I feel such a strong resonance with this thread. This is why it was so important to me to make queerness an important part of my SciComm presence: because my identity, my science, and my politics are inseparable. Feeling very tired these days.

MIT has also been atrocious to Palestine solidarity workers

There are no heroes here. Just institutions trying to preserve themselves. And I’m glad self preservation kicked in because the alternative is worse but they’re not heroic.

As I consider the impact recent government policy changes will have on my scientific research, funding, and ability to be self-expressive as a nonbinary researcher, I hope to continue to foster a science community that is dedicated, resilient, and resistive. 9/9 Sources in bio.

Madinaveitia and other exiled scientists remained vocally rebellious against the fascism that prompted their expulsion from Spain while contributing to Mexican chemistry education, research, and industry growth. 8/9

Those remaining in Spain were imprisoned (Enrique Moles) or maintained sufficiently “neutral” politics to continue research in the National Zone (Vicenta Arnal) (Xavier Polanco coined the term “fuga interior de cerebros” (internal brain drain) to refer to this voluntary intellectual exile). 7/9

For example, collaborating with Mexican engineer Hermion Larios, Madinaveitia contributed to important national projects including the facilitation of soil cleaning in the brackish Texaco Lake. He later helped found the Institute of Chemistry of the National University of Mexico. 6/9

Madinaveitia fled Spain and was welcomed to “La Casa de España”, a consortium created by the Mexican government to support the continued research of exiled Spanish scientists. As a refugee he taught courses, lectured, and built relationships with Mexican chemists. 5/9

However, the 1936 Spanish Civil War and 1939 victory of the fascist dictator Francisco Franco devastated Spanish research, forcing scientists to flee to Mexico or face prison and academic marginalization. Under the new regime, women lost voting rights and access to academic spaces. 4/9

At sixteen, Madinaveitia was supported by the JAE in traveling to Germany, where he was trained in organic chemistry and received his PhD in 1912. He returned to Spain where he continued his chemistry research and held a chair position at the Universidad Central de Madrid for 14 years. 3/9

The 1920s-30s were known as the “Silver Age of Spanish Science”: initiatives such as the Committee for the Expansion of Scientific Studies and Research (JAE) facilitated training for scientists and catalyzed the formation of national Spanish science institutes (such as the INFQ in 1932). 2/9