microalgas terrestres será apresentada no ICB
Public seminar on plant terrestrialization and the microforest theory.
Cobertura — Escola de Bioinformática 2019
Course and lecture participation on genomics, evolution, and the origin of terrestrial plants.
Programação — 33ª Jornada da Biologia
Invited lecture: “Como nosso planeta ficou verde: a origem dos ecossistemas terrestres”.
2018
Pesquisadores de Harvard darão oficina gratuita em Belo Horizonte
Workshop instructor in “Entendendo a vida através da genômica”.
2013
Seminário “The Evolution of Gene Regulation in Plants”
Seminar at Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa.
2012
Alunos do IB conquistam cinco prêmios no 58º Congresso Brasileiro de Genética
Best poster award in Genomics for the work “Phylexpress: a phylogenetic method for high-throughput orthology analyses and assessment of gene expression evolutionary dynamics”.
Entries are organized by year within each section. All external links open in a new tab.