RESUMO
Microplastics (MPs) composed of different polymers with various shapes, within a vast granulometric distribution (1 µm - 5 mm) and with a wide variety of physicochemical surface and bulk characteristics spiral around the globe, with different atmospheric, oceanic, cryospheric, and terrestrial residence times, while interacting with other pollutants and biota. The challenges of microplastic pollution are related to the complex relationships between the microplastic generation mechanisms (physical, chemical, and biological), their physicochemical properties, their interactions with other pollutants and microorganisms, the changes in their properties with aging, and their small sizes that facilitate their diffusion and transportation between the air, water, land, and biota, thereby promoting their ubiquity. Early career researchers (ERCs) constitute an essential part of the scientific community committed to overcoming the challenges of microplastic pollution with their new ideas and innovative scientific perspectives for the development of remediation technologies. However, because of the enormous amount of scientific information available, it may be difficult for ERCs to determine the complexity of this environmental issue. This mini-review aims to provide a quick and updated overview of the essential insights of microplastic pollution to ERCs to help them acquire the background needed to develop highly innovative physical, chemical, and biological remediation technologies, as well as valorization proposals and environmental education and awareness campaigns. Moreover, the recommendations for the development of holistic microplastic pollution remediation strategies presented here can help ERCs propose technologies considering the environmental, social, and practical dimensions of microplastic pollution while fulfilling the current government policies to manage this plastic waste.
Assuntos
Poluentes Ambientais , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Microplásticos , Plásticos , Monitoramento Ambiental , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , EcossistemaRESUMO
Ecophysiology and herpetology share a close historical relationship, but earlier work at the interface of these disciplines was carried out in temperate regions. Tropical regions like the Neotropics exhibit the highest species richness for amphibians and reptiles, but the pace for ecophysiological research on tropical herpetofauna has been slower relative to temperate counterparts. We are a group of early-career, Latin American researchers interested in the physiological diversity exhibited by neotropical herpetofauna. As such, we have engaged in the organization of the Symposium on the Ecophysiology of Neotropical Amphibians and Reptiles (ECOPHYSHERP) to integrate the scientific community interested on these topics. ECOPHYSHERP has been held three times already within the Colombian Congress of Herpetology, and collectively it has hosted >60 contributions from researchers at 26 institutions and eight countries. Participation has been diverse in terms of gender, age, and career stage, but most participants have been young undergraduate biology students. This generation of early-career researchers is producing excellent research in a broad range of topics, but difficulties to convert this research into scientific publications may exist. Identifying and contributing in order to solve such problems are priorities for this organizing committee, and also our endeavours towards ECOPHYSHERP 4.0 in Santa Marta in 2025.
Assuntos
Anfíbios , Répteis , Humanos , Animais , Colômbia , PesquisadoresRESUMO
Nuclear receptors are critically important in normal and disease physiology. Recent advances have created opportunities to expand our success in nuclear receptor (NR) basic and translational research, but this field lacks a platform to lay the collaborative groundwork for aspiring and upcoming leaders in the field. Nuclear Receptor IMPACT (Interdisciplinary Meeting for Progress And Collaboration Together) is a new collaborative group designed specifically for early- and mid-career faculty who study nuclear receptors in their many forms. A unique goal of NR IMPACT is to also directly address career challenges for early- and mid-career faculty. NR IMPACT held an inaugural conference in September 2020 and developed a roadmap identifying five major structural and science policy challenges facing early- and mid-career faculty. NR IMPACT identified potential best practices, resources needed, and key action items to address these issues. NR IMPACT is a first-of-its-kind cohort dedicated to building a foundation for the scientific and professional growth of investigators studying nuclear receptors, and supporting new collaborations that will advance new paradigms in NR biology. Our unique focus on career development will enhance the success of current faculty and remove hurdles for new faculty, creating a robust pipeline of investigators with exciting new ideas to advance NR biology. The growth of NR IMPACT will build a strong peer-mentoring cohort that can be a unique resource for researchers and a prototype peer group for other disciplines.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Emerging researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) face many barriers, including inadequacies in funding, international exposure and mentorship. In 2012, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded five research hubs aimed at improving the research core for evidence-based mental health interventions, enhancing research skills in global mental health, and providing capacity building (CB) opportunities for early career investigators in LMIC. In this paper emerging researchers contextualize their experiences. CASE PRESENTATION: Each of the five hubs purposively selected an emerging researcher who had experienced more than one hub-related CB opportunity and actively participated in hub-related clinical trial activities. The five 'voices' were invited to contribute narratives on their professional backgrounds, CB experience, challenges and successes as an emerging mental health researcher, and suggestions for future CB activities. These narratives are presented as case studies. CB activities provided broader learning opportunities for emerging researchers. Benefits included the receipt of research funding, hands-on training and mentorship, as well as exposure to networks and collaborative opportunities on a global scale. To overcome ongoing challenges of access to funding, mentoring, networking and global exposure, the emerging voices recommend making mentorship and training opportunities available to a wider range of emerging mental health researchers. CONCLUSIONS: Investing in CB is not enough to ensure sustainability and leave a legacy unless it is accompanied by ongoing mentorship and international exposure. Financial investment in building research capacity, promotion of mentorship and supervision, and international networking are essential to yield well-prepared young investigators in LMIC as experienced by these rising stars. Governments and policymakers should prioritize educational policies to support the continuous development and international engagement of emerging researchers. This can advance strategies to deal with one of most important and costly problems faced by healthcare systems in LMIC: the mental health treatment gap.
RESUMO
Resumo O artigo problematiza o desenvolvimento da carreira de pesquisadores na área da pesquisa qualitativa em saúde. Apoiando-se em duas perspectivas teóricas que discutem o campo da pesquisa qualitativa, põe em perspectiva elementos das vivências de pesquisadores iniciantes a partir de nossa tradição cultural de desenvolvimento na pós-graduação. Partindo das questões que emergem dessas discussões, traz um levantamento bibliográfico acerca da pesquisa qualitativa em saúde como forma de compreender ao que tem acesso o pesquisador iniciante e como, no conjunto, essas referências caracterizam formas de produção científica no campo da saúde. Os elementos levantados apontam que existem questões ligadas à pesquisa qualitativa em saúde que subsidiam modelos de ensino em pesquisa tão diversos quanto diversas são as formas de compreender as questões epistemológicas, teóricas e metodológicas. Nesse sentido, o percurso de pesquisadores iniciantes está muito mais ligado à expertise de seus orientadores do que propriamente a uma cultura acadêmica de formação em pesquisa qualitativa na área da saúde.
Abstract The article discusses the development of researchers' career in qualitative research in health. From two theoretical perspectives that discuss the field of qualitative research, it puts into perspective elements of the experiences of beginner researchers in our cultural tradition of development in graduate school. From the issues emerging from these discussions, the article brings a literature survey about qualitative research in health to understand that which a beginner researcher has access to and how, as a whole, these references characterize forms of scientific production in health. The elements observed point out the existence of issues connected to qualitative health research that support teaching research models as diverse as the various ways to understand the epistemological, theoretical, and methodological questions. In this sense, the beginner researchers' route is much more connected to the expertise of their advisors than an actual academic culture of training in qualitative research in health.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Pesquisadores , Saúde Pública , Universidades , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Capacitação de Recursos Humanos em SaúdeRESUMO
Buscou-seidentificar, analisar e comparar as dificuldades enfrentadas por professores de Educação Física no início de carreira,com formação em bacharelado e em licenciatura, atuan-tes na região dos Inconfidentes,em Minas Gerais. A partir do estudo de campo, qualitativo, com 28 docentes,verificou-se que a formação inicial não proporcionou conhecimentos espe-cíficos e suficientes para a atuação nos espaços de intervenção. A dissonância teoria e prática presente na formação inicial desencadeou uma série de dificuldades percebidas pelos profes-sores. Outras dificuldades,como lidar com a diversidade de objetivos buscados pelos frequen-tadores das academias e a falta de reconhecimento e legitimidade da Educação Física como componente curricular na escola, também foram mencionadas (AU).
The study aimed to identify, analyze and compare the difficulties faced by PhysicalEducation newteachers with a baccalaureate and undergraduatedegree working in the Inconfidentes region of Minas Gerais. From the qualitative study with 28 teachers, it was verified that the initial training did not provide specific and sufficient knowledge to perform in their profes-sional areas. The dissonance theory and practice present in the initial formation unleashed a series of difficulties perceived by the teachers at the beginning of their career in the both pro-fessional areas. Other difficulties were also identified, such as dealing with the diversity of goals sought by fitness center students and the lack of recognition and legitimacy of Physical Education as a curricular component in the school (AU).
Se buscóidentificar, analizary compararlas dificultades enfrentadas porprofesores de educa-ción física iniciantes,con grado en educación física,en la región de losInconfidentes,en Mi-nas Gerais. A partir de una investigacióncualitativa, con 28 profesores, se verificó que la formación inicial no proporcionó conocimientos específicos y suficientes para la actuación profesional en los espacios de trabajo. La discrepancia entre teoría y práctica de laformación inicial provocó una serie de dificultades percibidas por los profesores. Otras dificultades, co-mo tratar con ladiversidad de los objetivos buscadospor los clientes de los gimnasiosy la falta de reconocimiento y legitimidad de la Educación Física como componente curricular en la escuela, también fueron citados (AU).